12 Exciting Things to do in Mirissa For A Thrilling Vacay in 2024

If Sri Lanka is on your bucket list for a long time, then you must plan a vacay to this paradise. This island is renowned for its diverse attractions catering to all travelers. With its stunning coastal stretches, crystal clear waters, pristine white sand beaches, this island nation is a haven for beach enthusiasts. And Mirissa is one such destination that will surely offer all the adventures that you are looking for. So, plan your itinerary with Sri Lanka tour packages to get the complete Mirissa travel guide.

Mirissa is one of the most popular beaches in Sri Lanka and there are so many more unique things to do in Mirissa than just enjoying gorgeous beaches. In fact, you can spend your days enjoying fresh coconuts in your hammock, going whale watching, and zooming around by motorbike.

Mirissa in Sri Lanka : An overview

Spending time at the Mirissa beach is an unique thing to do in Mirissa as it is perfect for surfing and sea-bathing with its fair line up of charming and lively restaurants by the beach with fresh seafood, authentic local cuisine, refreshing cocktails and international specialties at economical prices and a variety of boutique style hotels to family-friendly guesthouses. 

This is our list of the 12 top things to do in Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

1.Secret Beach, Mirissa

Secret Beach is a little hidden gem just around the corner from the main beach in Mirissa, which is located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka that makes up Weligama Bay. Although it’s not that “secret” anymore, it remains uncrowded most of the time. It is a lovely, small secluded beach with a shack selling coconuts and incredible sunset viewing, making it a top thing to do in Mirissa. 

The best thing about Secret Beach is its surroundings, which makes it the top things to do in Mirissa; the beach is nestled in a cove and flanked by small hills covered in lush green palm trees on either side which creates a number of smaller beaches. These exotic features make Secret Beach one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka and one of the top Mirissa attractions. It’s a short tuk-tuk ride from the main Mirissa beach.

2. Climb the Parrot Rock

Parrot Rock is a large rock that is at the end of Mirissa Bay. From the top of the rock, you get breathtaking views of Mirissa Beach, and climbing it is one of the best things to do in Mirissa. Parrot Rock is one of the  popular Mirissa attractions as you can see the palm tree-fringed Mirissa coastline on one side and the blue horizon on the other side

3. Whale Watching

Whale watching is one of the top things to do in Mirissa. From December to April, the southern coast of Sri Lanka becomes the hotspot for whale watching.Tourists gather here mainly to watch Blue whales and dolphins apart from Humpback whales and Sperm whales. During this season there is a very high chance of spotting whales and dolphins just a meter away from your boat. 

4. Water Sport

Marine life is one of the best Mirissa attractions and Scuba diving is the best thing to do in Mirissa. You can also swim during the low tide and collect some of your own snorkels. Heading to the bay in the early morning hours is the best time for this water sport. On the beach you can even head over to one of the jet ski operators to have a thrilling experience of jet skiing, tubing and wakeboarding.

5. Go Surfing in Weligama

Weligama Bay which is just 10 minutes from the Mirissa beach is a paradise for surfers of all levels. Surfing is one of the best things to do in Mirissa because of its popularity. Surf spots are on par with those on the eastern Australian coast, and more and more travelers are venturing to this place to test them out. The gently sloping bay creates perfect conditions for both beginner and advanced surfers. Undoubtedly, Weligama Beach is one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.

6. Coconut Tree Hill

If you are an instagrammer, climbing the Coconut Tree Hill is the best thing to do in Mirissa. Around 15 minutes from Mirissa Beach there is a coconut farm located on a hillock, from where you can get impressive views. Coconut Hill is the perfect place to watch a sunset in Mirissa, but it can be very overcrowded at this time. 

Since it is an easy location to get to, it’s not too laborious and it doesn’t require you to hike or anything, which makes this an easy activity for the whole family. It takes around 2 minutes to climb to the top, and there is a small parking area for tuk-tuks and scooters at the bottom. 

7. Take a short trip to Galle Fort

The Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a lot can be seen and done here. The fort is an interesting place to visit and explore while visiting Mirissa. It was first built by the Portuguese in 1588 and it offers a deep insight into the history of Sri Lanka.

