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The ramparts of Galle Fort with the lighthouse beyond

33 destinations

Places to visit in Sri Lanka

Every place here is an overnight base the trip planner can use. The bars show how good each month is, from our season ratings, checked against the Department of Meteorology's climate notes.

West coast

  • Waves breaking on the rocks at Bentota beach in the evening
    West coast

    Bentota

    A broad golden beach where the Bentota river meets the sea, with river safaris, two famous Bawa gardens and turtle hatcheries nearby.

    Best Dec to Mar2 nights
  • The Galle Face promenade and the Colombo skyline beside the Indian Ocean
    West coast

    Colombo

    Sri Lanka's commercial capital, an easy first or last night with sea-front walks, temples, markets and the best restaurants on the island.

    Best Jan to Mar1 night (half a day of sightseeing)
  • Fishing boats moored in the Negombo lagoon
    West coast

    Negombo

    A fishing town and beach about 15 minutes from the airport, the easiest place to sleep off a long flight before heading inland.

    Best Jan to Mar1 night

Cultural Triangle

  • The white dome of Ruwanwelisaya stupa in Anuradhapura
    Cultural Triangle

    Anuradhapura

    The first great capital of Sri Lanka, with giant brick stupas, ancient reservoirs and the sacred Bodhi tree, still a living place of pilgrimage.

    Best Feb to Sep1 to 2 nights
  • The reclining Buddha inside the Dambulla cave temple
    Cultural Triangle

    Dambulla

    A crossroads town under the painted cave temple of Dambulla, with prehistoric tombs and a forest arboretum close by and Sigiriya twenty minutes away.

    Best Feb to Sep1 night, or a half day from Sigiriya
  • The standing and reclining Buddhas carved into the rock at Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa
    Cultural Triangle

    Polonnaruwa

    The medieval royal capital, with palaces, temples and the rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara spread beside a great reservoir.

    Best Feb to Sep1 night, or a day trip from Sigiriya
  • Sigiriya rock fortress rising above the forest under a blue sky
    Cultural Triangle

    Sigiriya

    The fifth-century rock citadel of Sigiriya and its sister rock Pidurangala, in the dry forest at the heart of the island, with elephant safaris at the great tanks nearby.

    Best Feb to Sep2 nights

Hill country

  • The cone of Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) rising above the forest
    Hill country

    Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)

    The sacred mountain climbed by pilgrims of four faiths, ascended overnight on thousands of lit steps to watch sunrise and the peak's shadow from the summit.

    Best Jan to Mar1 night at Nallathanni
  • A blue train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella
    Hill country

    Ella

    A small hill town in a gap between mountains, reached by one of the world's most scenic train rides and surrounded by easy walks and tea country.

    Best Jan to Mar, Jun to Aug2 nights
  • Adisham Bungalow, the stone country house that is now St Benedict's Monastery, Haputale
    Hill country

    Haputale

    A small hill town on a knife-edge ridge, with tea estates falling away on both sides, Lipton's Seat, an English-style monastery and some of the island's tallest waterfalls nearby.

    Best Feb to Mar, Jun to Aug1 to 2 nights
  • The path across the lawns to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
    Hill country

    Kandy

    The last royal capital, built around a lake and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine.

    Best Jan to Apr2 nights
  • The Kelani river flowing between forested hills at Kitulgala
    Hill country

    Kitulgala

    A rainforest village on the Kelani river, the centre for white-water rafting in Sri Lanka, with forest walks, a prehistoric cave and the film site of The Bridge on the River Kwai.

    Best Dec to Mar1 night, or a stop on the way to the hills
  • Forested ridges and peaks of the Knuckles Mountain Range
    Hill country

    Knuckles Range

    A wild, misty mountain range north-east of Kandy with cloud forest, grassland ridges, waterfalls and remote villages, best explored on foot with a local guide.

