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13 of the best things to do in Sri Lanka
Follow along as we take a look at the best things to do in Sri Lanka, including the most popular activities, places to visit, and cultural experiences.
South Asia has no shortage of attractive holiday destinations, and yet Sri Lanka manages to stand out as one of the best places to visit in the region. Let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in Sri Lanka, including visiting stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and immersing in unique cultural and culinary experiences.
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1. Climb up Sigiriya, the Ancient Rock Fortress
Sigiriya is one of the top attractions in Sri Lanka. The fortress was built on an enourmous rock formation more than 1,500 years ago and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982.
The entrance fee for foreign tourists is $35 USD (~£27), which includes a visit to the fortress as well as a nearby museum. The ticketing office opens at 5 AM and closes at 5 PM.
If you’re willing to get up early, get your ticket as soon as the office opens and head straight up. You should be just in time for a breathtaking sunrise over the jungle. Taking the steps up will work better than coffee for keeping you awake, though with more than 1,200 steps to climb before you reach the summit, so be prepared for a bit of a workout.
Once there, explore the ancient ruins of what was once a royal palace and a Buddhist temple and marvel at wonderful frescoes painted on the rock faces nearby to get a glimpse into what life in Sri Lanka was back then.
2. Take a train to Ella
Feeling drained after tackling Sigiriya? Taking a train to Ella is one of the best ways to rest your legs without missing out on Sri Lanka’s beauty. It’s one of the most scenic train routes in the world, let alone Sri Lanka.
The route takes you through the beautiful Hill Country and passes such landmarks as Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock, and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge. After stopping at Ella, the Nine Arch Bridge is just a short walk away, so you can walk over and really take in the views.
Depending on how much time you have, you can either take the train from Kandy, a trip that takes 6-7 hours, or leave from the capital city of Colombo for a train ride that takes 10-11 hours.
The tickets can cost up to $60 (~£47) or more per person for first-class seats with air conditioning. Though it’s worth every penny if you can afford it since the first class is less crowded and air conditioning is truly a blessing on a hot day.
3. Visit the tea plantations
Ceylon Tea is a key part of Sri Lankan culture and landscape. In fact, Sri Lanka’s tea industry is the fourth-largest tea producer in the world, only topped by China, India, and Kenya. Most Sri Lankan tea is produced using artisanal and orthodox methods, making both the fields and the process itself a sight to behold.
Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, and Ella plantations are some of the most popular with tourists. The Ella train passes by them all, so you can include a visit in your plans without needing an additional commute to reach them.
Thanks to unique weather conditions and elevation changes, each region produces a unique tea. While in the country, take the time to taste as many different teas as you can and experience Sri Lanka’s heritage unfolding in your taste buds.
4. Hike up Little Adam’s Peak viewpoint
Want to combine visiting lush tea plantations with a scenic hike? The hike to Little Adam’s Peak (not to be confused with Adam’s Peak) viewpoint is a fairly easy walk, offering breathtaking views of the valley throughout.
Just as with Sigiriya, you might want to start the hike early in the morning and witness the sunrise from the top. It takes roughly 20 minutes to get there from the trailhead. The peak is marked with a small shrine and a statue of Buddha and makes for some of the best views in the country.
5. Try local cuisine
You can’t visit the country and not try Sri Lankan food. Rice and curry reign supreme here, with some locals having them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Sour fish curry, chicken curry, dhal curry, and jackfruit curry are all local favourites.
Hoppers are also very popular here. If you’ve got a weak stomach, you’ll be glad to know that it’s not grasshoppers we’re talking about there. Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made mostly out of rice flour and coconut milk. They’re often topped with an egg and garnished with onions, chili peppers, and a splash of lemon juice.
6. Visit national parks
Taking an animal-watching tour in one of Sri Lanka’s national parks is one of the most popular tourist activities in the country. Most hope to see the Sri Lankan leopard, with the Yala National Park and the Udawalawe National Park being prime destinations if you want to look for the elusive mammal.
You also get to see Asian elephants, sloth bears, bark deer, water buffalo, and a vast variety of birds. Unlike visiting zoos around the world, the animals in Sri Lanka’s national parks are all roaming freely in their natural habitat. Paying them a visit should be on your list of things to do when you visit Sri Lanka.
7. Go whale watching
While we’re on the topic of wildlife, Sri Lanka offers one of the best opportunities to see a blue whale, the largest animal to ever roam our planet. Blue whales pass the Southern coast of Sri Lanka between the months of January and April in their migration from the Bay of Bengal to western parts of the Indian Ocean.
