Things to Do In Bentota, Sri Lanka

Bentota Things to Do

After coming to Bentota, seeing its beauty, and experiencing all the things to do, chances are you’ll wish you were staying longer.

Bentota Beach

The Bentota beach is a superb stretch of golden sand. While there are a string of resort hotels, the beach itself is clean and tidy, and the buildings are mainly hidden by palm trees. Sunsets are beautiful here, and it is both relaxing and peaceful to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean. If you visit the beach during the early morning hours or at sunset, there will probably be a few locals selling things, but they are neither pushy nor persistent

Visit the Turtle Hatchery Project

The Turtle Hatchery Project, a little place at Bentota Beach, gathers turtle eggs and safeguards them until they hatch. After hatching, the babies are then safely released to the ocean. This increases their chance of survival. Normally, there are several species of turtles on display. The hatchery does a lot of good work; it pays locals for all eggs they recover from beach. The Hatchery Project also has some permanent residents, including a fully grown blind albino turtle.  The short guided tour costs 100 rupees per adult, and children are free. Visitors are also requested to make a voluntary donation at the end of the guided tour.

Brief House & Gardens

One should not miss a morning or evening excursion to the Brief House & Gardens, an estate that was owned by a Sri Lankan architect and artist who died in 1992. The estate was bequeathed to the owner’s gardener/caretaker. The new owner has opened the home as a museum, and he gives interesting tours. The Brief Garden covers over two hectacres, so you could easily spend a morning here admiring the grounds. You’ll see everything from British style lawns to Japanese Gardens and secret seating areas.  Just take a tuk-tuk or taxi in Bentota or from your hotel-it takes about 10 minutes to get to the attraction.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Bentota.