Cash or card in Sri Lanka? What actually works
Cards work in hotels and city restaurants, but tuk-tuks, guesthouses and markets run on cash. How to split your money, and where the ATMs are. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and the main tourist towns. Everywhere else, from tuk-tuks to roadside kades and small guesthouses, Sri Lanka.
The practical picture
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and the main tourist towns. Everywhere else, from tuk-tuks to roadside kades and small guesthouses, Sri Lanka runs on cash.
A good split: withdraw rupees from a bank ATM every few days (Commercial Bank, Sampath and HNB machines are everywhere in towns), keep small notes for transport and snacks, and save the card for accommodation and bigger meals. Withdraw before heading into the hill country or along the east coast, where machines thin out.
Frequently asked
Are credit cards widely accepted in Sri Lanka?
Are ATMs easy to find?
Should I bring US dollars?
Places in this guide
Sources
We compile and link to public sources; details change, so verify time-sensitive specifics before you travel.