At first, we were quite confused and not sure if getting the bus from Tangalle to Mirissa was the best option. There wasn’t much information available and it’s not possible to check the schedule online. In the end, we simply turned up at the bus station and the full experience was relatively easy. In this guide we share how to get from Tangalle to Mirissa by bus (and the other way round). 

We also have a post on our time in Sri Lanka covering our favourite spots if you want to see more!

Jump to:

• Tangalle Bus Station Experience
• Bus Journey from Tangalle to Mirissa 
• Final Thoughts: How to Get from Tangalle to Mirissa by Bus 

Tangalle Bus Station Experience

It can be quite confusing to understand at first where you need to catch the bus from. The easiest way would be to go to Tangalle bus station which is located in the centre of town. See the exact location on the map below. 

Tangalle bus station has a small information desk where we inquired there how to get from Tangalle to Mirissa. We were told that to get to Mirissa directly we can either get bus number 32 that departs every 30 minutes or one of the buses heading all the way to Galle, that are slightly less frequent. There’s also an option to get a bus to Matara and change there. Buses to Matara depart approximately every 10 minutes but we opted to wait for the direct service. 

Overall, the bus station felt fairly chaotic at first, but it was more of an organised chaos. The bus station is pretty big and there’s a lot of buses so you need to make sure you stand in the right place. Saying that, buses have numbers and destinations written at the front and the drivers shout where they head before departing. We also relied a lot on friendly locals that were very helpful in directing us where to go, which made our experience much easier.  There were a few other foreign travellers around, but the station was mostly filled with locals.

Bus Journey from Tangalle to Mirissa

We just missed a direct bus to Mirissa so we waited around 30 minutes until the bus heading to Galle came. Bus drivers tend to be in a hurry, so you’ll need to hop on quickly when one arrives. Despite travelling with some luggage, we managed to get seats and found the journey fairly comfortable. That said, if you’re travelling with large suitcases or a lot of bags, the bus may not be the most convenient option.

Tickets are sold on board by a conductor who walks through the bus after passengers get on. We paid 189 Sri Lankan Rupees per person which is around £0.5. Make sure you have cash with you and ideally change to pay for the bus. 

There’s no air conditioning on the bus but windows open creating a nice breeze. We made some short stops along the way and the journey was pretty scenic, following the coastline. We stopped in Matara for a bit longer where a lot of people got on and off and the bus became busier. At that point, there were quite a few people standing so be prepared that you might not always be able to get a seat. Bear in mind that safety standards are different from those in Europe. There are no seatbelts and the drivers can be fast.

Locals were very helpful in letting us know when we were approaching our stop. Mirissa doesn’t have an official bus station and instead, the bus drops you off at a small roadside stop right in the centre of town. From there, it was less than a 10 minute walk to our hotel. The total journey took just over 1.5 hours and overall it was smooth and fairly comfortable. The map and picture below show where we got off in Mirissa. 

Final Thoughts: How to Get from Tangalle to Mirissa by Bus

We’d definitely recommend using the bus, it’s a great option to experience local travel and save some money. The journey was relatively quick and straightforward, just be aware of the fast driving and limited luggage space.

We also travelled from Mirissa to Galle and Unawatuna by bus, with each journey costing less than £0.50 per person. Catching the bus from the same stop in the centre of Mirissa. In coastal areas, we noticed some other tourists using the bus too and the views along the way were very nice. We generally felt safe on the bus and we recommend using it for shorter journeys in Sri Lanka, especially in coastal areas. 

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to get from Tangalle to Mirissa by bus. Also see our full guide on  Is Tangalle Worth Visiting? – spoiler, yes it is!