Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.5 °C | 28.1 °C | 11 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| February | 31.3 °C | 28.4 °C | 10 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| March | 31.2 °C | 29.4 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| April | 31.1 °C | 30.3 °C | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 29.8 °C | 29.8 °C | 30 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 29 °C | 28.9 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| July | 28.8 °C | 28.2 °C | 28 days | Unfavourable season |
| August | 28.5 °C | 27.9 °C | 28 days | Unfavourable season |
| September | 28.5 °C | 28.1 °C | 28 days | Unfavourable season |
| October | 28.6 °C | 28.4 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 28.8 °C | 28.8 °C | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 29.6 °C | 28.6 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
Nearby in May
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
E-visa to apply for online before departure (free of charge) for stays of up to 30 days. Passport valid for at least 6 months. The ETA is described as a form of visa: apply online before travelling; issued free of charge and valid for 30 days.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 26 May 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
No specific restrictions
Usual precautions apply.
Official advice updated 26 May 2026
Health
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies and Japanese encephalitis depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · None.
Mosquitoes · dengue and Zika reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Colombo in May?
The sea averages 29.8°C in May — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Colombo in May?
Expect 29.8°C in the afternoon and 25.6°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Colombo in May?
Around 30 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 97% of days.