The 20 most-visited places in Sri Lanka

What each place is, how long to allow once you are there, and what the drive from Colombo actually costs. Times assume real traffic, not a straight line on a map.

Sri Lanka, district by district

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1 Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Cultural Triangle Central Province

The fifth-century rock citadel, its frescoes and the lion staircase — the single most-visited ticketed site in the country.

            175 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 20,325
          

2 Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Temple Kandy, Central Province

Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist shrine, on the lake in the middle of Kandy. Busiest during the evening puja.

            115 km · 3 hr 30 min
            from Rs 13,425
          

Colonial & coastal Southern Province · no entry ticket

A walled Dutch colonial town still lived in, on a headland over the Indian Ocean. No entry ticket — you simply walk in.

            125 km · 2 hr
            from Rs 14,575
          

4 Dambulla Royal Cave Temple

Cultural Triangle Central Province

Five caves of painted ceilings and 150-odd Buddha statues, cut into the rock above the plain. Usually paired with Sigiriya.

            165 km · 3 hr 45 min
            from Rs 19,175
          

5 Yala National Park

National park Southern Province

The best-known park on the island and the one people come to for leopards. Block 1 is the busiest section.

            305 km · 5 hr 30 min
            from Rs 35,275
          

6 Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

Hill country Uva Province · no entry ticket

A colonial-era viaduct on the hill railway, in the jungle below Ella. Free, and busiest when a train is due.

            200 km · 5 hr 30 min
            from Rs 23,200
          

7 Polonnaruwa Ancient City

Cultural Triangle North Central Province

The island’s medieval capital — a compact, walkable ruin field with the Gal Vihara rock Buddhas at its far end.

            215 km · 4 hr 30 min
            from Rs 24,925
          

8 Anuradhapura Sacred City

Cultural Triangle North Central Province

The first capital, and a living pilgrimage site — the Sri Maha Bodhi is said to be the oldest planted tree on record.

            205 km · 4 hr 30 min
            from Rs 23,775
          

9 Horton Plains & World's End

Hill country Central Province

High plateau grassland at 2,100 m, and a cliff that drops away nearly a kilometre. A 9 km loop walk.

            190 km · 5 hr 30 min
            from Rs 22,050
          

10 Udawalawe National Park

National park Sabaragamuwa Province

Open scrub and reservoir country with the most reliable elephant sighting on the island — better odds than Yala, fewer vehicles.

            180 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 20,900
          

11 Minneriya National Park

Wildlife North Central Province

Dry-season grazing around the reservoir draws hundreds of elephants together — "the Gathering", roughly July to October.

            180 km · 4 hr 15 min
            from Rs 20,900
          

12 Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)

Hill country Central Province · no entry ticket

A pilgrimage mountain climbed through the night so as to reach the summit at sunrise. Season runs December to May.

            135 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 15,725
          

13 Mirissa Whale Watching

Wildlife Southern Province

Blue whales pass close to the shelf edge off the south coast. Boats leave at first light, November to April.

            150 km · 2 hr 30 min
            from Rs 17,450
          

14 Nuwara Eliya & the tea estates

Hill country Central Province · no entry ticket

Tea country at 1,900 m — working estates, factory tours, Gregory Lake and a climate that surprises people.

            165 km · 5 hr
            from Rs 19,175
          

15 Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Wildlife Sabaragamuwa Province

A state-run herd of orphaned and injured elephants, on the Colombo–Kandy road. Most visitors stop on the way up.

            90 km · 2 hr 30 min
            from Rs 10,550
          

16 Unawatuna Beach

Beach Southern Province · no entry ticket

A sheltered bay just past Galle — calm swimming, and the closest good beach to the fort.

            130 km · 2 hr 10 min
            from Rs 15,150
          

Beach Eastern Province · no entry ticket

The east coast surf point. Season is May to September — the opposite of the west and south coasts.

            320 km · 7 hr
            from Rs 37,000
          

18 Trincomalee & Nilaveli

Beach Eastern Province · no entry ticket

One of the world’s great natural harbours, with Nilaveli and Uppuveli beaches north of town and Pigeon Island offshore.

