Southern Coast by Bus: Hikkaduwa, Galle, Mirissa, Matara (2025)

Choose between expressway speed and coastal scenery. This guide gives exact times, fares, and how to hop between Sri Lanka’s beach towns by bus.

Core Legs & How to Ride Them

• Colombo → Galle/Matara (Highway E01): Board at Makumbura (Kottawa) or Maharagama. Pay slightly more, arrive in half the time. Great for airport-day transfers.
• Colombo → Galle/Matara (Coastal): Board from Pettah/Bastian. Scenic but slow; avoid peak hours.
• Galle ↔ Hikkaduwa: Frequent coastal buses; sit right side southbound for ocean views.
• Galle ↔ Mirissa ↔ Matara: Dense frequency; minis and normal buses. Tell the conductor your exact stop.

2–4 Day “Beach-Only” Mini-Itineraries

2 Days (Fast Track)

1. Day 1: Colombo → Galle (Highway). Galle Fort walk + sunset.
2. Day 2: Galle → Mirissa (beach/whales) → Colombo (Highway night bus).

3 Days (Balanced)

1. Colombo → Galle (Highway AM). Explore Fort.
2. Galle → Mirissa AM; Mirissa → Matara PM (stay near Polhena/turtles).
3. Matara → Colombo (Highway) or continue to Tangalle/Arugam Bay via Wellawaya.

4 Days (Scenic + Flex)

1. Colombo → Galle (Coastal for scenery).
2. Galle → Hikkaduwa AM swim; back to Galle evening.
3. Galle → Mirissa → Matara (stay Matara).
4. Matara → Colombo (Highway) or Matara → Ella (via Wellawaya) for hills.

Timing, Crowding, Safety

• Best departure: Pre-8 AM for smooth highway runs.
• Avoid: Friday PM/Sunday PM coastal congestion; post-9 PM coastal for solo travelers.
• Last buses: Highway thins after ~9 PM; coastal runs late but slower.

Micro-Hops Cheat Sheet

• Galle → Unawatuna: 10–15 min; very frequent.
• Unawatuna → Mirissa: 35–50 min; ask for “Mirissa junction.”
• Mirissa → Weligama: 10–15 min; surfboard? Board through rear door carefully.
• Weligama → Matara: 20–30 min; last mini ~9–10 PM.

Related Resources

• Highway Express Buses (E01/E03/E04)
• Colombo → Galle Bus Guide
• How to Use Public Buses
• All Bus Routes Directory