When in Galle one cannot miss the restaurants in Sri Lanka here. The Curry Leaf, Amangalla, and A Minute by Tuk Tuk are some of the best restaurants here offering an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the essence of Sri Lanka’s diverse cuisine. 

There are plenty more beautiful buildings, churches, viewpoints, shopping opportunities to explore here, which makes visiting this place one of the unique things to do in Mirissa.

8. Visit the Dewmini Roti Shop

The No.1 Dewmini Roti Shop is well known in Mirissa for its amazing rotis and almost anyone will be able to direct you to it. It’s a five minute walk inland from the beach. Being a family restaurant, they serve the best rotis on the south coast. They have all sorts of roti that you can imagine here. Cheese roti, prawn roti, chicken roti, traditional roti, even chocolate roti! 

Having these yummy rotis from this place is definitely one of the best things to do in Mirissa city.

9. Plan a trip to Unawatuna for beach parties and more

So, whenever you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, try to make the best itinerary with the clubs covered! Exploring the nightlife in Sri Lanka here is one of the things to do in Mirissa. 

Unawatuna, is a coastal town in the southern part of Sri Lanka, where you can beach hop in just a few minutes. Unawatuna comes alive as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, with many beachside bars and clubs offering an electrifying atmosphere. The music is diverse, ranging from reggae and house to electronic dance music. 

The main street is filled with many bars which offer ‘happy hour’ specials in the afternoon and into the early evening, which gives the party animals a perfect start to set in the mood of partying, thereby making Unawatuna one of the best places to visit in Mirissa. 

Apart from enjoying the nightlife in Unawatuna, the other best thing to do here is swim to your heart’s content to relax and unwind completely.

10. Visit the Sea Turtle Hatchery

With a distance of around 22 kms from Mirissa, visiting Habaraduwa where the Sea Turtle hatchery is situated is one of the best things to do in Merissa. The Sea Turtle Hatchery heals and treats the turtles brought from the nearby areas. The hatchery has about five different species of turtles in it; Leatherback turtle, Green turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Hawksbill turtle and Olive ridley turtle. This experience surely makes Habaraduwa one of the best places to visit in Mirissa. 

11. Try Out Some Lip-smacking Dishes

Exploring the flavors of the local cuisine is again the best thing to do in Mirissa city. There is more to just Rice and Curry to try when in Sri Lanka. 

We have picked up some of the best local dishes that one must explore when in Mirissa :

• Coconut Rotti
• Dhal Curry
• Idiyappam
• Pol Sambol
• Kottu

If you are a non vegetarian, then you should not miss out the delicious and fresh seafood available from any restaurant on the beachside. There is a wide variety of seafood available such as crab, red snapper, giant prawns, squid, and tuna.

12. Sip on some Refreshing Cocktails

You can relax on a hammock with a cocktail in your hand and you enjoy the crystal clear waves crashing on the beach. This surely is one of the best things to do in Mirissa city. You will find many restaurants who have happy hours so that tourists can enjoy a refreshing drink for only $ 2 USD.

Best time to visit Mirissa

Mirissa’s peak season is during the dry season between November to April. During this period, you can enjoy the beach and beach activities like swimming, whale watching, surfing, taking long strolls thus making it the best time to visit Mirissa. Your options are going to be limited on rainy days. 

For that reason, you’re definitely best off visiting during this time of year if you can. In particular, January, February and March are the driest months and the most popular among tourists due to the pleasant weather and optimal conditions for water activities and other adventures. These fun filled activities in the summertime are the best things to do in Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

April and May tend to be the hottest months in Mirissa, but the increase in temperature leads to more rainfall. Outside of January-March, the months with the least rainfall are July and August. Avoid traveling to Merissa during the monsoon time i.e. from May to October, as heavy rainfall might cause a disruption for the outdoor activities.

Conclusion

So, in a gist Mirissa’s a small town with a captivating beach, standing proud in the southern coastline of Sri Lanka. Encompassed by lush palm greenery and pristine waters, Mirissa boasts of typical Sri Lankan charm with exotic and delicious varieties of food, rich cultural heritage, vibrant nightlife, adventurous water sports and plenty of shopping opportunities. Mirissa offers everything a traveler looks for in any trip making it one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.