The Best Museums in Sri Lanka: 21 Worth Visiting

Sri Lanka's museums at a glance

Colombo

1. Colombo National Museum

Founded in 1877, the Colombo National Museum is Sri Lanka's largest museum, housed in a grand white colonial building in Cinnamon Gardens. Highlights include the throne and crown of the last king of Kandy, ancient Buddha statues, bronzes, masks, textiles and paintings. Allow about two hours. See Colombo and one day in Colombo.

2. Natural History Museum

Next to the National Museum, the Natural History Museum displays Sri Lanka's animals, plants and fossils. It's a good stop for families.

3. Dutch Period Museum, Pettah

In a 17th-century Dutch building in the busy Pettah district, this museum shows furniture, coins, ceramics and daily life during the Dutch period. Combine it with the colourful Pettah market. See our Colombo city tour.

4. Sri Lanka Cricket Museum

Opened in 2019 on Maitland Place, the cricket museum tells the story of cricket in Sri Lanka and displays the 1996 World Cup and 2014 T20 World Cup trophies. See Sri Lanka for cricket fans.

5. Independence Memorial Museum

Beneath the Independence Memorial Hall in Independence Square, this museum tells the story of the people who led Sri Lanka to independence in 1948.

6. Modern art and galleries

Colombo has a lively art scene with contemporary galleries showing Sri Lankan artists. See Ceylon art experiences.

Galle

7. National Maritime Museum

Inside the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Maritime Museum covers Sri Lanka's long seafaring history, marine life and finds from shipwrecks off the coast. See Galle Fort.

8. National Museum, Galle

Housed in one of the oldest Dutch buildings in the fort, the Galle National Museum displays masks, lacework, woodcarving and colonial history.

9. Historic houses and collections

Galle Fort has several private collections and historic houses showing antiques, gems and colonial furniture. Some are linked to shops, so you're free to look without buying. See things to do in Galle.

The south coast

10. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, Koggala

The birthplace of Sri Lanka's best-loved novelist, Martin Wickramasinghe, is now a museum of village life, with traditional tools, carts, costumes, masks and a peaceful garden. See Koggala.

11. Ambalangoda mask museum

Ambalangoda is the home of traditional mask carving. The mask museum explains the meaning of the masks used in folk dramas and healing rituals, and the workshop next door shows carvers at work. See souvenirs from Sri Lanka.

12. Tsunami memorials and museums

Along the coast near Hikkaduwa, small museums and memorials remember the 2004 tsunami, including the memorial at Peraliya, where a train was struck by the wave. See things to do in Hikkaduwa.

Kandy and the hill country

13. Ceylon Tea Museum, Hantane

In a former tea factory in the hills above Kandy, the Ceylon Tea Museum displays historic tea machinery and the story of tea pioneers James Taylor and Thomas Lipton. Finish with tea and views at the top. See tea factories to visit in Sri Lanka.

14. World Buddhism Museum

In the Temple of the Tooth complex, the World Buddhism Museum shows how Buddhism spread across Asia, with displays from many countries. See Temple of the Tooth.

15. Kandy National Museum

Also beside the Temple of the Tooth, in a building once used by the royal court, this museum displays objects from the Kandyan kingdom, including jewellery, weapons and household items. See Kandy and things to do in Kandy.

16. National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa

On the road between Colombo and Kandy, the railway museum displays historic steam and diesel locomotives and carriages. Railway fans love it. See train travel in Sri Lanka.

The Cultural Triangle

17. Sigiriya Museum

At the foot of Sigiriya rock, the museum explains the history of the site, with finds from excavations and replicas of the famous frescoes. Visit before you climb to understand what you'll see. See Sigiriya.

18. Archaeological museums of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa

Both ancient cities have museums displaying statues, carvings, jewellery and everyday objects found at the sites, with models of how the cities once looked. Visit at midday, when it's too hot to explore the ruins. See Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

19. Dambulla Golden Temple museum

Near the Dambulla cave temple, a museum displays Buddhist art and artefacts. See Dambulla cave temple.

