Top 8 cheap hotels in Sri Lanka

Looking for cheap hotels in Sri Lanka? We stayed at a bunch of hotels in the price range of 140-500 SEK/night for a double room during our tour, so now we take the opportunity to recommend them!

What do you get in cheap hotels in Sri Lanka?

We stayed in several hotels in the 140-500 SEK price range, and the standard was about the same in most places. Most rooms in this price range are simple, but fresh. There is almost always WiFi, in exceptional cases a safety box and almost never a TV.

There is always a shower, but you shouldn't expect too much from it. It's usually cold water and the jet is typically extremely thin. The staff are usually service-minded and can help with anything you need, such as ordering food or beer (but don't be in a hurry - most things take time in Sri Lanka).

Some places have restaurants, but not all. However, all hotels serve breakfast! It varies whether breakfast is included in the price or not, but it is usually not too expensive.

How to find cheap hotels in Sri Lanka?

We mostly used Booking.com to book hotels, and here you can quickly see the price. You can look for hotels, but also for "guest houses". Our experience is that the places called guest houses can be at least as nice as those called hotels.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Sri Lanka (but also more expensive ones of course) so it's not too difficult to find affordable places to stay. To provide prices below, we took prices from Booking.com from a specific date, but note that prices vary a lot depending on the day and depending on the type of room.

1. Negombo - Blue Elephant Guesthouse

• Location: Very good location for visiting restaurants, shops and also the beach in Negombo. The only downside is that you are also close to the Catholic church, which has loud masses on weekends.
• Rum: Fresh and nice rooms. However, the mosquito net was more for show, because it did not work to unfold.
• Service: You can get breakfast at the hotel, and they are also happy to organise transfers to and from the airport. A little odd extra service was that they knocked on the room door to say that breakfast was ready.
• Sample price for a double room: 330 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: 204 B, Lewis place, 11500 Negombo
• Read more: Our visit to Negombo

2nd Anuradhapura - Lulus Resort

• Location: Good location for visiting different temple areas (by car). Quiet area with a few restaurants nearby. Nice to stay one or two nights, but there is not much "happening" here.
• Rum: Fresh, modern rooms with good standards, including a safety box.
• Service: Nice staff who speak good English. A small pool outside. Good breakfast, but no restaurant or bar. The staff can bring beer if you order.
• Sample price for a double room: 273 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: 919, Stage 2, Freeman Mawatha, 50000 Anuradhapura Town
• Read more: Our visit to Anuradhapura

3. Sigiriya - Ali Kele hotel

• Location: Good location for visiting Mount Sigirya (by car). There are a lot of restaurants in the area, but you may need a car to visit them.
• Rum: Reasonably fresh rooms, but creaky beds and very thin walls that let in the air. just everything noise from outside.
• Service: A nice patio with a pool. Restaurant serving traditional Sri Lankan cuisine.
• Sample price for a double room: 215 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: No 147, Galakotuwa, Sigiriya Road, Innamaluwaya, 21120 Sigiriya.
• Read more: Our visit to Sigiriya

4. Kandy - Blue Haven Guesthouse

• Location: Good location reasonably close to the centre of Kandy (by car). Fantastic nature around the hotel with greenery, birds and squirrels. Proves that what is called "guesthouse" can be at least as good as other cheap hotels in Sri Lanka!
• Rum: Simple but fresh rooms with mosquito nets over the beds.
• Service: A nice patio with a pool. Good breakfast, and the possibility to order different dishes for lunch or dinner. Service oriented and friendly staff.
• Sample price for a double room: 137 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: 30/2 Poorna lane, 20000 Kandy
• Read more: Our visit to Kandy

5. Ella - Pasla hotel

• Location: Very central location among all the restaurants and bars on the central street of Ella. For this reason, be prepared for a lot of noise at night.
• Rum: Very simple but ok rooms.
• Service: A nice restaurant on the ground floor, overlooking the busy street outside.
• Sample price for a double room: 195 SEK/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: No.47, main Street, 90090 Ella
• Read more: Our visit to Ella

6. Tangalle - Seafood Restaurant and Motel

• Location: Very close to a nice beach (across the road). However, please note that the motel is on a road, and traffic can be heard when the windows are open.
• Rum: Brand new, modern and nice rooms. We also had two balconies in our room.
• Service: There is both a bar and a restaurant, and we were pleased with the food here (fish, seafood and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine).
• Sample price for a double room: 263 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: Matara Road No 344, 82200 Tangalle

7: Weligama - The View Hotel

• Location: Great location for sunbathing, swimming and surfing on the long beach in Weligama. The only downside is that you have to cross a street.
• Rum: Simple and colourful rooms with a bit of a surf and backpacker feel. Nice view towards the coast. Rather hopeless shower in the bathroom.
• Service: A casual restaurant and bar that serves hamburgers, among other things. Nice guys working, but maybe not great cleaning of the rooms.
• Sample price for a double room: 500 kr/night (New Year's weekend 2018/2019) Probably cheaper during "normal" days, but can't find this hotel on Booking.com.
• Find here: Weligama By Pass Rd
• Read more: Our visit to Weligama

8. Galle - Beach Haven Guest House

• Location: This is probably our favourite among all cheap hotels in Sri Lanka! Very central and well located in the old part of Galle.
• Rum: Simple, but personally decorated and nice rooms. Unusually good shower for a room in this price range.
• Service: Friendly and personalised service! There is a common room, a fridge with cold bottled water and a large lovely balcony where breakfast is served.
• Sample price for a double room: 330 kr/night (4 Feb 2019)
• Find here: 65, Light House Street, Fort, 80000 Galle
• Read more: Our visit to Galle