Sri Lanka Attractions

Best Things to Do in Sri Lanka: 16 Top Attractions

The best things to do in Sri Lanka are climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress at sunrise, visiting the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, riding the hill-country train to Ella, tracking leopards in Yala or Wilpattu, seeing the elephant gathering at Minneriya, whale watching off Mirissa and walking the ramparts of Galle Fort. Sri Lanka packs eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites into an island smaller than Ireland, so you can see a lot without long journeys. Earth Trip arranges every experience privately, with expert local guides, as part of a tailor-made Sri Lanka holiday.

Recommended by Aleem Raheem, our Sri Lankan-born co-founder, who returns to the island several times a year.

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Sri Lanka attractions at a glance

Ancient cities and temples

1. Sigiriya Rock Fortress A 5th-century royal citadel on top of a huge granite rock, with water gardens at its base, painted frescoes halfway up and the giant Lion’s Paws guarding the final climb. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We arrange early-morning climbs, so you reach the top before the heat and the crowds.

2. Dambulla Cave Temples Five cave temples cut into a rocky hill, filled with Buddha statues and with walls and ceilings covered in paintings. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a short drive from Sigiriya.

3. Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka’s medieval capital, with palaces, temples and the Gal Vihara, four great Buddha figures carved from a single granite rock face. The ruins are compact and best explored by bicycle.

4. Anuradhapura The island’s first great capital, home to vast white stupas and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree, grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha is said to have found enlightenment.

5. Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist temple, beside Kandy Lake, houses a relic of the Buddha’s tooth. Visit during the evening ceremony, or in July or August for the Esala Perahera procession. Add a Kandyan dance performance.

6. Galle Fort built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch in the 17th century on the south coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the ramparts at sunset, then explore the lanes of cafés, galleries and boutiques inside the walls.

The hill country

7. The hill-country train One of the world’s most scenic train journeys, winding from Kandy through tea plantations, waterfalls and misty hills to Ella. We book reserved seats for the best views.

8. Nine Arch Bridge and Ella The colonial-era stone railway viaduct near Ella is one of Sri Lanka’s most photographed sights. Time your visit for a passing train, then walk up Little Adam’s Peak for views across the valley.

9. Horton Plains and World’s End A high plateau of grassland and cloud forest, where a walking trail leads to World’s End, a sheer cliff with views across the southern plains on a clear morning, and Baker’s Falls. Start early, before the mist rolls in.

10. The Pekoe Trail A long-distance walking trail through Sri Lanka’s tea country, following old estate paths between plantations and villages. We arrange guided day walks on the most scenic stages. Combine it with a visit to the historic Dambatenne Tea Factory.

Ethical wildlife safaris

Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s best places for wildlife. Earth Trip strictly avoids captive animal attractions, such as elephant rides, and only arranges wildlife encounters in the animals’ natural habitat, led by expert naturalists.

11. Yala National Park Yala has one of the highest densities of wild leopards in the world, along with elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and birdlife. We use private jeeps and experienced naturalists. Parts of the park usually close for several weeks around September and October.

12. Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka’s largest national park, known for its natural lakes, called villus. It is quieter than Yala and a good place to see leopards, sloth bears and wild tuskers without the crowds.

13. Minneriya National Park From July to October, hundreds of wild elephants gather around the ancient Minneriya reservoir in “The Gathering”, usually at its peak in August and September. Nearby Kaudulla National Park often has elephants when Minneriya is quieter.

14. Whale watching off Mirissa Blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins can be seen off the south coast, mainly from December to April. We use operators that follow responsible marine-watching guidelines.

15. Sinharaja Rainforest Sri Lanka’s last large area of lowland rainforest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to many of the island’s endemic birds. A guided walk is a highlight for birdwatchers.

The east and north

16. Trincomalee and Pigeon Island The east coast is at its best from May to September. Snorkel with reef fish and blacktip reef sharks at Pigeon Island Marine National Park, and visit the Koneswaram Temple on Swami Rock above Trincomalee.

More to explore: the Tamil culture of Jaffna and the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, boat safaris in Gal Oya National Park, hiking in the Knuckles Mountain Range, elephants at Udawalawe National Park, and traditional Ayurveda treatments.

Tailoring your sightseeing

Because every Earth Trip holiday is private and tailor-made, your days are paced around you, with plenty of time to rest between sights. Your holiday is 100% financially protected by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). Read our Sri Lanka travel guide, see where to stay, or contact Aleem to start planning.

Sri Lanka attractions FAQs

What are the best things to do in Sri Lanka? The best things to do in Sri Lanka include climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress, visiting the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, taking the hill-country train to Ella, going on safari in Yala or Wilpattu for leopards, seeing the elephant g

athering at Minneriya, whale watching off Mirissa and exploring Galle Fort.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does Sri Lanka have? Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, the Dambulla cave temples, the sacred city of Kandy, Galle’s old town and fort, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Central Highlands.

Where is the best place to see leopards in Sri Lanka? Yala National Park has one of the highest densities of wild leopards in the world. Wilpattu National Park is quieter and also good for leopards and sloth bears.

When can you see whales in Sri Lanka? There are two main places in Sri Lanka for whale watching. Off Mirissa on the south coast, blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins are seen mainly from December to April. On the east coast near Trincomalee, the season is later in the year.

How long does it take to climb Sigiriya? Most people take about one to two hours to climb Sigiriya and return, with around 1,200 steps. Start early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds.

Is the Kandy to Ella train worth it? Yes. The journey from Kandy to Ella takes around six to seven hours and passes tea plantations, waterfalls and mountain views. Many travellers ride a shorter section, for example from Nanu Oya (near Nuwara Eliya) to Ella.

Does Earth Trip include elephant rides or captive animal attractions? No. We only arrange wildlife encounters in the animals’ natural habitat, such as jeep safaris in national parks, led by expert naturalist guides. We never include elephant rides or other captive animal attractions.