Sri Lanka Attractions

My favorite highlights and attractions that you should not miss during your trip to Sri Lanka.

When traveling to Sri Lanka - formerly Ceylon - there is much to discover. The country is about the same size as Bavaria, yet it's still too large to see all the attractions and sights in just two weeks.

I traveled for 16 days on my tour of Sri Lanka. In this article, you will find my itinerary and the places I visited. I'll highlight my personal favorites, and the lowlights will be listed at the end of the article, along with places I'd like to visit on my next trip.

Note: Due to my travel time at the end of December and beginning of January, I traveled from Colombo to the highlands and the Cultural Triangle, before exploring the southern coast. Unfortunately, I did not visit the more original northern and eastern parts of the island, as the northeast monsoon brings a lot of rain to this region at that time.

Most of the attractions and culturally significant sites in Sri Lanka are located in the Cultural Triangle in the center of the country. The following places are the highlights of our trip in the south and center of Sri Lanka.

Few countries can boast such a small area with so many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Sri Lanka. The country, with its millennia-old cultural history, has a large number of ancient religious sites, such as temples and monasteries, just waiting for you to discover.

But Sri Lanka offers something for everyone, not just culture lovers. Active vacationers, nature enthusiasts, and art lovers will also find plenty to enjoy here.

Whether you love beautiful beaches, want to spot rare animals on a safari in one of the numerous national parks, or are searching for the best surfing or diving spots, you can discover stunning landscapes and vibrant green tea plantations on a relaxed train ride through the highlands or on a hike. At every corner, the aroma of delicious food wafts, served with warmth by the friendly Sinhalese.

What are you waiting for? Off to Sri Lanka!

Ancient royal cities and previous capitals, ruins, countless temples, shrines, and stupas in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Kandy.

A must-see on a tour of Sri Lanka is a visit to the Cultural Triangle between Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy. I initially planned to spend only two days here but was thankfully convinced otherwise. You should plan at least three days to appreciate the ancient monasteries and impressive Buddha statues. I recommend Dambulla as an ideal starting point.

Kandy is a common starting point for many tourists. I suggest staying in Dambulla or Habarana and taking a separate stop in Kandy heading south to avoid wasting time on long drives.

Here you can find an article with detailed tips for the Cultural Triangle

At Sigiriya, the Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock), a fascinating mystery, awaits your visit. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. When you look up at the 200-meter-high rock from the entrance, it takes your breath away.

There are two reasons to climb to the top: the monolith offers a fantastic view of the surrounding area, and there are remnants of a fortress at the summit.

Right after the entrance, you first walk through the symmetrically arranged park with the pleasure garden and rock garden at the foot of the mountain. Followed by the terraced garden, which leads you up the stairs.

On your way up, you first pass the Mirror Wall. This wall got its name because the polished surface made from egg white and wild honey begins to shine when the sun hits it.

Via an iron spiral staircase, you reach a rock overhang and the most famous wall paintings in Sri Lanka: the colorful rock frescoes of the Cloud Maidens. These are delicate paintings of floating women from the 5th century, which have some visitors loudly wondering if silicone breasts existed back then. No joke.

Originally over 500 frescoes existed, but today only 21 remain. The rest were destroyed by vandals.

Next, you reach the Lion Terrace, with its Lion Gate and lion paws, which flank the entrance to the palace and the final steep stairs to the top. The paws are all that remain of the once 14-meter-high lion. It's difficult to take a photo here as there's a constant flow of visitors going up and down.

The last steps to the fortress are not easy for many, and several visitors were gripping the railing tightly during my visit. You should not be afraid of heights; it is all very well secured.

On the way down, you pass the Cobra-head cave, named so because a rock above the grotto looks like an upright cobra.

The climb to the summit looks more strenuous than it actually is. The admission fee is unfortunately quite high, but it's worth it.

Just 1 km north of Sigiriya is the 200-meter-high Pidurangala Rock. The "Golden Rock" was once a retreat for Buddhist monks and is climbed by many tourists who find the $30 entrance fee for Sigiriya too expensive. Admission here only costs 500 Rs, but has doubled in recent years.

At the foot of the mountain, there is a monastery. From the top, you have a great view of Sigiriya Rock.

Polonnaruwa lies by the 2500 ha large Parakrama Samudra reservoir, which was artificially created by King Parakrama Bahu I. The attractions in Polonnaruwa are among the most important and most visited in Sri Lanka.

The archaeological ruins in Polonnaruwa are widely scattered and are perfect for exploration by bike. Here you can find huge stupas, expansive parks, and impressive temple complexes that testify to the former significance of Polonnaruwa. You can still visit all of this today.

During its heyday in the 12th century, even the Tooth Relic of Buddha was in Polonnaruwa. Today, you can find it in the Tooth Temple in Kandy. Several kings ruled in the ancient royal city. Since 1982, the old structures have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today's Polonnaruwa, with its 13,000 inhabitants, offers nothing special and hardly receives attention from tourists.

