Sri Lanka isn’t one of those countries where only visiting two to three cities suffices to give you a flavour of the country. Plus, being an island country a little smaller than Ireland, most iconic landmarks in Sri Lanka are one to four hours away from each other. The variety of landmarks and compact area of the country are ideal for a road trip. Though only a few do an actual road trip here, it gets more expensive than the amount people usually want to spend while travelling in Southeast Asian countries. Sri Lanka is mostly travelled by a combination of trains, buses, tuk-tuks, and cabs.
Coming back to the point:. There are numerous interesting places to visit in Sri Lanka, but in most probability, you will not be able to visit all of them. The number of places you can visit obviously depends on how much time you have in hand and if you’re travelling on a budget or not. To make matters worse, there are no clear winners between these cities. This dilemma has given birth to this article, ’15 Beautiful Places to Visit in Sri Lanka’, that will help you choose places easily as it also lists down the main things to do there.Â
Typically, you should visit at least one (if not more) of each of the below-mentioned five categories to really know what Sri Lanka has to offer. You can click on the respective places to find out more or scroll through the article.
Categories
1. Beach: For chilling, partying, surfing, and marine-life.
Main Options: Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa/Weligama, Tangalle, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee. We have covered only the first three.2. Hills and Tea Plantations- For hiking, picturesque sceneries, mountainside train rides, and tea fields.
Main Options: Ella, Nuwara Eliya3. Wildlife- To see wild elephants, leopards, sloth bears and more.
Main Options: Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Minneriya National Park. We have covered only the first one.4. Historical Sites- To know about Sri Lanka’s past and admire its architectural wonders.
Main Options: Galle, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya5. Cultural Sites- Religious and cultural sites that define Sri Lanka.
Main Options: Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Adam’s Peak, Kandy, Jaffna
This article is going to take you through the places to visit in Sri Lanka in order of their location in the country so making your itineraries will be a little easier. You can reverse the order too if you like.
Places to visit in Sri Lanka: Take your pick
1. Colombo
Your flight will land in Negombo, which is 32 km from Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. You can opt to stay in Negombo itself or transfer to Colombo, depending on how much time you have. Since Colombo is a typical city with not much to do, I wouldn’t suggest spending too much time here—a day at most.Fort Area: The fort area is packed with colonial-era-style buildings that make for an interesting short walk of 1.3 km. Start at the Sambodhi Chaitanya, a Buddhist stupa that looks like a rocket. From there, you can head towards Colombo Lighthouse and Lighthouse Clock Tower, ending at the Old Dutch Hospital. This hospital has been converted into a dining and shopping precinct. Stroll through the funky stores and end with a meal at the Ministry of Crab. If you’re not into seafood, choose from the other restaurants in the building.
Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque: Located in the Pettah market, it is a striking mosque with candy-style red and white striped exteriors. There is a special entrance gate for visitors that is open from 9AM to 5PM. The wares and hustle-bustle of the Pettah market itself may be fascinating for travellers who aren’t from South East Asia.
Watch the Sunset from Galle Face Green: Everyone recommends Galle Face Green for a stroll to see the locals hang out and fly kites, and to sample Sri Lankan street food. We didn’t see the charm of it, but yes, it makes for a good place to watch the sunset as it is next to the ocean.
Other things to do in Colombo- the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple and Beira Lake (Simamalaka Shrine at the lake’s island).
For tours from Colombo, see here.
2. Galle
Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a charming fort city in south-west Sri Lanka.
Walk the ramparts:Â Walk the ramparts of the fort from one end to the other to see the expanse of the ocean at every step, the old prison, the lighthouse and clocktower. Watch the sunset from Flag Rock.
Shop and Dine:Â Walk through its narrow streets admiring the Dutch architecture of the villas, shop at quaint stores, buy souvenirs, admire art at galleries, and eat at cute cafes.
Stilt Fishing:Â Do not miss watching stilt fishing at Kogalla. You can even try your hand at it if you give a small tip.
Others things to do in Galle- You can also visit the Old Dutch Hospital, Clock Tower, Maritime Museum, Dutch Church and All Saints depending on how much time you have here.
You can spend the night in Galle if the things I have mentioned interest you to no end. If you intend to do only a few activities, I would recommend spending the night at the neighbouring beaches of Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa and taking a day trip to Galle.
