SeasonMapBentota weather in January
Sri Lanka
January in Bentota: hot, rainy, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit.
#2 of 12 months in Bentota · #393 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 83/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Bentota in January
Notes from nearby Colombo (59 km away)
Bentota doesn't have its own notes for January yet — these are about Colombo, close enough to share the season.
Colombo's forum calls January favorable — mostly sunny with light showers rather than sustained rain, and warm calm seas good for swimming. Regulars flag the northeast monsoon as still active this time of year, so the north and northeast of the island see more rain than the south-west coast where Colombo sits.
Add your own note from Bentota's card on the map.
Bentota climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 29°C / 85°F | 🥵 hot |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 24°C / 74°F | |
| Sea temperature | 28°C / 82°F | 😎 warm sea |
| Rainfall | 146 mm / 5.8 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 22°C / 72°F | |
| Sunshine | 9.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | |
| Wind | 7 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 93 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Bentota in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsSouthwest coast beach season, Year-end break in Sri Lanka, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Bentota's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherBentota's weather peaks January–March, best around February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Bentota in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Poya days
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresEvery full moon is a civil holiday and the sale of alcohol is prohibited islandwide, hotel bars included. There are thirteen or fourteen a year, so one will land on most trips. Source ↗
- Season
Southwest coast beach season
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyDry seasonCrowdedBook earlyThe rains ease and the sea flattens enough for the river-mouth watersports operators to run every day. This is when the resort strip is full and priced accordingly, with the peak over Christmas and New Year.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Bentota — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Bentota?
Bentota in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Bentota?
- January in Bentota: hot, rainy, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Bentota on SeasonMap's comfort score (83/100).
- What is the weather like in Bentota in January?
- In January, Bentota averages a daily high of 29.4°C and a low of 23.5°C, with about 146.3 mm of rain over roughly 15.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Bentota in January?
- Bentota has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 93 in January.
Other months in Bentota
Compare Bentota in January
Warmer or cooler than Bentota in January
Similar destinations in South Asia — January
Within 300 km: Colombo's Blue whales off Mirissa around 1 Nov – 15 Apr, and Mirissa's Blue whale season on 1 Nov – 15 Apr.