Quick answer
A T20 series trip to Sri Lanka usually takes seven to nine days, because a series of two or three games is played over about five days, often with evening starts. Australia's 2022 T20 series had two games at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and one at Pallekele near Kandy. With days free, add Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Sigiriya, or Galle Fort, about two hours from Colombo.
Key takeaways
- A T20 series of two or three games is usually played over about five days.
- Australia's 2022 T20 series in Sri Lanka had two games in Colombo and one at Pallekele.
- T20 internationals in Sri Lanka usually start in the evening, leaving the whole day free.
- Galle Fort is about two hours from Colombo by expressway, an easy day trip between games.
- A seven- to nine-day trip allows two or three days of sightseeing before or after the series.
The shape of a T20 trip
A T20 series in Sri Lanka is short. Two or three games are usually played over about five days, often with two games close together in Colombo at the R Premadasa Stadium and one at Pallekele, near Kandy, as in Australia's 2022 series. Some tours have played T20s at Dambulla or Hambantota.
Evening starts are common, which leaves the days free for sightseeing. With an arrival day and a departure day, the series itself takes about a week, and adding two or three days before or after makes it a real holiday.
T20 series are sometimes part of a longer tour, before ODIs and Tests, so check the full schedule.
- →Series: two or three games over about five days.
- →Evening starts: whole days free.
- →Total trip: seven to nine days.
The Colombo games
For the Colombo games, stay in Colombo Fort, Kollupitiya or along the Galle Road, about 15 to 45 minutes from the R Premadasa Stadium. The days before evening games are free for Pettah's bazaars, the Dutch Hospital, Gangaramaya Temple, the National Museum and Galle Face Green.
With a free day between Colombo games, take a day trip to Galle Fort, about two hours by expressway, or to Bentota, about 1.5 hours, for the river and Bawa's gardens. Return by mid-afternoon to rest before the game.
T20 crowds in Colombo are loud and joyful, with papare bands playing through the innings. The atmosphere at the Premadasa on a big night is one of the best in world cricket.
- →Days: Pettah, Fort, Gangaramaya, museum.
- →Day trip: Galle or Bentota.
- →Evenings: the Premadasa.
The Pallekele game
For a Pallekele game, travel to Kandy by road, about three to four hours, or by the scenic train, about 2.5 to 3 hours, and stay in the city. The ground is about 30 to 40 minutes east of Kandy.
The day of the game is free for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the lake and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya. The evening at Pallekele, with the floodlights on the hills, is memorable.
Lankan Stays & Trails builds short T20 trips with a driver for the Colombo and Kandy legs, and the days filled with the best sights near each ground.
- →Kandy: Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya.
- →Pallekele: about 30 to 40 minutes away.
- →Move: road or train.
Adding days before or after
A T20 trip is short, so two or three extra days make a big difference. Before the series, Sigiriya and Dambulla, about four hours from the airport, give a taste of the Cultural Triangle. After the series, the south coast at Galle, Unawatuna or Mirissa, two to three hours from Colombo, gives a few days of beach.
In a mid-year series, the south coast sea is rough, so the Cultural Triangle or the hill country is a better addition.
- →Before: Sigiriya and Dambulla.
- →After: Galle and the south coast.
- →Mid-year: Cultural Triangle or hills.
Late finishes and getting back
T20 games in Sri Lanka usually start in the evening and finish late. Roads near the ground are busy for an hour or more afterwards, so agree a pickup point with your driver or walk to a quieter road before booking a ride. Late-night kottu stalls are the classic post-match meal.
Do not plan early-morning outings the day after a late game; sleep in, and start the day slowly.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a T20 series in Sri Lanka?
A T20 series of two or three games in Sri Lanka is usually played over about five days. Australia's 2022 series had two games in Colombo and one at Pallekele. With an arrival and departure day, a trip to follow it takes about a week.
What time do T20 games start in Sri Lanka?
T20 internationals in Sri Lanka usually start in the evening, around 7 pm local time, though times vary by series and broadcaster. Some games start in the afternoon. Check the official schedule for each match before planning the day.
What can you do during the day between T20 games?
With evening starts, the whole day is free. In Colombo, explore Pettah, the Fort, Gangaramaya and the museum, or take a day trip to Galle Fort. In Kandy, visit the Temple of the Tooth, the lake and the Peradeniya gardens.
Is a T20 series worth a trip to Sri Lanka?
A T20 series is a good short trip, with loud, colourful evening crowds and the days free for sightseeing. In about a week, you can see two or three games and Colombo, Kandy or Galle. Adding two or three days makes it a proper holiday.
Can you combine a T20 series with the beach?
You can, especially in an early-year series, when the south coast near Galle and Mirissa is dry and calm. Add two or three days after the series. In a mid-year series, the east coast is better, but it is further from Colombo.
How do you get to Pallekele from Colombo?
Travel to Kandy by road, about three to four hours, or by the scenic train, about 2.5 to 3 hours, and stay in the city. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is about 30 to 40 minutes east of Kandy by tuk-tuk, taxi or driver.
What is the atmosphere like at a T20 in Colombo?
The atmosphere at a T20 in Colombo is loud and joyful, with papare bands playing brass and drums through the innings, fans singing and dancing, and the floodlights on a full stadium. Crowds are friendly to visiting fans, and the noise builds through the evening.