3. Unawatuna
Unawatuna is a beach town located 6 km from Galle. Chill at the beaches here, take a dip in the water and sip on some king coconut or beer. Best way to see the area would be on a rented bike.
Beach Swings: Hop on one of the beach swings hung from drooping palm trees at Dalawella Beach or Mihiripenna Beach. The most popular one, that you’ve probably seen all over Instagram, is at Dalawella. Read this article on visiting the rope swing at Dalawella Beach to know details on how to find it, when to visit, helpful tips, and other things to see around.
Cost: LKR 300-500
Water Sports: If you’re adventurous, you might enjoy some scuba diving. Unawatuna has a coral reef just off the shore. You can also indulge in a wreck dive to a sunk 100-year old British ship. The surf here is best for beginners.
Surf Board Price: LKR 250/hour
Lessons: LKR 2000
Visit here for diving prices.
Japanese Peace Pagoda: For a sweeping sunset view of the ocean, stroll up to the Pagoda’s circular viewing deck. The Pagoda is located on a hillside at the end of the Unawatuna Beach.
Party: If you’re a party person, choose Unawatuna as a base to explore Galle and Hikkaduwa. The main street is filled with bars and clubs. Try the Kingfisher Beach Bar, Lucky Tuna and Happy Banana.
4. Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa, once a fishing village, is now a popular surf town in south-west Sri Lanka.
Surf and Paddle Boarding: The surf is again best for beginners. Surf and paddleboards are available for rent on the beach itself.
Lessons- LKR 2000 per hour.
Board rental- LKR 250-500 per hour and LKR 1300 for the day
Turtle Paradise– Keep a lookout for giant turtles at the southern end of the beach. If that’s not enough, you can visit the Turtle Hatchery. They release baby turtles into the water in the early evening on most days, and you can too.
Fee for Hatchery- LKR 500
Snorkelling and Diving- Another fun thing to do here would be to go snorkelling in the maritime reserve off the coast of the town. You can rent snorkelling gear and take a boat ride out to the Hikkaduwa Coral Reef. You can also opt to scuba dive.
Cost for a Snorkelling Tour- Approx. LKR 2000.
Glass-Bottom Boating– If you aren’t into snorkelling but still want to watch the ocean life, you can opt to take a ride out on a glass-bottom boat. How fun is that!
Cost: LKR 4000 for an hour
5. Mirissa
Mirissa is a very lively beach that will make you feel like you aren’t in Sri Lanka. It is full of international tourists sunbathing outside the restaurants lined up at the beach. Albeit a little crowded, the vibe of Mirissa is awesome.
Whale Watching: Mirissa is particularly famous for tours that leave at 6:30 am to spot the mighty blue whales. If you’ve whale watched before, I would suggest skipping this as you have to wake up early and be on the boat for about four to eight hours.
Parrot Rock:Â At Mirissa Beach, you will notice a huge rock just off the shore. Do wade the water and climb to the top of Parrot Rock for the sunset view.
Coconut Tree Hill:Â In the early morn, head on over to this small hill full of coconut trees right at the shore which makes for a picturesque view. It is a bit of a walk from the main Mirissa beach. Although it was very crowded in the evening, the sunset here was spectacular.
Secret Beach– Visit this relatively empty beach that isn’t so secret anymore. It is located about 2 km from Mirissa Beach.
Surfing:Â If you want to try your hand at surfing and are skipping Hikkaduwa then try it at Weligama (8 km from Mirissa).
Lesson Fee- LKR 2000 – 3000 per hour (book here)
Board Rental- LKR 250 – 500 per hour
6. Yala National Park
Yala National park, located in southern Sri Lanka, not only has a scenic landscape but also the highest density of leopards in the world. On your Jeep Safari through the park, you will also get to see elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, wild pigs, buffalos and a huge variety of birds apart from the fascinating leopards.
The park has two entry times- 6am and 3pm. Stay at Tissa Town or better yet inside Yala itself in a chalet or a glamping tent the night before and enjoy this four-hour ride through the park early morning.
The drivers usually speak little to no English so hiring a guide or going on a guided tour would be helpful to spot animals and birds and know more about them and the park.
