Quick answer
On a 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary, wear light, breathable clothing and shoes with grip for Sigiriya and the Ella walks; cover shoulders and knees, ideally in light colours, for the Dambulla Cave Temple, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and other temples; add a fleece for the Ella train and hill mornings; choose neutral colours and a hat for the Yala safari; and keep swimwear to the beach, with a cover-up for Mirissa's streets and Galle Fort.
Key takeaways
- Covering shoulders and knees is required at every temple on the route and respectful across most of Sri Lanka away from the beach.
- White or light clothing is customary at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, particularly for the evening puja.
- Neutral colours such as khaki and green suit safaris better than bright colours or white.
- Swimwear is fine on the beach but should be covered in towns, shops and restaurants.
- Clothing or tattoos showing the Buddha can cause offence and, in some cases, problems at immigration.
The dress code principles
Sri Lanka is a conservative country, and the 10-day route passes many sacred sites. At every temple, including the Dambulla Cave Temple, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Aluvihare rock temple, shoulders and knees must be covered and shoes and hats removed.
Away from temples, modest clothing is still respectful in towns and villages. On beaches and at resort pools, swimwear is normal, but it should be covered when you walk into town.
- →Temples: shoulders and knees covered; shoes and hats off.
- →Towns: modest clothing is respectful.
- →Beaches: swimwear fine; cover up in town.
Days 1 to 3: the Cultural Triangle
The Cultural Triangle is hot and dry, and days 2 and 3 include both climbs and temples. Wear light, breathable trousers or a long skirt and a T-shirt with sleeves, so you are temple-ready all day, with shoes that grip for Sigiriya Rock's staircases.
A hat and sunglasses are essential at Sigiriya's summit and at Polonnaruwa. For the elephant safari, neutral colours and a light layer for the breezy ride home work best.
- →Sigiriya: breathable clothes, grippy shoes, hat.
- →Dambulla: covered shoulders and knees; socks for hot stone.
- →Polonnaruwa: light clothes that cover up for the temples within the site.
Days 4 to 6: Kandy, the train and Ella
For the evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on day 4, wear white or light-coloured clothing that covers shoulders and knees; it is customary and appreciated. Stone floors can be cool in the evening, so bring socks.
The train on day 5 climbs to roughly 1,900 metres, and mornings in the hills are cool. Dress in layers: a T-shirt, a fleece and a light rain jacket. In Ella, walking shoes and a warm layer for dawn walks are the essentials.
Days 7 to 10: Yala, the beach and Galle Fort
On the Yala safari, wear neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, a hat, sunglasses and a buff or scarf against dust. Avoid bright colours and white, which shows dust quickly. A light layer helps on the dawn drive.
On the south coast, swimwear, sundresses and shorts are fine at the beach and in beach restaurants. Galle Fort is a living town with churches and a mosque, so shoulders covered and shorts to the knee are respectful there.
- →Yala: neutral colours, hat, dust scarf.
- →Mirissa beach: swimwear and cover-up.
- →Galle Fort: light, modest clothing for the lanes.
Notes for women travellers
Women travelling on the 10-day route will be most comfortable in loose, light clothing that covers shoulders and knees for most of the day. Maxi skirts, loose trousers and tunics work well and are cool in the heat.
A large scarf or sarong is invaluable: it covers shoulders at a temple, keeps off sun and dust, and doubles as a beach cover-up. Topless sunbathing is illegal in Sri Lanka.
Laundry and repeating outfits
Ten days in the heat means sweaty clothes, but the 10-day route makes laundry easy. Most hotels and guesthouses offer same-day or next-day laundry at modest prices, and the longer stops, Sigiriya with three nights and Ella and Mirissa with two, are the natural places to use it.
That means you can pack for about five days and repeat. Quick-drying fabrics can also be washed in a sink and dried overnight in the dry zone.
- →Sigiriya: send laundry on day 2, back by day 3.
- →Ella: laundry on arrival, back before you leave.
- →Mirissa: a final wash before the flight home.
Planning outfits for the ten days
Plan outfits by type of day rather than by day number: temple-ready outfits for the Cultural Triangle and Kandy, layers for the hills, neutral clothes for the safaris and beachwear for the coast. Mixing and matching light pieces keeps the bag small.
Lankan Stays & Trails reminds guests of the dress code before each temple visit. The site's guide to what to wear in Sri Lanka covers the country more broadly.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear to climb Sigiriya?
Light, breathable clothing, a hat and sunglasses, and shoes with good grip for the staircases. There is no strict dress code at the rock itself, but covering shoulders and knees makes it easy to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple the same day.
What should I wear to the Temple of the Tooth?
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees, ideally white or light in colour, especially for the evening puja. Shoes and hats are removed before entering. A pair of socks helps on the stone floors.
Is it cold on the Kandy to Ella train?
It can be, especially in the morning on the highest section near Pattipola, at roughly 1,900 metres. Wear layers: a T-shirt, a fleece and a light rain jacket. Kandy and Ella themselves are milder.
What should women wear in Sri Lanka?
Loose, light clothing that covers shoulders and knees is most comfortable and respectful away from the beach. Maxi skirts, loose trousers and tunics work well. Swimwear is fine on beaches, but cover up in towns. Topless sunbathing is illegal.
Can I wear shorts in Sri Lanka?
Yes, on the beach, at resorts and for casual sightseeing in tourist areas. Shorts are not acceptable at temples, and knee-length or longer is more respectful in towns and villages.
Is Buddha clothing allowed in Sri Lanka?
Clothing, tattoos or accessories showing the Buddha are considered disrespectful in Sri Lanka and have occasionally led to problems for visitors, including at immigration. Keep such tattoos covered and leave Buddha-print clothing at home.