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Bentota has been famous since colonial days when it was a stop for horse-drawn passenger coaches on the drive to and from the port of Galle and the capital, Colombo.
There was a rest house for travellers where the Bentota River formed a lagoon behind the beach before flowing into the sea. Although colonials shunned the sun and the beach, Bentota’s beach is renowned today as the longest and best in Sri Lanka and is dedicated to tourism by government decree.
That’s because the island’s first National Tourist Resort was set up there in the 1970s and a hotel (now Cinnamon Bentota Beach) replaced the rest house. Other hotels and guest houses were built while recently home-stay accommodation opportunities have opened in the country lanes bordering Bentota.
Despite tourism, Bentota still seems undeveloped with just a few shops on the Galle Road as it passes through Bentota – the main shopping area being Aluthgama, across the river.
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Best time to visit Bentota
The traditional holiday season in Bentota is from October to March, when the weather is gorgeous (usually, but it does rain sometimes) and the sea calm. However, if you just want to relax by a hotel swimming pool and not on the beach, the off-season period is also great for a holiday, and hotel rates are cheaper too.
Nightlife and drinks
Nightlife is limited to the entertainment provided by the hotels, and occasional beach parties. It’s a day time scene with the long beach generally being reserved for tourists. Across the railway line separating the beach from Bentota, there are some informal restaurants, some with licences to sell alcohol. One roadside eatery on the Galle Road as it passes through Bentota actually serves freshly made rotis (kottu or cheese) all night.
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Train- Bentota has its own railway station, designed by the renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, who added a bridge across the railway line that leads users from the single platform to the centre of the road going past the hotels lining the beach.
At the other side of the station is the town square, also designed by Bawa, with a police station, post office and bank (with ATM) and a lakeside restaurant.
Train details – For a day out at Bentota from Colombo, there is a train leaving Colombo Fort railway station at 06.55. arriving Bentota at 08.23. For the return trip, a train leaves Bentota at 16.40, arriving at Colombo 18.11. There is 2nd Class at Rs130 but because the train is popular, you may have to stand all the way.
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Road –The Galle Road linking Colombo with Galle, passes through the many towns between the two, and is usually crowded with slow moving traffic. A better option is to take the Southern Expressway and leave it at the Welipenna Exit, drive through Darga Town to link up with the Galle Road at Aluthgama and turning south. Bentota begins after driving across the bridge over the Bentota River.
By bus – Buses, either from Colombo (
Directions) or Galle, ply the main Galle Road which cuts through Bentota with the best stop for the beach being outside the Cinnamon Bentota Beach Hotel.
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Important Contacts
Bentota Tourist Police – 034 2275022
Bentota Railway Station – 034 2275271
Free Ambulance – 1990 (toll-free)
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3.1km from Bentota
Vehicle
Before sunset
Free
Surfing Water skiing Para gliding
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2.9km from Bentota
By foot / Vehicle
Before asunset
Free
Boat ride Water sports
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10.3km from Bentota
Vehicle
8:00- 17.00
Rs300 – Rs1000
Landscape garden Architecture[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”mob-city-p” width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1565850358698{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”3436″ img_size=”medium” el_class=”city-places-see” css=”.vc_custom_1585121231728{margin-bottom: 12px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”city-places-to-see” css=”.vc_custom_1585121118606{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]
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2.3km from Bentota
Vehicle
9.00 – 17.00
Free
Religious
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4.7km from Bentota
Vehicle
–
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Golden Grill
11.00 to 22.00
785 667 081
Directions
Dine-in Restaurant
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Wunderbar bentota
7.00 to 22.00
0342 275 908
Directions
Sea Food Bar Sri Lankan food
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Amal Villa Restaurant
11.30 to 23.30
0342 270 230
Directions
Sri Lankan food Sea food
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Aida Seafood Restaurant & Bar
7.00 to 22.30
0342 275 398
Directions
Sri Lankan food Alcohol Sea food
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Pier88 River Bar
9.00 to 22.30
0342 270 055
Directions
Read feature
Sri Lakan Grill Beer & bar
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Osteria Romana
12.00 to 22.00
0342 291 602
Directions
Sea Food Bar Italian
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It’s a super-smart but budget city hotel in the heart of the nightlife.
Hotel
Bar Free WiFi Restaurant
Read feature [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1584863067345{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #e4e4e4 !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”3390″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1584883677096{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/98-acres-resort-amp-spa-ella.en.html?aid=1702746&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1″][vc_column_text el_class=”city-places-to-see” css=”.vc_custom_1584886860993{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Marino Beach
Long infinity swimming pool and views of spectacular sunsets.
Hotel
Bar Free WiFi Restaurant
Read feature [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1584884775724{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #e4e4e4 !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”3396″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1584884686983{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/98-acres-resort-amp-spa-ella.en.html?aid=1702746&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1″][vc_column_text el_class=”city-places-to-see” css=”.vc_custom_1584886556457{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Lavonca Boutique Hotel
A luxurious boutique hotel located in the heart of Colombo
Hotel
Free WiFi Restaurant
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Booking.com
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Transportation in Bentota
There are taxis, passenger vans and tuk tuks parked outside all the beach hotels, or available through reception. Some tuk tuks carry a card with printed fares for nearby destinations. Otherwise fares are open to negotiation.
+ Read more: General transportation guide in Sri Lanka
Attire and safety
Colombo is a tourist-friendly working town with loads of locals and can be regarded as safe. Just keep your wits about you. Wear comfortable light clothing covering your skin, and shoes as walking is hazardous (broken pavements, puddles).
The nights can get cold although the temperature is unlikely to drop below 10 °C.
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Things to be aware in Bentota, Sri Lanka
- Beaware of crocodiles in the Bentota River
- There are beach boys (aka: freelance tour guides) who will drift off after you firmly explain that you are not interested in whatever it is they are offering. If you are interested, be cautious.
- Don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach.
- Touts occasionally hang around popular places promoting guest houses and tour services Avoid all of them. Follow your maps or ask your hotel front desk for advice before going out.
- Book hotels through reputable travel agents or popular online websites
- Drug-taking in Sri Lanka is illegal.
- Public smoking is illegal.
- Local shops selling souvenirs without a marked price might increase the real price for a tourist. Bargain and walk away if you’re not happy.
- It’s a must for restaurants and pubs/ bars to display the price of that they sell. If they don’t then that’s a sign to walk away.
- Avoid drinking tap water. Water bottles are cheap (500ml Rs50 750ml Rs100- 150)
- Begging is illegal in Sri Lanka. Beggars are best ignored even if you feel compassionate; that’s what they rely on.
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