Thirty days around the island

A wide stretch of sand north of the town; good for an evening walk after a long flight.

A temple from the reign of Dutthagamani, near Ridigama, said to mark where the silver ore for the Ruwanwelisaya stupa was found.

The ruins of two vast monastery complexes, with the huge brick domes of Abhayagiri and Jetavanaramaya, guardstones, moonstones and bathing ponds such as the Twin Ponds.

The sacred fig tree grown from a cutting brought from India in the 3rd century BC, among the oldest documented trees in the world, surrounded by terraces and offerings.

A great white stupa built by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC and ringed by a wall of carved elephants. Beautiful in the late afternoon light.

An ancient Buddhist temple on the island of Nainativu, counted among the sixteen holiest Buddhist shrines (Solosmasthana). It is reached by a short ferry from Kurikadduwan jetty.

A star-shaped fort, first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch in the 17th century, with a moat and ramparts over the lagoon.

The white library, burned in 1981 with tens of thousands of books and rebuilt in its original style, a powerful symbol for the city.

A boat trip to Nainativu, home to the Nagapooshani Amman temple and the Buddhist shrine of Nagadeepa. The ferry leaves from Kurikadduwan jetty, about an hour's drive from the city.

A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva on a cliff above the sea, reached through Fort Frederick.

A circular relic house with carved stone steps and guardstones, in the old Quadrangle. It was built either by Parakramabahu I for the tooth relic, or by Nissanka Malla for the alms bowl.

A rock temple made in the 12th century by King Parakramabahu I, with a seated, a standing and a reclining Buddha cut from one granite face. The reclining figure is the largest.

The 11th to 13th-century royal capital, best explored by bicycle or car, ending at the rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara.

An 8th-century stone shrine in the style of South Indian temples, with Buddhist and Hindu features, moved stone by stone when a reservoir flooded its old site.

The palace-fortress on the rock, with water gardens, frescoes, the Mirror Wall and the lion staircase. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Five painted caves under one rock overhang, with Buddha statues and ceiling murals spanning many centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sri Lanka's largest botanic garden, on a bend of the Mahaweli river, known for its avenues of royal palms, orchid house and giant Javan fig tree.

A flat 3.4 km loop around the lake in the centre of town, best early in the morning or before the evening service.

A hillside garden on the road to Ella, first planted in the 1860s for cinchona trials, now known for roses and cloud-forest views.

A working tea factory a few minutes from town, with a short tour of the processing floor and tea tasting with views over the estate.

A reservoir from the British period at the edge of town, with a lakeside path and boats for hire.

The stone railway viaduct at Demodara, in a valley of tea and forest. Check the timetable if you want to see a train cross.

An easy, well-trodden walk of about 45 minutes each way through a tea estate to a grassy summit with views across Ella Gap.

An ancient reservoir with birdlife and a lakeside road, near the restored Tissamaharama dagoba.

A half-day jeep safari (about 06:00 to 10:00, or 14:30 to 18:00) from the Palatupana gate, looking for leopards, elephants, sloth bears and birds across scrub, lagoons and rocky outcrops.

A Ramsar wetland of lagoons and dunes west of Yala, with flamingos in winter, crocodiles and many wading birds. Quieter than Yala.

A cave temple complex on a steep rock, with reclining Buddhas and painted ceilings on several terraces and views over the countryside from the top.

The horseshoe bay itself, with a beginner-friendly beach break, a reef break for experienced surfers and calm water for swimming on small days.

A small, sheltered cove of golden sand between rocky headlands, one of the safer swimming spots near Tangalle in season.

The main bay, lined with cafes, with Parrot Rock reachable on foot at low tide in calm weather.

A small headland of leaning palms above the sea at the east end of the bay. Busy at sunset.

Snorkel in the shallow, reef-protected lagoon of Hikkaduwa National Park, where green turtles often feed close to shore.

The grid of streets inside the walls, with the Dutch Reformed Church (Groote Kerk), old warehouses and small museums.

A curved bay with calm water in season, sheltered by a reef and lined with cafes.

A long sea-front lawn and promenade, busy with families, kite flyers and street-food stalls from late afternoon.