If you’re aren’t able to make it to Yala, try visiting at least one of Sri Lanka’s other national parks, the more famous ones being Minneriya (high grass, hard to spot anything but elephants) and Udawalawe (cheaper and less crowded if you want to just see elephants).
7. Ella
Let me begin by saying- of all the places to visit in Sri Lanka, this one is my favourite. Ella is a town up in the hills surrounded by tea plantations and greenery, has cute eateries, bars and stores, and some accommodations have epic sunrise and sunset views.
Hike Little Adam’s Peak: An easy two-hour round trip through tea plantations. Here you will get epic views of the Ella Gap and humongous Ella Rock. The sunset is extraordinary.
Hike Ella Rock: The 3-4 hours hike is a little complicated as there is no definite marked trail. You can read this article for a guide on getting to Ella Rock or safer yet, hire a guide.
Nine Arches Bridge:Â This stone bridge is quite popular due to its stunning lush setting that makes for a good photography spot. Make sure to go there based on train timings for great pictures- 9:30, 11:30, 15:30, 16:30, and 17:30.
Lipton’s Seat: Lipton’s seat is a famous viewpoint 28km from Ella that has epic views of tea fields. Sir Lipton used to use this spot to have a look at his estate. Afterwards, you can visit the Dambatenna Tea Factory to learn the tea making process.
Other things to do in Ella- Visit the Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, Diyaluma falls (2nd highest in Sri Lanka), Ravana Falls, Ravana’s Cave, Zipline (on the way to Little Adam’s Peak) or take a cooking class at Spice Garden.
Take a train from Ella to Nuwara Eliya or from Ella to Kandy and be rewarded with splendid valley sceneries and vast expanses of tea fields. This ride is known to be one of the most picturesque ones in the world. However, do pre-book the tickets below as they sell out pretty fast.
8. Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya, once a summer escape for the British, is known as Sri Lanka’s Little England. With its misty weather, colonial-style buildings, red telephone boxes, well-tended hedge-rose gardens and expanses of tea fields, it lives up to its name.
Tea Tasting: It would be one of the best places to visit tea plantations and factories. Pedro is the most famous of these but you could visit others like Labookellie and Bluefields. Have delicious free tea and buy some for home.
World’s End: From Nuwara Eliya, it would make sense to visit World’s End, a walk through the flora and fauna rich Horton Plains that ends in a 2800-feet drop. You should get to the World’s End point before 10 am as it gets cloudy afterword. The catch is that even then you may find cloud cover. Total cost (entry + vehicle to get there) should be about LKR 3000-4000 if visiting via shared transport. If visiting via own transport, it could go up to about LKR 8000-10000.
Other things to do in Nuwara Eliya- Victoria Park, row a boat in Gregory lake or take a walk around it; chase waterfalls like Lover’s Leap, Devon, Bomburu Ella and St.Clairs; and taste tea at Mlesna Tea Castle. See tours here.
If you don’t have enough time in Sri Lanka, you should choose one between Ella or Nuwara Eliya. If you’re into hiking visit Ella else maybe Nuwara as the town is prettier. Though I would still suggest visiting Ella!
9. Adam’s Peak
Adam’s Peak, or Sri Pada, is one of the highest mountains on the island, standing tall at 2243m. It is a place of pilgrimage as it houses a footprint that is believed to be that of God, the name of whom differs with faith: Lord Shiva, Gautam Buddha, or Adam (first footstep after being expelled from the garden of Eden). Tourists typically visit for the night hike and the sunrise view. At dawn, the mountain casts a pyramid-shaped shadow, which is quite spectacular. Fortunately, Adam’s Peak is free to access, unlike a lot of tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. The best time would be to visit during the pilgrimage season, from December to May.
You would need to set aside about 7 hours for this hike. It would be best to stop at Dalhousie town for the night and start the trek at 2 a.m.–3 a.m. (accounting for pace and human traffic jams) to be on top by 6 a.m.–6 a.m. Check out this detailed article to learn more about Adam’s peak visit.
10. Kandy
Kandy is not only the second-largest city in Sri Lanka but is also its most significant cultural and religious centre. It is pretty with its lake, colonial buildings and religious sites.
