The 20 BEST Places to Visit in Sri Lanka (+ what to see & do there!)

Sri Lanka Quick Tips & Info
– How to Get There: Sri Lankan Airlines is the countries national carrier servicing 114 destinations in 48 countries, and includes daily direct flights from both London and Melbourne to the capital, Colombo.Featuring great in-flight service, personal screens with fantastic movies (and TV shows) and one of the comfiest blankets I’ve ever had on a plane, flying Sri Lankan is a no-brainer!
– Best Time To Visit: Sitting squarely on the equator, temperatures remain consistent at around 26-30°C (78 -86°F) for the majority of the year.
It is generally hot and humid by the coast, getting cooler as the altitude increases. In general the best time to visit is December to April, as this is dry season in the popular west and south coastal areas and Hill Country. April and September are the best to see the whole country, while the inter-monsoon season in October and November sees fine weather for most of the island interspersed with sudden thunderstorms.
But be aware, global warming is real, and these ‘good,’ ‘bad’ and ‘better’ months are just that on paper, the reality may be slightly different.
– Where to Stay: Cinnamon Hotels have 10 hotels in various spots throughout the country allowing for easy access to all of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka – and to some beautiful off the beaten path spots too!
– Essential Things to Bring: Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Mosquito Repellent/Bug Spray, cute bamboo crossbody bag and a sun hat

The 20 BEST Places To Visit in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Vicki Louise (@maketimetoseetheworld) on Nov 3, 2018 at 6:20am PDT

You can’t come to Sri Lanka and not visit the incredible rock fortress at Sigiriya (also known as Lion Rock by the Sinhalese people due to the fact a huge lion was once carved into the entrance to the stairway, although all the remains now is the paws).

Set in the heart of the North Central Province Sigiriya Rock stands at nearly 200m high and with just over 1200 steps to the top, it is one of the most impressive and significant archeological sites in the country and one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

Pidurangala Rock

Pidurangala Rock is located adjacent to Sigiriya and is the perfect place to watch the sunrise (or set) over the imposing Lion Rock. It’s also a slightly easier climb, and is not as high up, but can still be very warm during the middle of the day, and so we highly recommend claiming in the morning or early evening. (It is one of the top Sri Lanka Tourist Places to visit too!)

Galle

Galle is one of the most important towns in Sri Lankan history – and one of the most well preserved. Located on the South West coast of the Island, the town was built by the Portuguese in 1588 and extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th Century.

It was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage register for its unique exposition of “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries;” and the hope of the town is that it is named as one of the seven modern wonders of the world in the not too distant future.

Wandering it’s ramparts (fort walls), dining in Galle’s many restaurants and watching sunset under its famous lighthouse is definitely one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka!

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Kandy

Kandy is another city of great significance in Sri Lanka (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Located in the Central region, it was the last capital of the Sinhala Kings who enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years (until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815.) It is also the site of pilgrimage for Buddhists as it is also home to the beautiful Temple of the Tooth Relic in the grounds of the Royal Palace, and where thousands of people worship daily.

The City of Kandy is easily one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka and should definitely not be missed.

Knuckles Mountain Range

Knuckles Mountain Range (also known as the Dumbara Mountain Range) is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for hiking and is approximately 3 hours drive South of Kandy City.

With multiple trails of varying lengths it is a great way to get back to nature, although be warned: you will be required to wear leech socks, and your guide will carry a spray containing a mixture of salt and water, should one of the little bleeders (which is actually what they do, and is not said as a profanity) latch onto your warm body.

The ‘trick’ is to keep moving and so constantly transfer your body weight and heat, although they are determined little suckers and I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to avoid them altogether. Also note, they are typically only small, and do not pose a threat to your life – they’re just a bit icky (if you ask me anyway).

Ritigalla

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ritigala Mountain sits at 766m above sea level and is littered with over 70 natural rock caves which were believed to have been inhabited since the first century BC.

Once the site of a Buddhist monastery, the trek up through the lush jungle is punctuated with several resting places among the ancient ruins of bathing pools, chambers for worship and places of meditation – because despite its jungle surrounds, the peak of Ritigala is actually the highest point between Sri Lanka and India and is higher than nearby Sirigiya and Anuradhapura. (Although you don’t get anywhere near the peak when exploring the monastery ruins.)

Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is one of the most popular surf beaches in Sri Lanka and is a great place to relax and enjoy the simple life for a few days. The surf is present all year round, but the big draw comes between April and October when swells can reach 1.5-2m.

For the non-surfers among you there are also an array of wildlife spotting opportunities in the area around the Lahugala elephant corridor where sunset is a great time to see elephants, wild boar, deer and crocodiles!

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is the capital of the North Central Province in Sri Lanka and is home to several monasteries, palaces and monuments which are one of the best preserved examples of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.

It’s a sprawling complex built around a cutting from the ‘tree of enlightenment’, the Buddha’s fig tree (Bhodi Tree), brought there in the 3rd century B.C (making it the oldest living tree in the world). Anuradhapura was also the ancient city that ruled Sri Lanka for over 1300 years before being abandoned following the invasion in 993.

Today is is reopened to the public, and is the site of pilgrimage for Buddhists throughout the world and is recommended that you hire the services of a guide on your day trip /day tour to get the most from this huge archeological and cultural site.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna is a delightfully lazy beach side town, that is known for its beautiful beach and as an eco-tourism destination for it’s incredible bio-diversity. The region is home to several endemic species of birds and just off he coast are impressive corals and accompanying marine life, perfect for snorkeling.

And just around the corner from the main beach is the ‘loved by locals and tourists alike’ Jungle Beach. From the road where you’ll be dropped off you can take a short walk to the top to reach the Japanese Peace Pagoda, or take a walk down (and back up) to Jungle Beach.

 

Polonnaruwa

The city of Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, and is recognized as such after the first capital of Anuradhapura.

A combination of art, medieval architecture and great irrigation facilities which make for a very green environment, it is much more of a museum than a living city when compared to Anuradhapura, but is one of the main attractions in Sri Lanka. It is also smaller in size than Anuradhapura, but routes around still cover 6-10km and as such it is recommended that visitors cycle around the facility.

Yapahuwa

The Rock Fortress at Yapahuwa was once a royal residence and a site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. The 90m practically vertical climb up 3 sets of ancient stone staircases brings you to the former gated entrance-way and visitors can see the outline of the residence and temple that once stood there.

The view over the surrounding plains from this height is stunning, but for those looking for a higher vantage point, a rocky pathway to the left takes you another 40+ meters to the top of the rock. The steps are quite steep, with limited hand holds the closer you get to the summit and Sri Lanka’s stereotypical humidity means you will be hot and sweaty at the top.

BUT I think the view is worth it and can safely say that even though it is a lesser known Sri Lanka tourist spot, it is easily one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka.

Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park & Kaudualla National Park

So many National Parks, so little time – and if you can visit any of them (or all!) you’ll be in for a treat! Elephants, deer, buffalo, crocodile and monkeys are standard in all parks, alongside hundreds of bird species.

If you’re looking to see a particular animal, Udawalawe National Park is known for its huge elephant population and in Yala National Park you also have the opportunity to see leopards – although there is no guarantee!

Going on Safari in any of the national parks is one of best things to do in Sri Lanka.

Dambulla Cave Temple