Matara Guide 2026: Beaches, Food and Places to Stay
Matara's top-rated beaches, sights, food and places to stay, ranked from Google Maps
Friday.lk
3 min read · Checked 26 October 2026
This guide lists the places in Matara that Google Maps users rate highest, with how many people reviewed them and their opening hours. Every place below was listed as open on Google Maps on 26 October 2026. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps before you go, because hours and prices change.
- Things to see: The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara, rated 4.8 from 1,320 reviews.
- Where to eat: Sara Kitchen, rated 4.9 from 365 reviews.
- Where to stay: Hotel Polhena Holiday Resort, rated 4.8 from 85 reviews.
Good to know
- Swim only where locals and lifeguards say it is safe. Sea conditions change with the monsoon.
Things to see
Beaches, the lighthouse and sights with the most Google reviews.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara
Rated 4.8 from 1,320 reviews · Church
Hours: Daily 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM
WHV2+7QQ, Matara
Turtle Bay Activity Center By oska
Rated 4.8 from 428 reviews · Services
Hours: Daily 8 AM - 6 PM
126 C Polhena Road, Beach Rd, Matara 81000
Rated 4.6 from 2,613 reviews · Landmark
Hours: Daily 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Dondra Lighthouse, Port Access Road, Dondra
Weherahena Poorwarama Rajamaha Viharaya
Rated 4.6 from 1,874 reviews · Buddhist Temple
Hours: Daily 6 AM - 9 PM
Weherahena Rd, Matara
දෙවුන්දර තුඩුව| Point of Devundara
Rated 4.5 from 121 reviews · Tourist Attraction
Hours: Daily 8 AM - 5 PM
WH9R+M2Q, Dondra
Rated 4.4 from 1,058 reviews · Buddhist Temple
Hours: Open 24 hours
Golden Island Pathway, Matara
Star Fort - Matara | තාරකා කොටුව - මාතර
Rated 4.4 from 757 reviews
Hours: Mon 9 AM - 4 PM; Tue Closed; Wed-Sun 9 AM - 4 PM
WGXX+898, B535, Matara
Where to eat
Restaurants in Matara with strong Google ratings.
Rated 4.9 from 365 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 12 - 10 PM
Matara, Sri Lanka
Rated 4.9 from 203 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 10 PM; Sat 9 AM - 10 PM; Sun 10 AM - 10 PM
Beach Rd, Matara 81000
Rated 4.8 from 184 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Open 24 hours
WGP8+X37, Madiha Rd, Matara
Rated 4.9 from 80 reviews · Family Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 8:30 AM - 10 PM
14 Madiha Rd, Matara 81000
Rated 4.7 from 149 reviews · Restaurant · Cheap
Hours: Mon-Thu 12 - 10 PM; Fri-Sun 12:30 - 10 PM
Madhiha Pemananda mw, Matara 81000
Where to stay
Hotels and guesthouses in Matara.
Rated 4.8 from 85 reviews · Hotel
18 Sri Dammarathana Mawatha, Matara 81000
How to choose in a minute
- Things to see: best rated is The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara (4.8). Most reviewed is Lighthouse Dewundara (2,613 reviews).
- Where to eat: best rated is Sara Kitchen (4.9). Open latest: Sara Kitchen, until 10 PM.
- Where to stay: best rated is Hotel Polhena Holiday Resort (4.8). Most reviewed is Hotel Nawathana (304 reviews).
More on Friday.lk
Common questions
What are the top things to see in Matara?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara (4.8 from 1,320 reviews), Turtle Bay Activity Center By oska (4.8 from 428 reviews), Lighthouse Dewundara (4.6 from 2,613 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
Where should I eat in Matara?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are Sara Kitchen (4.9 from 365 reviews), The Hunger Haven Polhena (4.9 from 203 reviews), Island Kitchen (4.8 from 184 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
Where to stay: which are rated best in Matara?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are Hotel Polhena Holiday Resort (4.8 from 85 reviews), Hotel Ferola (4.6 from 142 reviews), Bienvenido Cozy Madiha (4.4 from 149 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
How did you choose these places?
We searched Google Maps for each type of place in Matara. We kept only places Google lists as open, inside Matara, with enough reviews for the rating to mean something. Then we ranked them by rating, giving less weight to places with few reviews. We did not get paid to include any place.
Where this comes from
Ratings, review counts, opening hours, price levels and addresses are from Google Maps (Places API), checked on 26 October 2026. Google Maps users write the reviews; Friday.lk does not change them. We do not list prices because they change often.
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