Sri Lanka: cosa sapere prima di partire

L’essenziale

Everyone needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel—apply only at eta.gov.lk. It's free for 40 nationalities (incl. Russia, UK, US, India, China and many EU states) until about May 2027; others pay USD 50.
Buddha images are sacred: tattoos of the Buddha can lead to deportation; never pose with your back to a statue or touch it.
Two monsoons hit different coasts: the south-west is best Dec–Apr, the east coast May–Sep.
E-cigarettes/vapes cannot be imported or sold.
Drug possession is punished severely, including for small amounts.

Ingresso e visti

All tourists need an ETA (30-day stay, double entry) obtained online before arrival. Under a scheme approved on 7 May 2026 the ETA is free for 40 countries for one year; everyone else pays the standard fee (USD 50 for most). Extensions are possible at the Department of Immigration in Colombo. An online arrival card is available but optional.

Moduli e autorizzazioni online

Sri Lanka ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) ↗ obbligatorio
Before travel; usually approved within 1–3 days · Costo: Free for 40 countries; USD 50 for most others · All tourists except Singapore, Maldives and Seychelles citizens.
Online arrival card ↗ facoltativo
Up to 3 days before arrival · Costo: Free · Air passengers; optional, speeds up immigration.

Validità del passaporto: At least 6 months from arrival.

Alla frontiera possono chiedere

Show the ETA approval (printed or on phone) and a return/onward ticket.
Officers may ask for proof of funds and accommodation.

Dogana

Duty-free alcohol: 2 bottles of wine and 1.5 litres of spirits per adult.
E-cigarettes and vapes are prohibited imports.
Antiques (over 50 years old) need a licence to export.
Drones must be declared and need prior authorisation.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: eta.gov.lk ↗, oravisa.com ↗, discover.passportindex.org ↗, srilanka-botschaft.de ↗, immigration.gov.lk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Denaro

Contanti e carte sono entrambi diffusi. Carte accettate soprattutto in città e nei luoghi turistici.

Circuiti di pagamento: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay

Apple Pay — nessun dato · Google Pay — nessun dato

Dove cambiare

Bank counters in the Colombo airport arrival hall give normal bank rates
Banks (Commercial Bank, Sampath, HNB, Bank of Ceylon) and licensed money changers in Colombo

Dove evitare di cambiare

Hotels
Unlicensed street changers

Bancomat: Bank ATMs (Commercial Bank, Sampath, HNB, BOC) are common in towns; a local fee may apply in addition to your bank's. Carry cash for rural areas.

Mance: Many hotels/restaurants add a 10% service charge; otherwise 10% is appreciated. Tip drivers and guides (customary on multi-day tours).

Cards widely accepted in hotels and larger restaurants; tuk-tuks, small shops and temples are cash only.
Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard cards do not work abroad; bring USD/EUR cash or a card issued elsewhere.
Keep exchange receipts to reconvert rupees when leaving.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: cbsl.gov.lk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Regole e divieti

Vietato

Disrespecting Buddhism: Buddha tattoos, posing with back to statues, touching or climbing on statues can lead to arrest or deportation.
E-cigarettes and vapes: import and sale banned.
Drugs: harsh penalties, including for cannabis.
Drones: need Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence permission.
Photography of military sites, police and some government buildings is prohibited.
Taking photos inside some temple shrines (e.g. Temple of the Tooth inner chamber) is restricted.

Leggi che i turisti violano senza saperlo

Alcohol isn't sold on Poya (full moon) days; bars and liquor shops close.
Topless and nude bathing are illegal.
Same-sex sexual acts remain criminalised (rarely enforced).
Carry your passport or a copy.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗, srilanka.travel ↗, gov.uk ↗

Cultura e abbigliamento

Religione: Buddhism about 70%, Hinduism about 13%, Islam about 10%, Christianity about 7%.

Abbigliamento: Temples: shoulders and knees covered, white or light clothing preferred; remove shoes and hats (bring socks for hot stone floors). Modest clothing away from beaches.

Galateo

Never turn your back to a Buddha statue for photos.
Use the right hand for giving, receiving and eating.
Ask before photographing monks and people.
Head wobble can mean yes or 'I understand'.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗, srilanka.travel ↗

Clima

Tropical, 27–31°C on the coasts, cooler in the hill country (Nuwara Eliya ~16°C). South-west monsoon May–Sep soaks the west and south coasts; north-east monsoon Nov/Dec–Feb hits the east and north. Inter-monsoon storms in Oct–Nov.

Mese per mese

gennaio: West/south coasts dry; east wet
febbraio: Dry west/south; good hill country
marzo: Dry west/south; Adam's Peak season
aprile: Hot; Sinhala/Tamil New Year
maggio: SW monsoon starts on west coast
giugno: West/south wet; east coast good
luglio: East coast and Arugam Bay at best
agosto: East good; Kandy Esala Perahera
settembre: East good; west still wet
ottobre: Inter-monsoon rains island-wide
novembre: Rainy island-wide
dicembre: West/south dry; east wet

Stagione migliore: December–April for the west, south and hill country; May–September for the east coast.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: meteo.gov.lk ↗, en.wikipedia.org ↗

Cosa portare

Plug adapter (types D, G, M; 230V)
Light clothing covering shoulders and knees, white for temples
Socks for hot temple floors
Warm layer for the hill country and Adam's Peak
Insect repellent (dengue)
Sunscreen and hat
Rain jacket for monsoon season
Leech socks for rainforest treks (Sinharaja)

Cosa non portare / vietato importare

Clothing or items showing the Buddha
Visible Buddha tattoos—cover them
Vapes and e-cigarettes
Drones without permits

Pratico

Prese: Types D, G, M; 230V 50Hz

Acqua: Don't drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water.

Circolazione: a sinistra

Rete mobile ed eSIM: Dialog, Mobitel and Airtel/Hutch tourist SIMs at Colombo airport (passport needed); eSIMs available.

App: PickMe, Uber, WhatsApp, Google Maps

Salute: Dengue is common; use repellent. Consider hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Sri Lanka is certified malaria-free. Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a risk country.

Assicurazione: Not required for the ETA; strongly recommended.

Emergenze: Police 119; Ambulance 1990 (Suwa Seriya); Fire 110; Tourist hotline 1912

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗, wwwnc.cdc.gov ↗

Le regole d’ingresso cambiano. Prima del viaggio consulta il sito dell’ambasciata o dell’ufficio immigrazione del paese.