Best places to visit in Sri Lanka: Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka boasts of incredible places to visit, offering a multitude of attractions such as sandy beaches, lush tea plantations, Buddhist monuments, colonial towns, and more. This compact island nation lies in the Indian Ocean, south of India. For a small country, Sri Lanka offers a very diverse set of experiences. And the places to visit and things to see in Sri Lanka are surprisingly varied, from national parks to beaches to cultural sites and more.

So what are the best places in Sri Lanka? The country offers a wide array of wildlife. Some fine sandy beaches are to be found here. From the coastal areas, it is not too far to experience misty mountains and lush tea plantations. As for the culturally inclined travelers, there are several UNESCO heritage sites and Buddhist monuments to explore. There are some charming colonial towns where wandering around will suit most tastes. Let’s dive into the top landmarks to visit in Sri Lanka. We saw many of these 15 incredible places during our family trip to Sri Lanka.

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Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

1. Sigiriya Lion Rock Citadel

A popular attraction in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka is the rock citadel of Sigiriya. This was the shortest-lived of all Sri Lanka’s medieval capitals. But its dramatic setting makes it a must-visit attraction. The rock citadel sits atop a massive rock and towers 200m above the surrounding countryside.

Climbing the rock citadel of Sigiriya, one of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, is a popular thing to do. You have to go early to avoid the heat and the crowds. You need to buy tickets to Sigiriya Lion Rock and to the museum. 

2. Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is a major UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancient first capital of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s longest-serving capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world is definitely one of the top landmarks for cultural immersion. It is famous for its vast collection of well-preserved ruins, colossal stupas, and sacred Buddhist sites.

The major attractions of Anuradhapura including Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, Jetavanarama, and Isurumuniya Temple, take half a day to explore. You can do a day trip to Anuradhapura from either Colombo or even Sigiriya.

3. Galle Fort

Galle, the country’s perfectly preserved colonial town, is a must on Sri Lanka’s ‘places to visit’ list. Ambling around the car-free streets of Galle, a Unesco World Heritage Site founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century, is like doing time travel. You come upon Dutch-period villas and buildings with original red-tiled roofs.

The topmost attraction is the Galle Fort, a historical and architectural monument that makes for a wonderful walking tour. Visit the ramparts of the Galle Fort in the evening before sunset. Locals and travelers gather there to have a chat, drink a beer and watch the sunset over the Indian ocean.

4. Elephant Safari Park

Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is part of the top 5 biodiversity hotspots in the world. The Sri Lankan elephant, sloth bear, leopard, sambar and wild buffalo are amongst the large mammals to be of interest to a wildlife enthusiast. The national parks in Sri Lanka are definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit and enjoy wildlife.

If you are visiting the central part of Sri Lanka, an elephant safari is a must. Note that elephant herds follow plentiful grasses migrating between Hurulu, Kaudulla and Minneriya national parks. The best time to visit Kaudulla national park is between August to December, though it can be visited all year round. Book a wildlife safari to Kaudulla with hotel pick-up and drop.

Minneriya National Park is one of the best to go on a elephant safari, due to its relatively small size and higher chances of spotting wildlife. One of the park’s notable events is known as “The Gathering,” which takes place during the dry season, which is usually between May and September. This natural phenomenon involves a large assembly of Asian elephants around the Minneriya Tank. Book a Minneriya National Park safari.

5. Kandy

Kandy is a major city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as the cultural capital of the country. Tourists and locals flock to the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic, a sacred shrine housing a tooth relic of the Buddha. Other attractions in Kandy include Kandy Lake, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue. It is possible to cover the sights in Kandy in one day.

Most folks who visit Kandy then take the scenic mountain railway that connects Kandy onward to Ella and Nuwara Eliya. 

6. Tangalle

Imagine this: a quiet town where life goes on slowly, lying on a sandy beach with a book, dipping your toes in the ocean, having a sundowner mesmerized as the sky lights up with hues of red, yellow, purple and orange, making a sand castle with your child.

