Places to visit in Sri Lanka

100 places we drive to, grouped by region. Pick a few, or tell us what you like and we choose.

Colombo & West Coast

Colombo & West

Colombo

The capital. Markets, colonial buildings and the sea front.

0 trips · Add to my plan

Colombo & West

Negombo

Fishing town next to the airport. Good first or last night.

3 trips · Add to my plan

Colombo & West

Bentota

River, beach and ayurveda. Slow and easy.

9 trips · Add to my plan

Colombo & West

Kosgoda

Turtle hatcheries along a long, golden beach.

3 trips · Add to my plan

Colombo & West

Ambalangoda

Famous for hand-carved masks and old puppet theatre.

2 trips · Add to my plan

North

Kalpitiya

Dolphins, kitesurfing and a long, empty peninsula.

2 trips · Add to my plan

Colombo & West

Kelaniya

A famous Buddhist temple just outside Colombo.

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Colombo & West

Mount Lavinia

City beach with a colonial hotel and sunset fish dinners.

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Colombo & West

Kalutara

River mouth with a white stupa you can walk inside.

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Colombo & West

Wadduwa

Quiet beach strip close to the capital.

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Colombo & West

Beruwala

Wide beach, fishing harbour and the oldest mosque on the island.

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Colombo & West

Induruwa

Calm sand and a turtle project beside the road.

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Colombo & West

Ahungalla

Palm-lined beach and good spots to watch the sunset.

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Colombo & West

Balapitiya (Madu River)

Boat ride through mangroves and tiny cinnamon islands.

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Colombo & West

Chilaw

Fishing town and the Munneswaram temple complex.

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Cultural Triangle & North

Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya

Lion Rock, a 5th-century palace on top of a rock.

13 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Dambulla

Five cave temples full of painted ceilings.

3 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Polonnaruwa

Medieval royal city. Best seen by bicycle.

10 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Anuradhapura

Sacred city, giant stupas and the old Bodhi Tree.

7 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Minneriya / Habarana

Home of the famous elephant gathering.

4 trips · Add to my plan

North

Wilpattu

Quiet park with natural lakes and leopards.

6 trips · Add to my plan

North

Jaffna

Temples, forts and food. A different Sri Lanka.

2 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Mihintale

Where Buddhism reached the island. Steps, stupas and views.

2 trips · Add to my plan

Cultural Triangle

Pidurangala

The best sunrise view of Sigiriya Rock.

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Cultural Triangle

Ritigala

Forest monastery ruins on a misty mountain.

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Cultural Triangle

Aukana

A 12 m standing Buddha carved from one rock.

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Cultural Triangle

Kandalama

A quiet lake with views of Sigiriya rock.

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Cultural Triangle

Matale & Aluvihara

Where the Buddhist texts were first written down. Spice gardens too.

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Cultural Triangle

Yapahuwa

A rock fortress with a steep stone stairway.

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North

Mannar

Baobab trees, flamingos and the old Dutch fort.

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North

Talaimannar

The end of the road, near Adam's Bridge.

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North

Delft Island

Wild ponies, coral walls and a ferry ride.

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North

Nainativu

Island temple and a quiet ferry day trip from Jaffna.

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North

Point Pedro

The northern tip of the island.

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Kandy & Hill Country

Hill Country

Pinnawala

The elephant orphanage, an easy stop on the way to Kandy.

4 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Kandy

Temple of the Tooth, lake and the hill-country gateway.

27 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Nuwara Eliya

Cool tea country and Horton Plains next door.

16 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Ella

Nine Arches Bridge, Ella Rock and the famous train ride.

15 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Adam's Peak (Dalhousie)

Night climb to a sacred summit. Sunrise at the top.

2 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Horton Plains

Cloud forest, grasslands and the edge at World's End.

4 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Haputale

Tea estates and big views over the southern plains.

4 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Hatton

Tea country at its greenest, on the way to Adam's Peak.

6 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Knuckles Range

Village walks, cloud forest and few other visitors.

3 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Bandarawela

Cool air, quiet lanes and a good base for walks.

0 trips · Add to my plan

Hill Country

Ramboda

Tall waterfall beside the Kandy to Nuwara Eliya road.

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Hill Country

Hakgala Gardens

Botanical gardens under a big rock, cool and green.

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Hill Country

Peradeniya

Royal Botanical Gardens with huge old trees and orchids.

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Hill Country

Badulla

Old hill town at the end of the famous railway line.

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Hill Country

Diyaluma Falls

A 220 m waterfall with natural pools at the top.

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Hill Country

Buduruwagala

Seven huge Buddha figures carved into a rock face.