Other regions

20. Ratnapura National Museum and gem museums

Ratnapura, the "city of gems", has a national museum and private gem museums, where you can learn about gem mining and see precious stones. See places to visit in Ratnapura and gem mining.

21. Jaffna's museums and heritage

Jaffna has an archaeological museum and historic sites that reflect the north's Tamil culture and history. See things to do in Jaffna.

Opening hours and tickets

Most museums open from about 9 am to 5 pm. Many government museums are closed on certain public holidays, and some close on one day of the week. Foreign visitors pay a higher entry fee than locals. Hours and fees change, so check before you go. See Sri Lanka entry fees.

Museum etiquette

• Photography rules vary; some museums don't allow photos or charge a camera fee.
• Dress modestly, especially in museums linked to temples.
• Don't touch exhibits.
• Bags may need to be left at the entrance.

Museums for rainy days

Rain showers are common, especially in the monsoon seasons. Museums are the perfect plan B: - Colombo: the National Museum and Dutch Period Museum. - Galle: the Maritime Museum and historic houses. - Kandy: the Tea Museum and the World Buddhism Museum.

See Sri Lanka's rainy season.

Museums for families

Children usually enjoy the Natural History Museum, the Railway Museum, the mask museum and the Tea Museum's machinery. Keep visits short and mix them with outdoor activities. See Sri Lanka with kids.

A sample museum day in Colombo

• 9:00 am: Colombo National Museum.
• 11:30 am: Natural History Museum next door.
• 1:00 pm: lunch.
• 2:00 pm: Dutch Period Museum and the Pettah market.
• 4:00 pm: Sri Lanka Cricket Museum, or a walk to Galle Face Green for sunset.

Museums on a Sri Lanka itinerary

You don't need to plan a whole trip around museums. Add one in Colombo on your first or last day, the Sigiriya Museum before your climb, the Tea Museum in Kandy and the Maritime Museum in Galle. A private driver makes it easy to stop on the way. See our private driver page, our Sri Lanka itinerary and cultural sites in Sri Lanka.

Lesser-known museums worth a visit

• Colombo's Dutch Hospital area: restored colonial buildings now used for shops and restaurants, with history panels.
• Kandy's Temple of the Tooth museums: halls displaying offerings and items from the royal court.
• Local village museums: small museums in villages show farming tools, traditional homes and crafts.
• Private gem museums in Ratnapura: see rough and cut gems, mining tools and models of gem pits.

Museums and children's learning

Museums are a great way for children to learn about kings, elephants, trains and the ocean. Many have models, life-size displays and gardens. Give children a "spotting" game, such as finding a lion, an elephant or a king's crown.

Combining museums and sights

Visit the Sigiriya Museum before the rock, the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa museums at midday between the ruins, the Tea Museum before a tea factory, and the Maritime Museum before a dive or whale-watching trip. The context makes every sight more meaningful.

Museum highlights you shouldn't miss

• The throne and crown of the last king of Kandy, at the Colombo National Museum.
• Bronze statues from the ancient kingdoms.
• Early tea machinery, at the Ceylon Tea Museum.
• The 1996 World Cup trophy, at the Sri Lanka Cricket Museum.
• Replicas of the Sigiriya frescoes, at the Sigiriya Museum.
• Steam locomotives, at the National Railway Museum.
• Traditional masks, at Ambalangoda.

Planning museum visits with a driver

Museums are spread around the island, and some are in places that are hard to reach by public transport, such as the Railway Museum and the Martin Wickramasinghe museum. With a private driver, you can stop at a museum on the way between two destinations without extra travel. Tell us which museums interest you, and we'll build them into your daily plans at the best times, often in the hottest part of the day.

Museums and entry tickets at ancient sites

At Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the site museum is usually included in the main entry ticket. Keep your ticket with you, as you may need to show it at the museum entrance.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Arriving on a closing day or public holiday without checking.
• Skipping the site museums at Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, which explain what you're seeing.
• Taking photos where they're not allowed.
• Leaving museums for the last day when there's no time.