Where to change money, which corners of the island are still cash-only, and when tipping is genuinely expected — for safari jeep drivers, luggage porters, hotel staff and your own chauffeur.
Getting rupees
Sri Lanka's currency is the rupee (LKR), and it is a closed currency — you cannot usefully obtain it before you arrive. Plan to change money or withdraw on landing.
There are exchange counters and ATMs in the arrivals hall at Colombo airport, and both work fine for an initial amount. Bank ATMs in towns are widespread and generally the most convenient option once you are travelling. Rates and fees move constantly, so check the day's rate rather than relying on anything written in advance — including here.
paymentsChange a modest amount at the airport
Enough for the first day or two. You are not committed to the arrivals-hall rate for your whole trip, and your chauffeur can stop at a bank or ATM whenever you need more.
Where cards stop working
Cards are fine in hotels, larger restaurants, Colombo malls and established shops. Outside those, assume cash.
- Rural guesthouses and family-run restaurants.
- Tuk-tuks, roadside stalls and village markets.
- National park gates and safari jeep operators.
- Many heritage site entrance counters.
- Tips, everywhere.
Keep a working float of cash on you and top it up in towns rather than waiting until you need it. The places you most want to spend money in are often the ones least able to take a card.
When tipping is expected
Tipping is appreciated across Sri Lanka and is a normal part of service work, but it is not compulsory and nobody will pursue you for it. It is a thank-you for good service, not a surcharge.
Many hotels and larger restaurants already add a service charge to the bill. Check before you add more — you are not obliged to tip twice, and staff do not expect it.
Where a tip genuinely lands well: a safari jeep driver who worked to find you a leopard, a porter who carried bags up a hill in the heat, housekeeping over a multi-night stay, a site guide who gave you more than the standard script. Small amounts given directly and in person are the norm. We have deliberately not published rate tables here, because the right amount depends on the service and the length of your stay — ask your chauffeur what is reasonable in the moment and he will tell you straight.
volunteer_activismTipping your TSP chauffeur
Entirely optional. Your driver is fairly paid by us, and his accommodation and meals are already covered in your rate — he is not depending on a tip. If you would like to give one at the end of the trip, hand it to him directly in any major currency. Nothing is collected or taken by the office.
Small things that save money and hassle
- Break large notes when you can. Small vendors and tuk-tuk drivers often cannot change them.
- Refuse torn or heavily damaged notes when you receive them — you may struggle to spend them on.
- Keep some small denominations aside specifically for tips and entrance counters.
- Change leftover rupees back before you fly out, and keep your exchange receipts.
If anything here is unclear, or you want to sanity-check a price someone has quoted you, message us. We would rather answer a question than have a guest overpay.