During our visit, it rained quite heavily repeatedly. Even in early January, the monsoon and its aftereffects can be felt in the north.

In the museum, where tickets are available, you get a very good overview of the history of Polonnaruwa.

In Dambulla, a rock temple with numerous cave Buddhas awaits your visit. A total of five cave temples house numerous Buddha figures. The complex was created when King Valagamba was forced to leave the capital Anuradhapura in 104 BC. The king fled to the rock caves of Dambulla, which today are among the top attractions in the Cultural Triangle.

At the foot of the granite rock is the Golden Temple, on which a 30-meter-high golden Buddha sits. Inside, there is a museum, which I skipped.

To the left, a path leads to the temple located 110 meters up. The granite rock itself is about 170 meters high. The ascent is strenuous, so I recommend wearing sturdy shoes. The path leads across smooth granite in places. It's a slippery affair in flip-flops.

Once you get to the top, you must first remove your shoes, cover your shoulders and legs, and remove any headgear. Then you are allowed to enter the cave temple complex.

The largest of the caves is 60 meters long and 30 meters wide and contains 53 life-sized statues and over a hundred smaller figures. The walls and ceilings are painted with scenes from the life of Buddha and the history of Sri Lanka.

Note: At the top of the temple, you must take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and legs. If you are wearing a head covering for sun protection, you must also remove that.

Tip: The granite rock itself is about 170 meters high. The ascent is strenuous, and I recommend wearing sturdy shoes. The path leads partially over smooth granite. It's a slippery affair in flip-flops.

Kandy - you either love it or hate it. Opinions are divided here. Kandy is the cultural capital and last royal city of Sri Lanka. The most important shrine, the Tooth Temple with the Sacred Tooth Relic, which allegedly holds a tooth of Buddha, is located here.

For the Sinhalese, this is the holiest place on the island. The rest of Kandy doesn't offer much, but you should at least spend one night here.

The centrally located Kandy Lake invites you for a nice walk to escape the hectic city for a brief moment.

Tip: Many use Kandy as a starting point for the Cultural Triangle. I would find this to be tedious and recommend choosing Dambulla or Habarana as your base for tours in the Cultural Triangle.

Anuradhapura is divided between the modern new city with over 55,000 inhabitants and the ancient city, which was once the first capital of Sri Lanka. Due to the revered Bodhi tree, Anuradhapura is considered a holy place. Since 1982, the city has also been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The sights are quite spread out throughout the area. Therefore, I recommend exploring Anuradhapura by bike, Tuk Tuk or with a private driver. This time we opted out of the bike since we were tired of sightseeing old temple ruins from the previous days. Additionally, the constant rain made biking less appealing.

Covering all the sights in one day on foot is not feasible. We relied on our driver to take us everywhere.

Countless ruins today testify to a once proud city. Our highlights in Anuradhapura included some stupas and the Sri Maha Bodhi ("Most Respected Bodhi"), a descendant of the tree in Bodhgaya, India, under which Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha and is said to have attained enlightenment. Many pilgrims flock to the holiest tree in Sri Lanka, allowing you to experience very vibrant Buddhism. We encountered very few tourists here.

The Bodhi Tree (Tree of Enlightenment) itself is so covered up that you can hardly see it. Except for, of course, "the" branch.

I only recommend a detour to Anuradhapura if you have enough time in Sri Lanka or have a deep interest in the culture of the country.

Before the British arrived in Sri Lanka, the Hill Country near Nuwara Eliya was composed of rainforest and jungle. The British cleared everything and transformed the Hill Country into a vast tea plantation. The scenery is breathtaking. Though some may get seasick trying to navigate the narrow curves, the views are stunning.

Take your time and visit a tea factory to learn more about tea plant cultivation in Sri Lanka. I visited Mackwoods. The tours here are very entertaining and quite superficial.

Having visited a tea factory in Uganda, I didn't find it too shocking; the experience there felt more authentic as it focused less on mass tourism and everything was "live". Nonetheless, a visit is worthwhile since you can buy and taste tea at a reasonable price.

Before my trip, I asked many friends and acquaintances which beach is the best in Sri Lanka. Everyone recommended a different beach. Whether it was Mirissa (absolutely hyped but unfortunately dirty and overcrowded), Unawatuna (party beach), Hikkaduwa, Arugam Bay (surf spot), or Tangalle. It's tough to choose.

Some beaches are spacious and clean, while others are still "small" yet expansive, as the tsunami reclaimed a large piece of land.

You can still find lonely spots by the sea but also completely overcrowded sections polluted by tourists and trash. Unfortunately, at some beaches, swimming is possible, while others are only suitable for surfers, and strong currents make it difficult and sometimes dangerous to enter the water.

During the trip, I chose Tangalle over Mirissa. After many travelers proclaimed Mirissa as the most beautiful beach last year, this once cozy place is now totally overcrowded. The beach - according to travelers I've met in Sri Lanka - is totally polluted.

