Best Beaches in Trincomalee 2025: Marble Beach, Coral Bay Beach & More!
- Kate Colliety
- Aug 3
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Trincomalee is Sri Lanka's best-kept secret. An emerging beach destination where wild deer roam golden shores and hidden beaches require military permission to access. During our 2-month Sri Lankan itinerary, we discovered some of the most pristine, untouched coastline in South Asia. From secluded Air Force beaches to vibrant coral reefs, Trincomalee offers something for every beach lover. Here's your complete guide to the area's most spectacular beaches.
What makes Trincomalee special? Unlike the crowded beaches of the south coast, this historic port city on Sri Lanka's east coast has managed to preserve its authentic charm while offering world-class beaches.
We fell in love with everything about this region: the crystal-clear waters, the lack of crowds, the incredible kottu (best in Sri Lanka), and yes, deer roaming the beach.
In this complete guide, we'll take you through the best beaches in Trincomalee, from the most secluded to the most accessible, plus everything you need to bring for the perfect beach day.
Contents
Best Beaches in Trincomlaee, Sri Lanka
Marble Beach - Most Secluded Beach In Trincomalee
Dutch Bay Beach & Trincomalee Town Beach
Uppuveli Beach - Best Beach To Stay At In Trincomalee
Nilaveli Beach - Best Beach For Swimming In Trincomalee
Pigeon Island - Best Beach For Snorkelling In Trincomalee
Coral Cove Beach - The Mysterious Beach
What To Pack For The Ultimate Trincomalee Beach Day
Frequently Asked Questions About Trincomalee Beaches
Marble Beach - Most Secluded Beach In Trincomalee
As the sun lights up the Koddiyar Bay, the glimmers reflect back in a marbled pattern, making it clear how Marble Beach got its name. Originally, we didn't plan to visit this hidden gem in Trincomalee but the pictures of the quiet strip of sand soon drew us in. We're suckers for a good beach and we found ourselves on the most beautiful beach in Trincomalee.
Less visited than the popular Uppuveli and Nilaveli Beaches, we found Marble Beach the perfect place to relax, soak up the sunshine and snorkel in shallow waters. This secluded Trincomalee beach offers some of the best snorkelling in Sri Lanka's east coast.
Note: Marble Beach is part of the Sri Lankan Air Force and it costs 20 LKR to access (approximately $0.06 USD).
A crescent of white sand with tree-lined lanes and plenty of parking; colourful local boats line the shores of Dutch Bay Beach, which are ready to take tourists for day trips to the nearby Pigeon Island Marine National Park and wild deer roam the sand, a unique feature among Sri Lanka beach destinations.
There are lifeguards on duty at Trincomalee Town Beach due to strong undercurrents at times however swimming is still possible, we also recommend Nilaveli Beach & the nearby Uppuveli Beach for safer swimming spots in Trincomalee.
As commonly seen with beaches next to busy towns, Trincomalee Beach can be lined with litter at times which is a shame however we have seen much worse during our travels across Sri Lanka's coastal areas and the sight of the deer along the beach is a novelty not to be missed when visiting Trincomalee!
Join your visit to Trincomalee Town Beach with a visit to Fort Frederick and Lover's Leap as they're right next to each other; perfect for a full day of Trincomalee sightseeing.
Uppuveli Beach is the most popular area to stay in Trincomalee and has a variety of accommodation both right on the sand and set in the narrow, winding backstreets which is also home to a group of friendly street cows.
We stayed here in Trincomalee and it was perfect! We could walk down to the beach for a morning swim, dry off on the golden sand, then start our day. There's also plenty of water sports in Trincomalee here as it is catered to tourists, think jet skis, paddle boarding and canoeing.
At night Uppuveli comes alive! Head to Fernando's Beach Bar to enjoy a cold Lion Beer and meet fellow travellers plus don't miss our favourite restaurant, Rice 'n' Curry which is one of the best places to eat in Trincomalee, actually one of the best places to eat in Sri Lanka!
Just 10-minutes from Uppuveli you can find Nilaveli Beach, another popular beach known to be one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka for swimming. The beach is long, around 4km with warm, soft sand and shallow water perfect for families visiting Trincomalee with children. There are lifeguards on the beach and when we visited a handful of locals cooling off in the sea.