Temple of the Tooth Relic: This exquisite temple houses the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha. It is very crowded as it is the main reason why people visit Kandy. Do not wear black when you visit and dress conservatively.
Entry Fee- LKR 1000
Walk by the Lake: When here, do not miss walking around the lake in the evening. The wide sidewalk with arching trees, chirping birds, and sunset colours make for a pleasant stroll.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden:Â This beautiful garden, located right outside of Kandy, has towering palm trees (a popular Instagram pic location), a spice garden, and a vast collection of orchids. Perfect place for an afternoon nap under the trees.
Entry Fee- LKR 1500
Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex – Located 25.2 km from Kandy, it is a multi-religious centre. The highlight is the ascent of a spiral stairway that stretches up and along the outer peripheral of a stupa. Standing atop 1,965 feet from the town below you will get 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, forests, rivers and towns.Â
Entry Fee- LKR 300
Watch this video to know if it’s too scary for you.
Other things you can do in Kandy– visit the Buddha statue atop a hill, visit temples and museums, watch a traditional Kandyan dance and drum show, and tour a spice plantation. Book tours in Kandy here.
11. Dambulla
There are two sites to see in and around Dambulla. Dambulla would make a good stop in case you are to see Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and intend to take a bus there. If you’re not taking a bus to any one of these locations, I wouldn’t suggest staying here but only visiting on your way from Kandy to Sigiriya or vice versa.
The Dambulla Cave Temple or Golden Temple – It is the largest and most well-preserved cave complex in Sri Lanka. This ancient Buddhist pilgrimage has five major caves with statues of Buddha, Sri Lankan kings, gods; giant cave murals; and intricate prehistoric paintings. This UNESCO World Heritage site is located on a 600 ft. high rock with great views of the Dambulla plains. Entry Fee- LKR 1500
Nalanda Gedige– Between Dambulla and Kandy (24 km from Dambulla Cave) is Nalanda Gedige, an ancient Buddhist stone temple built in a Hindu architectural style located at the earlier thought of central point of Sri Lanka. The best bit is that this spot isn’t very well known among tourists and hence is very peaceful. Only visit here if you aren’t visiting Polonnaruwa, else it may feel like repetition.
12. Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a small town built around its main attraction- the Sigiriya or Lion Rock. I am recommending staying here so you can climb one rock for sunrise and another for sunset. If you’re not looking to climb both rocks and are travelling by bus around the country, you could stay at Dambulla as it has better connectivity to other cities.
Sigiriya Rock– A trip to Sri Lanka is not complete without visiting this fortress built atop a monolithic rock. It is one of the most important historical places to visit in Sri Lanka (interesting too!) and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its main entrance is shaped like a huge stone lion but only the lion’s paws have survived the years. It is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and a moat with crocodiles. It might be worthwhile hiring a guide to check out the not popularly known areas of the fort and make the most of your visit.
Entry Fee- LKR 2700 for SAARC and USD 30 for other countries.
Pidurangala Rock– The Pidurangala Rock is located right in front of the Lion Rock. Climb this rock, for a magnificent view of the Lion Rock surrounded by the lush greenery of the plains below. It will have a lesser crowd than Lion Rock at sunrise but the climb isn’t as defined and straight forward. Wear sturdy shoes, and be ready to climb some rocks.
Entry Fee- LKR 500
13. Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa, now the ruins of an ancient city, was the second capital of Sri Lanka between the 11th to 13th century after the destruction of Anuradhapura. Due to its archaeological prominence and ancient technological superiority, UNESCO declared Polonnaruwa as a World Heritage Site. You can’t see the whole of Pollonurwa in one day and don’t need to, but just enough to get a good understanding of the variety of architecture here. With its ancient tombs and temples, statues and stupas, the city is a delight to explore. It would be best to do a day trip from Sigiriya and explore the city by hiring a bicycle or renting an auto and hiring guide to understand the ancient structures and history better.
For more on Polonnaruwa read 10 Must-See Things in the Ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
14. Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is a sacred city that was established around a cutting from the ‘tree of enlightenment’, the Buddha’s fig tree, brought there in the 3rd century B.C. After which, it blossomed into the political and religious capital of Ceylon (erstwhile Sri Lanka) for 1300 years. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of architectural wonders like brick stupas, pools and temples ruins that serve as religious sites today.
