In general, the idea of staying in Unawatuna is quite a good one, especially if you came specifically to Sri Lanka for a swim, and there are those in your company who want to surf.
This place is conveniently located: nearby is Devata, a popular spot for novice surfers, and Galle with a UNESCO fortress. It is easy to get between Unawatuna, Devata and Galle by bus, minibus, tuk-tuk or even on foot.
That is why the rest here is diverse.
I lived in Devata for about two weeks and went to Unawatuna almost every day — to restaurants, to the beach, sometimes to Galle. But next time, I would have settled in Unawatuna. And here’s why.
Unawatuna is better suited to life than Devata
Unawatuna is such a tourist village with a large number of guest houses, hotels, cafes, restaurants, shops and massage parlors.
Fruit shop in Unawatuna
There is a main street that lives until about midnight. Most restaurants close by 23:00, but eating and walking until 00:00 is no problem. At the same time, Unawatuna cannot be called a “hangout”.
Sometimes it can be crowded in the evening, some restaurants are packed, but this is not a nightlife format – rather a pleasant evening activity.
Where to eat in Unawatuna
There are many places in Unawatuna where you can eat delicious and without spiciness — from three proven Russian cafes to modern restaurants like Koha Surf Lounge, budget pancake joints and street coconut ice cream. I’ve lived here for a long time and have compiled a list of places where it’s really worth eating.
For more information, see my separate article about food in Unawatuna
Beach, infrastructure and cons
There is a beach where people swim and sunbathe during the day, and along it there are cafes, deck chairs, restaurants and hotels.
But it’s important to understand:
There is no full-fledged promenade in Unawatuna.
You can go for a walk:
- in the afternoon on the sand,
- along the main winding street.
It’s a bit boring on the beach in the evening — there’s no lighting, no promenade. That is, this place is not very suitable for quiet evening walks.
And the main street is just a street densely lined with restaurants. Someone will constantly call you to a cafe, offer you a menu, or ask you on a tuk-tuk where to take you.
There are no problems with money exchange in Unawatuna: there are many exchangers here, and there are ads all over the street saying that dollars, euros, rubles are being exchanged from Sberbank and Raiffeisenbank, as well as cryptocurrency — all in Russian. There are many travel agencies with excursions, and there are also plenty of fruit shops, from which Russian tourists then take mangoes and other exotic fruits home with buckets.
If you feel comfortable going to bed by 23:00 or sitting in silence on the beach, then everything is fine.
Ideal option for companies
If you are traveling with a company where:
- someone wants to surf,
- someone wants to swim,
then Unawatuna is perfect.
You stay in Unawatuna on a calm beach,
and your friends literally take 5 minutes by tuk-tuk to Devata, where there is a great spot for novice surfers.
But it is important: Devata is NOT suitable for bathing. Just surfing.
Bonus — the proximity of Halle
Halle is:
- UNESCO fortress,
- an ideal place for evening walks,
- beautiful wind, panoramas, photos,
- the opportunity to go to non—tourist shops, where you can buy spices, creams, oil, souvenirs 2-3 times cheaper than in Unawatuna.
It’s a must to go there several times.
Bottom line — is it worth going?
Yes, if you care:
- nice calm water for swimming;
- the proximity of a surf spot for friends;
- the availability of cafes, massages, shops;
- many housing options;
- ease of movement;
- proximity to Halle.
No, if you are looking for:
- rich nightlife,
- beautiful long promenade;
- lack of touts and dense tourist infrastructure.