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Hill Country

Maskeliya

Lake views and the best angle on Adam's Peak.

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Hill Country

Ambewela

Dairy farms and open green pastures near Nuwara Eliya.

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Hill Country

Talawakele

Devon Falls and St Clair's Falls beside the main road.

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Hill Country

Ravana Falls

Wide waterfall next to the Ella road. Easy photo stop.

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Hill Country

Nine Arches Bridge

The famous stone viaduct. Come early for the train.

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Hill Country

Little Adam's Peak

Easy walk with big views over Ella.

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Hill Country

Lipton's Seat

Sunrise lookout above the tea fields of Haputale.

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Hill Country

Dunhinda Falls

Misty falls reached by a short walk from Badulla.

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Hill Country

Ambuluwawa Tower

A spiral tower on a hill with 360 degree views.

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South Coast

Mirissa

Whale watching, palm beaches and sunsets.

12 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Galle

Dutch fort, old streets, cafes by the ramparts.

19 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Unawatuna

A calm curved bay with warm water and easy beach days.

2 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Weligama

Long beach, surf lessons and a laid-back fishing town.

2 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Ahangama

Home of the stilt fishermen and quiet surf breaks.

3 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Hikkaduwa

Sunsets, reefs and a lively beach strip.

5 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Peraliya

The tall Buddha memorial by the sea. A quiet stop.

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South Coast

Tangalle

Empty beaches, rock pools and slow evenings.

5 trips · Add to my plan

South Coast

Koggala

Lake islands, stilt fishermen and a long surf beach.

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South Coast

Matara

Old fort town with the Parey Dewa temple on a rock.

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South Coast

Dondra Head

The southernmost point of Sri Lanka, with a tall lighthouse.

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South Coast

Dickwella & Hiriketiya

A small horseshoe bay popular with surfers.

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South Coast

Rekawa

One of the best beaches to see turtles lay eggs at night.

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South Coast

Mulkirigala

Rock temple with seven levels of caves and old murals.

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Deep South

Hambantota

Salt pans, wind farms and the gateway to the south-east.

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Deep South

Kirinda

Fishing village and a temple on a rock above the sea.

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Wildlife & Wet Zone

Deep South

Yala

Leopards, elephants and wide dry-zone plains.

10 trips · Add to my plan

Deep South

Udawalawe

Open park with herds of elephants. Easy safari.

7 trips · Add to my plan

Rainforest & Gems

Kitulgala

White water rafting on the Kelani River.

3 trips · Add to my plan

Rainforest & Gems

Sinharaja

Rainforest, endemic birds and leech socks.

4 trips · Add to my plan

Rainforest & Gems

Ratnapura

The gem city, with waterfalls and jungle all around.

2 trips · Add to my plan

Deep South

Tissamaharama

Lakes, birds and the gateway to Yala and Kataragama.

4 trips · Add to my plan

Deep South

Kataragama

Sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. Busy in the evening puja.

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Deep South

Bundala

Wetland park. Flamingos arrive in the cooler months.

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Deep South

Kumana

Remote bird park on the east. Pelicans, storks, painted storks.

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Rainforest & Gems

Belihuloya

River pools and green hills below the highlands.

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Rainforest & Gems

Deniyaya

Tea and rubber country on the edge of Sinharaja.

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Rainforest & Gems

Bambarakanda Falls

The tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka, about 260 metres.

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Rainforest & Gems

Bopath Ella Falls

A fan-shaped waterfall shaped like a bo leaf.

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Cultural Triangle

Wasgamuwa

Quiet park with elephants and few jeeps.

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Cultural Triangle

Kaudulla

Elephant gathering park. Calmer than Minneriya.

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East Coast

East

Trincomalee

Calm blue bays, Nilaveli and Pigeon Island.

5 trips · Add to my plan

East

Arugam Bay

Surf town on the east coast. Season is April to September.

3 trips · Add to my plan

East

Pasikudah

A long shallow bay with calm, clear water.

3 trips · Add to my plan

East

Nilaveli

White sand and the boat to Pigeon Island.

3 trips · Add to my plan

East

Uppuveli

Relaxed beach town near Trincomalee. Cafes and calm water.

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East

Pigeon Island

Marine park with reef fish and small sharks.

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East

Kanniya Hot Wells

Seven hot springs in square stone wells.

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East

Koneswaram Temple

Hindu temple on a cliff above the sea.

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East

Batticaloa

Lagoon city, old fort and the singing fish.

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East

Gal Oya

Boat safaris to see elephants swim between islands.

0 trips · Add to my plan

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