25 Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's top places at a glance

The Cultural Triangle

1. Sigiriya Sri Lanka's most famous sight is a 5th-century palace built on top of a huge rock, with water gardens, ancient paintings and giant lion's paws. Climb early in the morning. For the best view of the rock itself, climb neighbouring Pidurangala at sunrise. See Sigiriya, things to do in Sigiriya and Pidurangala Rock.

2. Polonnaruwa The medieval capital's ruins are compact and beautifully preserved, including the Gal Vihara rock-carved Buddhas and the circular Vatadage. Explore by bicycle. See Polonnaruwa.

3. Anuradhapura Sri Lanka's first capital is a sacred city of huge white stupas, monasteries and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree. See Anuradhapura and stupas in Sri Lanka.

4. Dambulla cave temple Five caves filled with Buddha statues and colourful murals, used for worship for over 2,000 years. See Dambulla cave temple.

5. Minneriya and Kaudulla In the dry season, hundreds of elephants gather around the reservoirs of Minneriya, one of Asia's great wildlife sights. See Minneriya National Park and the elephant gathering.

6. Ritigala and Mihintale For quieter history, visit the jungle monastery of Ritigala or Mihintale, where Buddhism is said to have arrived in Sri Lanka. See Ritigala and Mihintale.

The hill country

7. Kandy The last royal capital, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a lake, the botanical gardens and cultural dance shows. See Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.

8. Nuwara Eliya "Little England" sits among the highest tea estates, with colonial buildings, a lake and cool air. See Nuwara Eliya and tea factories to visit in Sri Lanka.

9. Ella A relaxed hill town with easy hikes to Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock, the Nine Arch Bridge and waterfalls. See Ella, Nine Arch Bridge and things to do in Ella.

10. Horton Plains and World's End A high plateau of grassland and cloud forest with a sheer drop at World's End. Start at dawn for clear views. See Horton Plains.

11. Adam's Peak A sacred mountain climbed by pilgrims through the night to see the sunrise from the summit, mainly in the pilgrimage season from December to May. See Adam's Peak.

12. Haputale and Idalgashinna Ridge-top views, Lipton's Seat and one of the most scenic railway walks in Sri Lanka. See Haputale and Idalgashinna.

13. The Knuckles range Rugged mountains, remote villages and trekking trails, with waterfalls such as Sera Ella on the northern side. See Knuckles Mountain Range and Sera Ella Falls.

Wildlife

14. Yala National Park Sri Lanka's most famous park, known for leopards, elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles. See Yala National Park and our Yala safari tour.

15. Udawalawe National Park One of the best places in Asia to see wild elephants, all year round, plus the Elephant Transit Home for orphaned calves. See Udawalawe National Park.

16. Wilpattu National Park A quieter park of forest and natural lakes in the northwest, good for leopards and sloth bears. See Wilpattu National Park.

17. Sinharaja Forest Reserve A UNESCO-listed rainforest full of endemic birds and plants. See Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

See our national parks in Sri Lanka guide.

The south and west coasts

18. Galle Fort A UNESCO-listed colonial fort with ramparts, a lighthouse, cafés and boutiques. See Galle Fort.

19. Mirissa A palm-lined bay known for whale watching from about November to April. See Mirissa and things to do in Mirissa.

20. Unawatuna and Dalawella A sheltered swimming bay near Galle, Jungle Beach and the famous palm swing at Dalawella. See Unawatuna Beach and Dalawella Beach.

21. Tangalle, Hiriketiya and Talalla Quieter beaches further east, from surf coves to long, empty sand. See Tangalle, Hiriketiya and hidden beaches in Sri Lanka.

22. Bentota and Hikkaduwa Bentota for river trips and water sports; Hikkaduwa for turtles, reefs and surf. See Bentota and Hikkaduwa.

The east and north

23. Trincomalee Beautiful beaches at Nilaveli and Uppuveli, snorkelling at Pigeon Island and whale watching, best from about May to September. See Trincomalee and Pigeon Island.

24. Arugam Bay Sri Lanka's surf capital, with lagoons, elephants and temples nearby, best from about May to October. See Arugam Bay.

25. Jaffna Hindu temples, Tamil food and culture, and island day trips in the far north. See Jaffna and things to do in Jaffna.

Where to go by month

See the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

Suggested routes

See our Sri Lanka itinerary, our tours and our Sri Lanka trip planner.

Hidden gems

If you've seen the highlights or prefer quieter places, try: - Meemure, a remote village in the Knuckles range. See Meemure. - Belihuloya, rivers and waterfalls between the hills and the south. See Belihuloya. - Kalpitiya, for dolphins and kitesurfing. See Kalpitiya. - Gal Oya, with boat safaris where elephants sometimes swim between islands. See Gal Oya National Park.

See lesser-known attractions.

Best places for couples, families and adventure

See our honeymoon tour, family tour and adventure tour.

Getting between places

Distances are short but roads are slow and winding. A private driver is the easiest way to travel, as you can stop at viewpoints, temples and fruit stalls on the way.

See getting around Sri Lanka and our private driver page.

Best places for a short trip

If you only have 5–7 days, focus on one or two regions instead of rushing: - Culture and hills (5 days): Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy and a night in the tea country. - Beaches and Galle (5 days): Galle Fort, Unawatuna, Mirissa and a day safari in Udawalawe. - Classic week (7 days): Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and the south coast.

See our 5-day tour and 7-day tour.

Best places in the rainy season

Sri Lanka's two monsoons mean there's almost always a dry region. From May to September, go east (Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay) and to the Cultural Triangle. From December to April, go south and west. See Sri Lanka's rainy season.

Best places for photographers

• Sunrise: Pidurangala, Little Adam's Peak, Lipton's Seat.
• Trains: the Nine Arch Bridge and the hill country line.
• Wildlife: leopards in Yala, elephants at Minneriya.
• Coast: Galle Fort at sunset, the stilt fishermen near Koggala, the Dalawella swing.
• Culture: the Dambulla caves, the Kandy Esala Perahera, Jaffna's temples.

Best places for a second trip

Already seen the highlights? Try the north (Jaffna and the islands), the east coast in season, the Knuckles range, Sinharaja, Wilpattu, Gal Oya and the quiet south coast around Tangalle. See things to do in Trincomalee and our east coast and north tour.

Best places by interest

Our tip for choosing places

Choose places that match your interests rather than ticking off a list. A slower trip with three or four bases, such as the Cultural Triangle, Kandy, the hill country and the south coast, is more relaxing and leaves time for the unexpected moments travellers remember most.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trying to see everything in one trip; pick three or four regions.
• Ignoring the monsoons when choosing beaches.
• Underestimating driving times on winding roads.
• Climbing Sigiriya or visiting temples at midday in the heat.
• Skipping the hill country, which many travellers say is their favourite part.