Boat tours are plentiful during this time of the year, with most leaving early in the morning and lasting around five hours. Aim to spend around $50 (~£38.50) per person, though prices will vary depending on the company you go with.
8. Hit the waves at the beach
Sri Lanka is a fantastic surfing and kitesurfing destination with waves to catch pretty much all year round, no matter if you’re traveling in December or June.
The southwest coast has prime conditions from November to March, with Hikkaduwa being one of the main destinations during this time. You can move east from May to October, as that’s exactly when the season peaks at Arugam Bay.
Even if you’re not a fan of surfing, you can still enjoy the warm climate by spending time at beautiful beaches and exploring the surrounding coastal towns.
9. Explore remote islands nearby
There are a number of small islands around the northern tip of mainland Sri Lanka that have barely been touched by modern technology and overtourism. The biggest of them have some modest guest houses, allowing you to make it a multi-day trip.
There isn’t much to do there, which is actually one of the best things about these islands. All you need to do is relax and take in the stunning natural beauty around you without having to rush anywhere.
10. Discover what the towns have to offer
We could wax lyrical about the natural wonders of Sri Lanka forever, but the towns and cities around the country have a lot to offer as well. Throughout its history, Sri Lanka has been colonised by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, and you can find their influences in architecture throughout Sri Lanka.
Galle Fort, Kandy, and Ella are among tourist favourites, with diverse architecture and plenty of tea rooms, restaurants, boutiques, SPAs, and hotels.
11. Explore the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa
Find yourself at the centre of ancient Sri Lankan civilization by visiting the ruins of Polonnaruwa. The second capital of Sri Lanka, built as far back as the 10th century, offers some of the best-preserved ancient ruins in the country and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If you’re a fan of pop-rock, you’ll be glad to know that the site was also used as a backdrop for the Save a Prayer music video by the legendary British band Duran Duran.
The main attraction here is a circular relic house with a giant statue of Buddha inside. Though there are plenty of impressive remains, statues, and ancient royal baths around the area.
12. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is arguably the most important religious site in Sri Lanka. Known locally as Sri Dalada Maligawa, the temple is home to a tooth of Buddha. One of 20 in the world and the only one in Sri Lanka.
While you don’t get to see the tooth itself, there’s hardly a better place to experience the importance of Buddhism in the country. The temple itself is also very impressive, with gold details all over the interior. This includes a gold statue of Buddha, a gold ceiling, and a gold multi-layer casket that contains the Buddha’s tooth.
Just remember to take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and legs before entering the temple.
13. Explore the Dambulla cave temple
Feel like spending some more time exploring the religious heritage of Sri Lanka? In this case, the Dambulla cave temple is the place to be. Built inside vast rock caves, the temple was home to Buddhist monks for centuries, and still is an active religious site to this day.
The temple and surrounding area is packed with artefacts. These include a golden Buddha statue and The Cave of the Divine King. The setting itself is stunning, with massive rocks above the temple, lush vegetation nearby, and local monkeys roaming the area.
As with all Buddhist temples, make sure to cover your shoulders, legs, and take off your shoes when going inside.
Tips for travelling to Sri Lanka
Packed with unique cultural experiences, stunning landscapes, and plenty of UNESCO World Heritage sites, visiting Sri Lanka is an experience you will never forget. That said, there are some things you can do to make your trip even more enjoyable.
- Create a packing list. Many travellers leave packing for the last minute and then stress about forgetting something important at home. To avoid this, create a packing list for Sri Lanka in advance to make sure you have everything you need when it’s time to pack.
- Pack comfortable footwear. The Sri Lanka experience includes a lot of walking, so leave your heels at home and make sure to pack a couple of pairs of comfortable shoes.
- Get an eSIM. Having a mobile internet connection gives you a whole new level of freedom for exploring the country, and using an eSIM in Sri Lanka is your best option. It’ll help you find your way around with map apps, communicate with locals using translation apps, and stay in touch with friends and family back home.
- Try new things. A lot of Sri Lanka’s beauty unravels itself through culture and food. So visit the temples, even if you’re not religious. Try the food even if it’s not your usual diet. And don’t forget to sample the tea wherever you go.
- Take it in. With so many things to do and places to visit, it’s easy to start rushing things. Don’t. Climb a peak and drink in the sunrise. Sit down in a town and feel the rhythm that the locals live in. It’s better to really experience a few things, than to rush through a checklist without ever feeling what you do.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