For things to do in Anuradhapura read 10 beautiful places to explore in Anuradhapura.
If you’re short on time, choose either Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura. Both form part of the cultural triangle, but Polonnaruwa is smaller in scale and better preserved.
15. Jaffna
Jaffna, located in North West Sri Lanka, is unlike the other parts of the country mentioned above. While most of the country has a prevalence of Sinhalese and Buddhist cultures, the north-west is mainly Tamil Hindu. The part of the country was at the centre of the 26-year civil war which ended in 2009.
Sites to see in Jaffna include the Jaffna Dutch Fort, the colourful Nallur Kandaswamy Hindu temple and a day trip to the relatively untouched Delft Island.
This area is less frequented by tourists owing to its distance from the rest of the popular towns and cities which are located toward the centre and south of the country.Â
\Wrapping up
We think that some places are must-visits on short trips and some should be accommodated only on longer trips.
Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka on a 1-2 Week Trip:
- Galle – Dutch Fort City
- Mirissa/Unawatuna – Beach, Surfing and Fun
- Yala – Leopards and Elephants in the Wild
- Ella – Hills, Hikes and Tea plantations
- Kandy- Tooth Relic Temple
- Sigiriya – History and Hikes
- Polonnaruwa – Culture and Architecture
Places to Visit in Sri Lanka on a 2-3 Week Trip (Plus Above):
- Hikkaduwa – Turtles and Surfing
- Nuwara Eliya – English Town and Tea Fields
- Adam’s Peak – Epic Hike
- Anuradhapura – Religion and Culture
- Dambulla – Cave Temple
Places to Visit in Sri Lanka only on a 3-4 Week Trip (Plus Above):
- Jaffna – War History, Different from rest of Sri Lanka
- Arugam Bay (West), Trincomalee (West) and Tangalle (South)
I hope this article gives you a feel of what Sri Lanka has to offer and helps you decide which cities are best for your itinerary. Let us know in the comments which places to visit in Sri Lanka appeal to you the most. Also, you can have a look at our 1-4 Week Sri Lanka itineraries to plan your vacation easily and our Sri Lanka Travel Guide to know all there is to have an epic trip.
Images marked ‘*’ are stock photos from Unsplash/ Pixabay/Pexels.
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Your beach pictures look amazing. I am going to pin it right now! Your travel post are amazing. Love all the places you visit! I am very jealous! Great POST!!!!!!
Thanks for the compliments and the pin. You should visit here someday 🙂
Sri Lanka looks breathtaking! Thank you so much for sharing these views with us.
You’re welcome
What a beautiful country to visit! The views are stunning. I would love to visit the lighthouse in Galle. Oh, and those beaches are so lovely too. The beach swing looks like a lot of fun!
I love Sri Lanka so much, we were there earlier this year for our honeymoon and had an amazing time exploring the country! We only got to see a fraction of it though and I am desperate to go back and check out the beaches, they look amazing!
Congrats on your wedding! It is great to hear that you had an amazing time there.
OMG! This looks so incredible! It must awesome to travel to such a beautiful place!
It was so awesome that we plan to go back one day.
It sounds like an amazing place to visit. There appears to be loads to see and do. The stilt fishing is something I’ve not heard of before.
Interesting story- the stilt fisherman now earn more money from tourists wanting photographs than from selling fish. So the act of stilt fishing for fish is slowly dying.
Wow Sri Lanka looks amazing! I haven’t been but one day perhaps we’ll be able to go. I will add it to my travel list!
That’s awesome. Sri Lanka should definitely be on your travel list.
Sri Lanks is really beautiful. The beaches would be my go-to places. I can just imagine being on a beach swing. Hmm.
Thank you so much for this review! I’m going to save it to come back to because I’d really love to visit Sri Lanka in a thorough way.
Thanks for the save. I’m sure you will love Sri Lanka when you travel there.
All your pictures just make me wish traveling is possible right now. These places all look so beautiful! I love the shot with the stilt fishermen!
xo Jules
http://www.dearblissbyjules.com
Oh, how we too wish it was possible!
Wow Sri Lanka looks amazing !thank you so much for this review 🙂
You’re welcome, Aanya. Sri Lanka is truly amazing.