Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Jaffna travel guide

Jaffna Tourism | Jaffna Guide

You're Going to Love Jaffna

With a population of 169,102, Jaffna is the largest city in Northern, Sri Lanka by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Jaffna has to offer.

When to visit Jaffna

Jaffna in November
Estimated hotel price
$18
1 night at 3-star hotel
Jaffna in November
Estimated hotel price
$18
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Jaffna in April, when the average temperature is 84.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as 71.6 °F, with an average temperature of 75.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 15″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Jaffna, with an average rainfall of 0.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Jaffna

Plane

When flying to Jaffna, you’ll arrive at Jaffna Kankesanturai (JAF), which is located 15 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Jaffna is to pick up a car rental from Colombo, which is about 305 km from Jaffna. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in Colombo.

Plane

When flying to Jaffna, you’ll arrive at Jaffna Kankesanturai (JAF), which is located 15 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Jaffna is to pick up a car rental from Colombo, which is about 305 km from Jaffna. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in Colombo.

Airlines serving Jaffna

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Where to stay in Jaffna

Average rates range from around $29 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $54 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Jaffna

Most booked hotels in Jaffna

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The Thinnai Suites
4 stars
Excellent (9, 390 reviews)
$78+
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Fox Jaffna by Fox Resorts - Boutique Heritage Luxury
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 602 reviews)
$68+
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North Gate Jaffna
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 704 reviews)
$74+
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Jetwing Jaffna
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 755 reviews)
$85+
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The Valampuri
3 stars
Good (7.3, 580 reviews)
$44+
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Renting a car in Jaffna

Expect to pay $5.45 per gallon in Jaffna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.41 and $87.22.

Expect to pay $5.45 per gallon in Jaffna (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.41 and $87.22.