Apart from them, we were completely alone on this pristine Trincomalee beach. Nilaveli is up and coming, there is a small market leading up the beach selling dried fish and trinkets but so far the area has avoided mass tourism infrastructure meaning it has kept its authentic Sri Lankan charm.
Jungle Beach Trincomalee
A little further North of Nilaveli Beach is Uga Jungle Beach, which is actually an upmarket resort with its own private beach. This luxury Trincomalee accommodation offers one of the most pristine and quiet beaches due to its exclusivity!
Although over the years the quality of snorkelling at Pigeon Island has declined, we still think it is the best snorkelling spot in Trincomalee if you want to explore the underwater world. The coral reefs around this Trincomalee marine park are home to over 100 different species of coral and 300 species of fish and during the dry season (May to September) there is excellent visibility.
There are frequent boat tours from Trincomalee to Pigeon Island with snorkel masks for rent, although we packed our own for our backpacking trip through Sri Lanka and didn't regret it! This is definitely one of the top things to do in Trincomalee!
Coral Cove Beach - The Mysterious Beach
We tried to visit Coral Cove Beach, but it is controlled by the Sri Lankan Navy and we couldn't quite work out the entrance. The beach itself looks beautiful if you can find a way in! We heard you need special permission from the Navy authorities in Trincomalee… Let us know if you find it!
What To Pack For The Ultimate Trincomalee Beach Day
Somehow, even though we've visited hundreds of beaches across Southeast Asia, we also forget something so here's your foolproof beach packing list for Sri Lanka!
Suncream
We recommend reef safe suncream when it’s available, suncream is also super expensive in Asia as the locals don’t seem to use it. Perhaps embarrassingly, we packed around 10 cans in our backpack before leaving… but hey, we didn't burn!
Sunglasses
A must in your bag as the Sri Lankan sun gets super bright. We also found them useful when driving scooters around Trincomalee as it prevented any dust or debris getting into our eyes.
Towel & Swimmers
A lightweight towel for sunbathing and drying off after a swim! We also recommend breathable clothing made of natural materials as it is super humid! Also if you have a snorkel we’d recommend bringing it to Pigeon Island.
Footwear
Flip flops seem standard for every Sri Lankan and we'd agree! The only time we wore trainers was when driving or hiking around the Trincomalee area (even though we did start hiking in flip flops we're not sure it should be recommended!)
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!
Frequently Asked Questions About Trincomalee Beaches
When is the best time to visit Trincomalee beaches?
The best time to visit Trincomalee is during the dry season from May to September when you'll find calm seas and sunny weather perfect for beach activities. We visited in November and the sea was still a little rough.
How do I get to Trincomalee from Colombo?
You can reach Trincomalee from Colombo by bus (6-7 hours), train (7-8 hours), or private car (4-5 hours via A1 highway).
Are Trincomalee beaches safe for swimming?
Most Trincomalee beaches are safe for swimming, especially Nilaveli and Uppuveli which have lifeguards. Always check local conditions before entering the water.
What's the best beach in Trincomalee for families?
Nilaveli Beach is perfect for families with its shallow waters, 4km of soft sand, and lifeguard presence.
Best Trinco Tours
Final Thoughts On Trincomalee’s Beaches
We’re so glad we visited Trincomalee on our Sri Lankan Itinerary and we not only saw some of the best beaches in the whole of Sri Lanka, but ate some of the best food we had in 2-months!
The beaches here really are beautiful, they have pristine sand, swimmable waters and resident deer, what’s not to like!
We hope you enjoy your time in Trincomalee, and as always, if you have any questions please reach out in the comments section.
Try the Kottu at Rice ‘n’ Curry Restaurant, the best we had during our 2-month trip to Sri Lanka
Pack your own snorkel gear - this means you can enjoy the underwater world on your own terms and when the conditions are right
Watch out for Naval Base Boundaries - As we experienced, be careful not to wander too far along certain beaches as you might accidentally enter naval base territory.
Visit attractions early or late to avoid the midday heat!
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
.png)
Comments