The Best Hotels to Book Near Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Those with an eye for design will love the rooms at this boutique hotel, which has four-poster beds in whitewashed wood or curved, wrought brass; the luxurious suites also feature indulgent amenities including jacuzzi bathtubs and, in some, private pools. There’s a palm-lined pool for all guests to enjoy, while the hotel can help you book popular activities in the area such as whale watching.

With just eight suites, this lovely hotel promises a quiet, intimate stay overlooking the Indian Ocean. All rooms have four-poster beds and antique Sri Lankan wooden furniture, while suites on the ground floor open onto a colonnaded porch, its columns strung with colourful hammocks. Among the wildlife you can spot here are wild peacocks and nesting sea turtles, while trips to the Yala National Park can be arranged.

When the sea views make it into the hotel’s name, you know they’re good. Mirissa Beach is just a stone’s throw away, and views of the sand and ocean can be had from many of the rooms. There’s also a tranquil pool, while popular local activities include whale watching, fishing, and cycling in the countryside.

With verdant palm jungle on one side and the serene blue of the Indian Ocean on the other, this small collection of tile-roofed villas can’t be beaten on location. They open onto a large saltwater pool; some feature four-poster beds and overlook the hotel’s rooftop bougainvillea garden. Beachside yoga and relaxing spa treatments are on offer, while the seafood at the restaurant is exquisite – try the grilled lobster.

Six bedrooms make up this gorgeous beachfront villa, each appointed with colourfully painted wooden furniture, polished floors, traditional wooden shutters and spacious balconies. There’s a pool where you can while away the afternoon, but don’t miss the chance to visit baby turtles at the Rekawa Conservation Project, marvel at the Hummanaya Blow Hole, or explore the tea fields of Handunugoda Low Country.

This beautifully designed hotel is set around an infinity pool, which melts into the blue of the Indian Ocean. Other highlights include the trendy beach bar, which hosts some of Weligama’s best electronic music nights and beach parties, and the Aura restaurant, where top picks include lobster thermidor. Guest rooms have a similarly stylish feel, with a modern look offset by antique wooden chests and wardrobes.

A collection of 39 suites and villas crest this palm-smothered headland, which juts out spectacularly into the Indian Ocean. Each one boasts a large bathroom and steam room, luxurious Ophir toiletries, and large balconies overlooking the ocean and the hotel’s tropical gardens. The Pool Villas have their own 15m (49ft) pools, while all guests are free to enjoy the large infinity pool. A programme of curated experiences includes helicopter tours, ocean safaris and cookery classes.

Ten colourful rooms make up this LGBTQ-friendly hotel, which sits in a terracotta-roofed villa overlooking the sea. Tours can be arranged to Yala National Park, home to wild elephants and rare birds, while the nearby city of Galle, with its colonial fort among a bevy of historic buildings, is well worth a visit. Back at the hotel, a candlelit four-course dinner, combining Belgian and Sri Lankan cuisine, can be enjoyed next to the swimming pool.

Beautiful, traditional pavilions with dark wood floors, rugged stone-walled bathrooms and terraces overlooking lush gardens and Weligama Bay are some of the hallmarks of this oceanfront resort. Scuba diving, dolphin and whale watching and fishing trips are among the marine activities on offer; on dry land, take a walk through a tea or cinnamon plantation, or a safari in Udawalawe National Park.