Passing through Mirissa didn't inspire excitement in me either. I chose Tangalle, where I not only had the cheapest accommodation of the trip, but also got to know the friendliest locals and could watch the fishermen pull in their nets every day.

Private beach in Dikwella at our Ayurveda hotel Underneath the Mango Tree:

In the south, near Mirissa, you can go out to sea in the early morning with one of the numerous providers for whale watching.

Unfortunately, there are way too many providers here (I counted 15 boats) offering tours. The tours start early in the morning - all at the same time. The distance from the animals is maintained. Of course, there are instances where suddenly a blue whale surfaces right in front of or next to the boat. We had that chance too. However, in my opinion, there are just too many boats heading out to the animals at the same time.

The coast guard was also out, observing the behavior of the boats. So it doesn't matter which provider you book with. I didn't notice any differences.

We took the Whale Watching Tour in Mirissa with Geeth. There were snacks and drinks before departure, and the crew was in great spirits, allowing us to finally chat with locals.

Yala National Park in the southeast of Sri Lanka is primarily known for its leopards. Bears, elephants, crocodiles, and many other species also call this park home. The park is popular and often overcrowded. Almost all tourists enter the park through the main entrance at the same time, creating a traffic chaos whenever an animal is sighted.

In Yala National Park, you generally have the option to book a morning safari or an afternoon safari before sunset. Unlike in Africa, where it's often said that mornings are better, here it doesn't matter as long as you book and pay, so we opted for the afternoon safari.

Unfortunately, as in Mirissa, there are many providers, and everyone wants to make a little extra. Jeeps aren't filled to capacity, leading to a traffic jam whenever an animal is sighted. We did go on one safari but opted out of another.

We felt like we saw very few animals here, likely because too many tourists are let into the park at the same time. If you truly want to see wildlife, take a trip to Africa. Animals are treated fairly and protected there, at least in the places I've been.

Still, we were lucky to spot a leopard:

In the south of Sri Lanka, you can observe sea turtles laying their eggs at the Turtle Conservation Project on Rekawa Beach near Tangalle.

The bay is about 7 km from Tangalle. Unlike other turtle farms, here the freshly hatched turtles are not held in pools. Instead, they are allowed to follow their instincts and crawl directly into the sea. Unfortunately, you wait at the visitor center until a turtle is spotted on the beach. If none appears, you don't have to pay a fee. If a turtle does appear, the cost is 1000 Rs, a small amount compared to my Turtle Tour in South Africa.

Here too, I lost count after about 50 people, and we left before a turtle was found. There were simply too many people to manage during a sighting.

From the cozy town of Ella in the highlands of Sri Lanka, you can take a hike up Ella Rock. The trail leads you over railway tracks, through tea fields, and past a waterfall.

Numerous guides offer their assistance or run ahead without invitation, expecting a tip later. Quite annoying and tiring. You can easily make it up by yourself and surely meet other hikers, just like we did, who are on their way up. The view is worth it. Unfortunately, some clouds obscured our view into the valley.

Traveling by train in Sri Lanka is an absolute highlight. The trains have their doors open during the journey, allowing you to sit in the doorway with your legs dangling out.

Tickets are especially popular on the route from Kandy to Ella. You must book tickets early. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery with tea plantations and tea pickers.

Sri Lanka is particularly known for Ayurveda retreats. This healing method, which stems from the Indian culture and is over 2,500 years old, is based on inner balance and holistic healing.

Ayurveda retreats are also gaining popularity among us. I spent three days at a hotel with an Ayurveda spa and yoga to test this healing method. Followers swear by the effects of the therapies, where herbs, oils, and spices are used externally and internally to bring your body back into balance. Many vacationers come solely for multi-week Ayurveda retreats to Sri Lanka.

During my stay, I was incredibly relaxed and truly enjoyed the experience. Our luxury resort, Underneath the Mango Tree in Dikwella, offered a very extensive Ayurveda program and was an absolute dream.

The charming old town of Galle Fort in southern Sri Lanka is another place that captivated me. The Dutch once built the streets and buildings, and the Sinhalese gave them color. The mix that resulted is wonderful. After the tsunami, which damaged large parts of the old town, nearly everything has been restored. Only the uneven cobblestones were replaced with even paving stones.

Small shops, galleries, restaurants, and accommodations invite you to linger. One of the best things you can do in Galle is shop! Not just for souvenirs, but also spices, clothes, and retro postcards and posters. No tourist walks past here.

Yes, a trip to Sri Lanka is definitely worth it. The country is beautiful, has wonderful traditions, and stunning nature. BUT what prevents me from recommending a trip to Sri Lanka: the lack of animal protection. Animals are actually chased on safaris (and not just by one vehicle). I understand that after so many years of war, everyone wants to earn money through tourism again. But concepts should still be developed to ensure that elephants, whales, and leopards are not hunted by 50 safari vehicles.

My tip: If you want to see animals in nature, travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, or Tanzania.

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