Journest
Countries
Cities
Islands
Places
Routes
Journest

Discover amazing destinations around the world. Plan your perfect journey with detailed guides and local insights.

Telegram

Explore

  • Countries
  • Locations
  • Places
  • Routes

Company

  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Support

  • Help Center
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 Journest. All rights reserved.

Koggala Beach

A long, empty beach with stilt fishermen — the postcard image of Sri Lanka. Koggala is 5 kilometers of sand where tourists are fewer than Unawatuna, waves are stronger, and at sunset — silhouettes of fishermen balancing above water on wooden poles. A beach for those seeking space and authenticity.

The Beach

Character

Open ocean — waves almost always present. Swimming possible but watch currents. Sand — golden, wide. Beach stretches for kilometers — you can walk for hours without encountering crowds.

Stilt Fishermen

Stilt fishermen — the famous image: fishermen sitting on wooden poles in t...

Practical Information

Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Visit Duration

Minimum2 hours
Recommended3 hours
Maximum6 hours

Entrance Fee

Free

Beach free. Lake boat trip ~$15-25. Museum ~500 LKR.

Best Time to Visit

December to April for dry season. Dawn (4:30-6:30 AM) for authentic stilt fishermen. Lake trips good any time of day.

Crowd Level

Low — few visitors
Official Website

How to Get There

Between Galle (20 min) and Mirissa (15 min). Tuk-tuk from either. Train stops at Koggala station. Coastal road from Colombo.

What to Expect

Quiet 3km beach, fewer tourists. Stilt fishermen at dawn (more authentic). Koggala Lake boat trips to see cinnamon processing, temple islands, monitor lizards. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum (Sri Lankan culture).

Best Photo Spot

Stilt fishermen at sunrise. Lake boat trip through cinnamon islands. Long empty beach shots.

When to Visit

Best Time

DecJanFebMarApr

Good Time

Nov

Avoid

MayJunJulAugSepOct

Connectivity

Wi-Fi
Available
Charging
Outlets available
Mobile signal
Good

Facilities & Services

restaurants
hotels
boat tours
museum

Working Hours

Updated: Jan 6, 2026
Monday24 hours
Tuesday24 hours
Wednesday24 hours
Thursday24 hours
Friday24 hours
Saturday24 hours
Sunday24 hours
Note

Beach open 24/7, free. Famous stilt fishermen (early morning/evening, ~500 LKR for photos). Turtle hatchery nearby. 15km from Galle. Quieter than Unawatuna.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Access
Partially accessible
Audio Guide
Not available
Staff Assistance
Not available

faq.title

faq.subtitle Koggala Beach

Yes, more than Weligama. Some actually fish at dawn. But tourism has changed things everywhere — go very early (4:30-6 AM) for best chance of seeing real fishing.

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Koggala Beach

Visit early morning for stilt fishermen (4:30-6:30 AM). Koggala Lake boat trip worth doing (2 hours, see cinnamon processing). Good base between Galle Fort and Mirissa. Fewer tourists but less infrastructure.

Between Galle (20 min) and Mirissa (15 min). Tuk-tuk from either. Train stops at Koggala station. Coastal road from Colombo.

Quiet 3km beach, fewer tourists. Stilt fishermen at dawn (more authentic). Koggala Lake boat trips to see cinnamon processing, temple islands, monitor lizards. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum (Sri Lankan culture).

Stilt fishermen at sunrise. Lake boat trip through cinnamon islands. Long empty beach shots.

Reviews

Weather

Average temperature by month

Nowweather24°
96%2 м/с
Todayweather30°24°
Tomorrowweather30°24°
Thuweather30°24°
Friweather30°25°
Satweather30°24°
Sunweather29°25°
Monweather29°25°
30°
23°Jan
31°
24°Feb
32°
25°Mar
31°
25°Apr
30°
26°May
29°
26°Jun
29°
25°Jul
29°
25°Aug
29°
25°Sep
29°
25°Oct
30°
24°Nov
30°
24°Dec
Water temperature
28°
28°
29°
30°
29°
28°
27°
27°
27°
28°
28°
28°

What else to see

Interesting places nearby

Galle Fort
24°
Closed
Free
History

Galle Fort

Mirissa Beach & Whale Watching
25°
Free
Beach

Mirissa Beach & Whale Watching

Unawatuna Beach
24°
Closed
Free
Beach

Unawatuna Beach

Weligama Beach
25°
Free
Beach

Weligama Beach

Yala National Park
24°
Closed
LKR10500
Nature

Yala National Park

Udawalawe National Park
24°
Closed
LKR7500
Nature

Udawalawe National Park

Hikkaduwa Beach & Coral Sanctuary
24°
Closed
Free
Beach

Hikkaduwa Beach & Coral Sanctuary

Sigiriya Lion Rock
25°
Closed
LKR10500
History

Sigiriya Lion Rock