Though there are plenty of beach towns in Sri Lanka to choose from, we loved Tangalle during our road trip to Sri Lanka. Tourism has not developed as much in Tangalle as the southwest coast. If you are looking for a vacation on unspoilt beaches, Tangalle doesn’t disappoint. It is wild and untouched and not crowded at all.

7. Yala national park

Yala is Sri Lanka’s most visited national park for a wildlife safari. The park is vast and borders Indian Ocean on one side. Yala is the place to head for leopards (though sightings are rare of these elusive creatures), crocodiles, sloth bears and a wide variety of birds. What we saw during our safaris at Yala park were elephants, crocodiles, wild peacocks, and monitor lizards!

While it’s possible to drive your own vehicle into the park most visitors come here on a safari jeep and Tissamaharama is where most safari tours for a full day depart from. The peak season to visit Yala is between February and March. This is the dry season, when water levels are low and it’s easier to spot animals.

8. World’s End, Horton Plains

At the elevation of about 2200 metres, Horton Plains is the highest national park in Sri Lanka. This location in the central highlands means it feels quite different from many of the others – cool and misty, for starters. 

World’s End is a spectacular cliff that plunges 880m at the edge of the Horton Plains plateau. The viewpoint is stunning and tea plantation villages can be spotted from the edge of the ridge. From here, you can look down across the green highlands all the way to the ocean – although clouds usually roll in during the morning so most people try to start the hike around dawn. A rewarding hike to World’s End is a 9.5km round trip via a beautiful waterfall.

9. Tea Plantation at Nuwara Eliya

The central highlands, filled with stirring mountains and lush green tea gardens, definitely make for one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. We drove through Nuwara Eliya to see vistas of rolling green landscapes shimmering in the sunlight, mingling with clouds and mist. I recommend this private Tuk Tuk Tea Tour in Nuwara Eliya to visit a Tea plantation and factory, enjoy plucking & tasting of tea, visit to the Ramboda Waterfall, and some hidden pool for swimming.

Nuwara Eliya also referred to as Sri Lanka’s ‘Little England’ makes a good base to explore the spectacular countryside and tea plantations. Or if you are not on a budget, experience a stay at a tea estate itself.

10. Polonnaruwa

Another cultural landmark of Sri Lanka is the extensive and well-preserved remains at Polonnaruwa, the island’s second capital after Anuradhapura. Polonnaruwa was the capital of the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms for about 3 centuries. There are many places to visit in Polonnaruwa, so do earmark 2-3 hours for sightseeing here.

The ruins of Polonnaruwa reminded me of Hampi in south India. The historical places in Polonnaruwa are in a compact area that gave us enough time to explore this site without any rush. 

11. Cave Temples of Dambulla

The rock cave temple of Dambulla is a popular cultural and religious site in Sri Lanka. There are about 80 documented caves within this area but 5 main ones to visit. The cave temple is situated at a height – about 350 feet above the surrounding plains carved from one side of a massive rock – and there are easy steps to reach the entrance.

While entering into a Buddhist temple, you are required to take off your footwear outside. It is considered an insult to show your back to the Buddha statue in the temple Both men and women should not have their upper arms and legs bare, so dress modestly for religious sites in Sri Lanka. 

12. Ella

Another appealing destination in the central highlands of Sri Lanka is Ella, an English village look-alike, surrounded by green hills and tea plantations. This laid-back mountain town is famous for lush tea plantations, dramatic waterfalls, and iconic railway views.

Amongst things to do on a first-time visit to Sri Lanka is to take a scenic train journey. Popular train routes include Colombo to Kandy, Colombo to Galle, and Kandy to Badulla via Ella. 

13. Adam’s Peak

Then there is Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) in central Sri Lanka, famous for a rock formation at its summit resembling a footprint. This soaring summit is one of Sri Lanka’s most striking natural landmarks, sort of a miniature Matterhorn where the ascent is traditionally made at night. It is also an essential Buddhist place of worship and has been an object of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. It is revered across four major faiths—Buddhists see it as the Buddha’s footprint, Hindus as Lord Shiva’s, and Muslims and Christians attribute it to Adam. 