    Best Feb to Apr, Aug to Sep1 to 2 nights
  • Tea bushes covering the highland slopes near Nuwara Eliya
    Hill country

    Nuwara Eliya

    The cool, misty heart of tea country at about 1,900 metres, with tea factories to visit and the high plateau of Horton Plains nearby.

    Best Jan to Apr1 night

South coast

  • Stilt fishermen at work off the shore at Ahangama
    South coast

    Ahangama

    A surf village of reef and point breaks between Galle and Weligama, with a laid-back cafe scene, stilt fishermen and a white-tea estate inland.

    Best Dec to Mar2 to 4 nights
  • The ramparts of Galle Fort with the lighthouse beyond
    South coast

    Galle

    A walled sea fort first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch, still a living town of churches, mansions, cafes and ramparts.

    Best Dec to Mar1 to 2 nights
  • Boats and palm trees along Hikkaduwa beach
    South coast

    Hikkaduwa

    A lively beach town with a shallow coral reef, turtles in the surf, reef breaks for surfers and a long strip of cafes, an easy drive from Colombo.

    Best Dec to Mar2 nights
  • Waves breaking over the rocks on Dickwella beach, beside Hiriketiya
    South coast

    Hiriketiya

    A small horseshoe bay near Dikwella with a gentle surf break, palm-backed sand and a relaxed cafe scene, close to giant Buddhas and a blowhole.

    Best Dec to Apr2 to 3 nights
  • Coconut Tree Hill on the headland at Mirissa, seen from above
    South coast

    Mirissa

    A crescent beach with palm-covered headlands, Parrot Rock and Secret Beach, and whale-watching boats from the harbour in season.

    Best Dec to Apr2 nights
  • Rocks and palms around the cove at Goyambokka beach, Tangalle
    South coast

    Tangalle

    A string of quiet, wide beaches and small coves around a fishing town, with turtles nesting at Rekawa and the cave temples of Mulkirigala inland.

    Best Dec to Apr2 to 3 nights
  • Stilt fishermen on their poles in the surf at Koggala
    South coast

    Thalpe and Koggala

    A quieter strip of villas and natural rock pools just east of Galle, with stilt fishermen, a lagoon of islands and a writer's house museum at Koggala.

    Best Dec to Mar2 to 3 nights
  • Palms and boats along the curve of Unawatuna beach
    South coast

    Unawatuna

    A curved, reef-sheltered bay ten minutes from Galle Fort, with calm swimming in season, Jungle Beach and the Peace Pagoda on Rumassala hill.

    Best Dec to Mar2 nights
  • Calm water in Weligama Bay with the small island offshore
    South coast

    Weligama

    A long, sandy bay with small, friendly waves that make it the best place on the island to learn to surf, with Taprobane island just offshore.

    Best Dec to Mar2 to 3 nights

Deep south

  • A leopard resting on a rock in Yala National Park
    Deep south

    Tissamaharama and Yala

    A town of ancient tanks and stupas on the edge of Yala National Park, the island's best-known place to look for leopards.

    Best Jan to Jul1 night

East coast

  • Arugam Bay beach and fishing boats seen from above
    East coast

    Arugam Bay

    A relaxed east-coast surf town, with long right-hand point breaks from about May to September, lagoons and the edge of Kumana National Park.

    Best May to Sep3 nights
  • The wide white beach and calm bay at Pasikudah
    East coast

    Pasikudah

    A wide, shallow bay of calm, clear water on the east coast, where you can wade far out on sand, with the Dutch fort town of Batticaloa nearby.

    Best Apr to Sep2 to 3 nights
  • The main rock of Pigeon Island National Park off Nilaveli, Trincomalee
    East coast

    Trincomalee

    A natural harbour town on the north-east coast with calm summer seas, the clifftop Koneswaram temple and snorkelling at Pigeon Island.

    Best Apr to Sep2 nights

Season ratings reviewed 22 Oct 2026.