            260 km · 6 hr
            from Rs 30,100
          

Beach Southern Province · no entry ticket

River and beach resorts on the south-west coast, and the easiest beach day from Colombo on the expressway.

            77 km · 1 hr 15 min
            from Rs 9,055
          

20 Jaffna & Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

Temple Northern Province · no entry ticket

The northern peninsula — its own cuisine, language and pace, and a kovil that fills for the August festival.

            400 km · 7 hr 30 min
            from Rs 46,200
          

21 Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Wildlife Sabaragamuwa

The last substantial stretch of primary lowland rainforest on the island, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Endemic birds, leeches and a canopy that closes over the track.

            150 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 17,450
          

22 Wilpattu National Park

National park North Western

The largest national park in Sri Lanka, named for the natural sand-rimmed lakes across it. Quieter than Yala, with leopard sightings that feel earned rather than queued for.

            180 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 20,900
          

Hill country Sabaragamuwa · no entry ticket

White water on the Kelani river, and the valley where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed. Grade 2 and 3 rapids that run all year.

            86 km · 2 hr 30 min
            from Rs 10,090
          

24 Pidurangala Rock

Cultural Triangle Central

The rock facing Sigiriya, climbed for the view back at it. A scramble rather than a staircase, and the best photograph of Sigiriya is taken from here.

            170 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 19,750
          

A mangrove estuary of small islands reached by boat, with a cinnamon island and a temple among them. Kingfishers, monitor lizards and water the colour of tea.

            85 km · 1 hr 45 min
            from Rs 9,975
          

26 Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

A working hatchery on the south-west coast where eggs are protected and hatchlings released. Five of the seven sea turtle species in the world nest on this coast.

            80 km · 1 hr 40 min
            from Rs 9,400
          

Beach North Western · no entry ticket

A sand peninsula and lagoon system known for spinner dolphin pods, kitesurfing and quiet. Whales pass offshore between December and April.

            164 km · 3 hr
            from Rs 19,060
          

28 Diyaluma Falls

Hill country Uva · no entry ticket

The second-highest waterfall on the island, dropping 220 metres in a single fall, with natural pools at the top for anyone willing to walk up.

            200 km · 5 hr
            from Rs 23,200
          

29 Liptons Seat

Hill country Uva

The lookout where Thomas Lipton surveyed his estates, reached through tea fields above Haputale. On a clear morning the view runs to the south coast.

            200 km · 5 hr
            from Rs 23,200
          

30 Knuckles Range

Hill country Central

A mountain range of cloud forest, grassland and villages that keeps its own weather. Riverston gives the view without a serious hike.

            175 km · 4 hr 30 min
            from Rs 20,325
          

31 Bundala National Park

National park Southern

A coastal wetland and RAMSAR site next door to Yala, and the better park for birds — flamingos, painted storks and open lagoons rather than jungle.

            245 km · 4 hr 45 min
            from Rs 28,375
          

32 Kaudulla National Park

National park North Central

Elephants gather at the reservoir here in their hundreds through the dry season, moving between Kaudulla and Minneriya as the water drops.

            200 km · 4 hr 30 min
            from Rs 23,200
          

33 Ambuluwawa Tower

Hill country Central

A narrow spiral tower on a hilltop near Gampola, climbed for a 360-degree view over the central hills. The last few metres are not for anyone uneasy with heights.

            110 km · 3 hr
            from Rs 12,850
          

Beach Southern · no entry ticket

Wide, empty bays along the deep south coast, with the quietest sand of any of the beach towns. Good for walking, less good for swimming where the surf is heavy.

            195 km · 4 hr
            from Rs 22,625
          

35 Ravana Falls

Hill country Uva · no entry ticket

A wide fall right beside the Ella to Wellawaya road, named for the king who is said to have hidden Sita in the caves above it.

            200 km · 5 hr 30 min
            from Rs 23,200
          

Planning more than one stop?

Most of these pair naturally — Sigiriya with Dambulla, Galle Fort with Unawatuna. A multi-day booking keeps the same driver and car throughout.

Multi-day booking All routes