Sri Lanka has it all: jungle-covered mountains, picture-perfect beaches, delicious food, warm people, and rolling tea plantations. Plus, it’s home to some of Asia’s most extraordinary wildlife! We traveled across the country by train and car, taking in the diversity of the landscapes, and fell in love with everything we saw. In this guide, we’ve put together our recommendations for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka, including where to stay and how to get around.
Must-See Places in Sri Lanka
1. The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
The Nine Arch Bridge is one of our favorite places to visit in the whole of Sri Lanka. It lies just outside the picturesque town of Ella, deep within the lush jungle, green tea plantations, and a bamboo forest.
We were unsure how interesting a bridge could really be, but at a massive 25 meters high and 91 meters long, the bridge is an example of incredible architecture and engineering. It has stood without steel support for over 100 years!
Read on: Nine-Arch Bridge in Ella
Hang around, and you might be lucky enough to see the famous train crossing the tracks on its way to Ella.
Tip: We timed our visit for sunrise! It was only a 9-minute drive from our stay. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to a coffee with direct views of the bridge at Asanka Cafe (here is the location). Highly recommend :)
2. The Top of Diyaluma Falls
Hiking to the top of the second-highest waterfall in the country was an experience we won’t forget. Diyaluma waterfall is nature’s very own playground, and a must-see place in Sri Lanka.
We visited the falls from our hotel in Ella (40-minute drive), making it a great daytrip. We drove ourselves, but you can also ask a tuk-tuk driver to drop you off at the bottom of the trail. From here, you can follow the path up for ~30 minutes to the top. Here’s the complete route.
Continue reading: Diyaluma Falls, Sri Lanka
Once you reach the summit, there are three natural infinity pools perched on the edge of the cliff. We swam in the pools and chilled on the rocks, taking in the extraordinary views while gazing down at the 220 meters. It feels as if youโre on top of the world here!
Tip: Please note that there are no safety barriers at the falls, so be very careful when swimming near the cliff edge.
3. Southern Beaches: Swings & Palm Trees
Our absolute favorite thing about Sri Lanka is the endless palm tree swings. With just a coconut in hand and the sea breeze in our hair, the Sri Lankan southern beaches were our go-to place to relax. These are some of our top choices:
Dalawella Beach Swing
The famed swing at Dalawella Beach in Unawatuna sits high in the curve of a bending palm tree, just in front of Dream Cabana. It’s one of the most picturesque places we’ve seen in Sri Lanka, especially at sunset! Here’s the exact location.
When we visited, the swing was free. However, we heard that these days, youโll likely have to pay a small fee (1000 LKR/3.24 USD) to use it. Still well worth it, we think, especially as the owner maintains the area.
It took us 30 minutes to walk from the center to get here, and we often stop for a chat with the locals in the nearby huts and bars.
Read more about the things to do in Unawatuna
Dikwella Beach Swing
Our second-favorite palm tree swing is in Dikwella. Unlike Dalawella, this is a seated swing, and we found far fewer tourists here, so we had more time to enjoy it ourselves!
This beautiful palm tree stands almost horizontally, offering a fantastic backdrop for photos. We visited around sunset for the best light and colors. You can find it outside the Dikwella Beach Hotel (also a great place to stay!). Here’s the location.
4. The National Parks
During our safaris in Sri Lanka, we’ve seen some of the most impressive wildlife and marine animals we’ve encountered on our travels. We’ve been lucky enough to spot elephants, sloth bears, blue whales, dolphins, and even the elusive leopard!
The animals roam freely in the wild, and most can be found within the 26 national parks scattered throughout the country. In fact, it’s considered one of the best safari destinations in the world (outside Africa)!
One of our most memorable experiences was seeing the famous elephant gathering in Minneriya in September, when thousands of elephants come to the lake to drink. We booked a jeep tour to see this here.
Although each national park has its unique characteristics, from vast herds of elephants to many monkey species, we find that the safari is always the best experience in itself. We love jumping into a jeep and riding through the bushlands of Sri Lanka, keeping a weather eye out for animals in their natural habitat.
These were our favorite national parks in Sri Lanka
Each time, we were in awe of the exterior, with its tall minarets towering over the city and its facade adorned with intricate red and white patterns (which made us dizzy at times, haha). However, the interior is worth a visit as well.
Note: This is a place of worship, so dress appropriately (cover your hair, arms, and legs). The mosque is free to enter, but we visited it as part of this fun tuk-tuk tour of the city.
6. Tea Plantations at Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is such a stunning place to visit in Sri Lanka, with its endless rolling green hills and breathtaking tea plantations. The area has a rich history and is renowned as one of the world’s most significant tea producers; itโs also where Lipton Tea originated.
We paid 7 USD for a full-day tuk-tuk tour of the area, including visits to several tea plantations and factories. Along the way, we also stopped at beautiful viewpoints overlooking the plantations, the incredible Ramboda Waterfall, and a few impressive tea rooms to drink freshly-brewed tea.
7. Galle Fort – A Must-Visit in Sri Lanka
Located on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, we visited the ancient town of Galle Fort, a cultural and historical hub bursting with architectural gems. Therefore, it didn’t surprise us that it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The turbulent history of invasions and colonization undoubtedly explains the distinctly European feel of this tropical port city. We spent a day visiting the ancient fort and wandering through streets full of beautiful Dutch-style buildings that have been transformed into trendy shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Continue reading: Things to do in Galle Fort
Tip: We visited the Galle Fort wall at sunset for fantastic views and highly recommend this. Another great place we loved for views was Flag Rock Bastion, where you’ll spot adrenaline seekers jumping from the cliffs.
8. Sigiriya Lion Rock
Sigiriya Lion Rock is one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the world and one of the first places we think of when someone asks us where to visit in Sri Lanka! The enormous (200m) square-shaped UNESCO rock towers over the otherwise flat, dense landscape. The stone’s sheer size left us speechless; it looks like it has simply appeared by magic.
What we found most interesting is that this rock was designed as a fortress centuries ago! We visited the gardens atop the rock that the king designed (still visible today).
- Entrance fee: 35 USD for foreign visitors. Not the cheapest, but it includes the museum, gardens, and a climb to the top.
- How long to visit: It took us around 2-3 hours to explore the entire area around and on top of Sigiriya Lion Rock.
- Our tip: Stay in a hotel in Sigiriya and climb the rock as early as possible to avoid the heat. We got an epic sunrise from here, making it well worth the early start!
9. Pidurangula Rock
After having been to the top of Lion Rock, we couldn’t skip its little sibling, Pidurangala Rock. Although it may be smaller, we thought the views were even better from here. There are fewer crowds, and you can look directly onto Lion Rock, which is impressive to see.
The hike up is undoubtedly for adventurers; we left before sunrise with our flashlights on, climbing up steep boulders before finally reaching the top. However, it was one of our favorite experiences in Sri Lanka!
We paid 1,000 LKR (3 USD) for the entrance fee (much cheaper than Lion Rock). Check out more information in our guide for Pidurangula Rock in Sigiriya.
10. Kandy Botanical Gardens
Kandy’s Royal Botanical Gardens were the perfect place to escape the city’s heat during our visit. The gardens are enormous and home to hundreds of different plant, tree, and flower species.
We paid 3,540 LKR (12 USD), which is a bit pricier, but we found it worth the money. We ended up spending a few hours walking among the plants, shooting photos, and relaxing in the shade of the trees. It definitely felt cooler than the city!
Although we didn’t do this, there’s also the option to sit down for a refreshing drink at one of the gardenโs cafes.
Read more: Favorite things to do in Kandy, Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is nice place for visiting. Thanks for sharing such nice blog.