Most hikers to Adam’s Peak start around 2:00 AM to reach the summit by dawn, avoiding daytime heat and catching the famous triangular sunrise shadow. For hiking enthusiasts, Little Adam’s Peak in Ella is another great option.

14. Whale watching in Mirissa

The ocean around the Sri Lankan island is home to the blue whale, sperm whale and dolphin. South of Galle lies Unawatuna and Mirissa, both with fine beaches. Mirissa is also the base for whale & dolphin watching tours.

Mirissa and Unawatuna are also popular for a laid-back beach life, coming back from a whale watching tour to a cold beer at a shack with music and laid-back vibes, having fresh seafood, and enjoying the day slip by.

If you are headed to the east side of the country, check out Arugam Bay with its fine sand, surf, and laid-back atmosphere. Besides surfing, there are many awesome things to do in Arugum Bay. Or visit Trincomalee for secluded beaches and other attractions.

15. Colombo

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital is where all international travelers begin their journey. It has become a worthy destination in its own right and makes an excellent start or finish to your Sri Lankan adventures.

Colombo Lotus Tower is a 350-meter communications and observation landmark offering panoramic views of the city skyline. There is Colombo Fort area with its colonial architecture, do visit the Old Dutch Hospital here. This beautifully restored colonial-era building complex now houses upscale restaurants and shops. Then there is Pettah with its crowded markets and the spiffy Galle road. See places to visit in Colombo in one day.

Travel Tips for Sri Lanka

When to go: It is a tropical country, and the best time to visit is from November to March. There are 2 rainy seasons to bear in mind: North-East monsoon (October to January) that affects the east coast and South-West monsoon (May to July) which mainly affects the west & south coast of Sri Lanka. We visited this country in November and the weather in Sri Lanka during November was pleasant and dry in the south western parts.

You can use your credit card everywhere from hotels to restaurants to larger shops. Yet cash is still needed in this country for many things during your trip. So do convert some some currency for Sri Lankan Rupee at the international airport.

There is a great network of hotels, to suit all budgets, and appeal from backpackers to elite travelers and everyone in between. The train network is extensive only in the west and south part of the country. The road network is not bad, and it is still not-too-expensive to hire a car with a driver, if you fancy a comfortable road trip to visit beautiful places in Sri Lanka. There is no domestic flight network in the country. 

Sri Lanka is generally safe to travel, even for solo travellers. There are no violent crimes reported against tourists. Most importantly, Sri Lankans are a kind and welcoming lot. That said, petty crimes do take place in Sri Lanka against tourists , so you need to be careful about your belongings.

As for packing essentials for Sri Lanka, loose clothes in cotton or linen work well in the hot and humid climate. Do pack a hat and adequate sunscreen. And sandals and slippers to roam around everywhere.

Be aware of traffic while crossing a road on walking on the pavement: expect buses, two-wheelers, cows and more that you need to navigate. Do not drink tap water in Sri Lanka. Tipping is generally expected in Sri Lanka. 

Try the local cuisine in Sri Lanka. You could try different types of curries with rice or appam, like sour fish curry, chicken curry, dhal curry, green jackfruit curry. Seafood is fresh and abundant. Kottu is a street food widely available, it can be prepared with vegetarian or meat ingredients.

Planning a trip to Sri Lanka?

My 10-day itinerary for Sri Lanka and recommendations for Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka

Weather, Travel Tips if you visit Sri Lanka in November

Make sure you spend time visiting the cultural sites at the Cultural Triangle in Sri Lanka

And do a wildlife safari at one of the National Parks in Sri Lanka

Travel Guide to Galle, a lovely port town

Finally, here is a guide on what to wear in Sri Lanka

For more information and travel planning resources, check out Sri Lanka Tourism

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