Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Sri Lanka

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a true paradise for a tourist. Wonderful beaches, untouched lush green hills, majestic waterfalls, underwater corals, and wildlife beckon. Historical monuments, places of religious pilgrimage, exotic cuisine, picturesque landscapes, amazing cultural heritage – there are not many places in the world that can reward a tourist with such an impressive experience.

The tropical island is located in the Indian Ocean, off the south-eastern coast of Hindustan. For a long time, the country was called Ceylon. The city of Colombo is widely known as the capital of the state, but in fact it is its suburb Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte.
All tourist destinations in Sri Lanka boast a wide range of options. In the valley of Kandy, touch the shrine of Sri Dalada Maligawa and savour the aromas of Peradeniya Gardens. In the cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, marvel at unprecedented archaeological sites, then contemplate and savour the views in the villages of Nuwara Eliya. Stroll the golden beaches of Unawatuna, go whale watching in Mirissa or Kalpitiya. And of course, take in the wildlife at Wilpattu and Yala Parks.

Top-22 Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

Sri Pada / Adam's Peak

 4.6/5

5038 reviews

This is the name of the mountain located in the western part of the island. Its height is 2243 metres. At the top of the peak there is a small temple, Buddhists consider this place sacred. From the top you can see the “Buddha’s footprint” – a large impression on the surface of the rock, outlines similar to the footprint of a human foot. The ascent is quite difficult, but thousands of tourists and pilgrims climb this route every year.

Sigiriya

 0/5

Sigiriya World Heritage Site is a massive rock plateau rising 170 metres above the surrounding plain. At the end of the 5th century, a fortress was built by King Kasapa on top of the rock and gardens with fountains were laid out around it. Later there was a monastery here. A few frescoes depicting naked women concubines have been preserved on the walls of the mountain.

Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple

 4.5/5

10134 reviews

This stone cave temple is the largest in South Asia. The sacred place of pilgrimage is located on top of a mountain amidst a picturesque forest. There are more than 150 Buddha statues in the caves, 73 of them are covered with gold. Numerous walls of the caves are covered with unique Buddhist wall paintings.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Kandy

 0/5

A stunning, picturesque valley surrounded by high mountains and embellished by the bends of the silvery waters of the Mahaweli Ganga River. At the very centre of the valley is the city of the same name, once the capital of Sri Lanka.

Kumana National Park

 4.6/5

444 reviews

The park is located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, 391 kilometres from Colombo. It is one of the most important bird migration, nesting and breeding sites on the island. Famous for Kunama for its picturesque lagoons and plains, the park has a beautiful Kumana-Villu Lake. Today, the park is in its initial development stage, with campsites, hotels and a tourist centre being built.

Open time

Monday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Yala National Park

 4.3/5

2226 reviews

The second largest national park in Sri Lanka, part of the park borders the Indian Ocean. It covers an area of about a thousand hectares. Jeep safaris are organised here – a great opportunity to get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, which is very similar to the natural parks of Africa. The nearest town Tissamaharama is 24 kilometres away.

Open time

Port of Colombo

 4.5/5

825 reviews

Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka, is the commercial capital of the island. The largest seaport in South Asia is located here. Next to it there is a district called Fort – a business centre with a large number of shops, hotels, banks, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

St. Clair Falls

 4.6/5

257 reviews

The St. Clair Falls is part of the Kothmale River and drops its waters from a height of 80 metres amidst the picturesque tea plantations that gave the waterfall its namesake. The waterfall is 50 metres wide. In terms of height it is only in the third ten in the list of waterfalls in Sri Lanka. But its beauty attracts a large number of sophisticated contemplators.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

World Trade Center - East tower

 4.7/5

40 reviews

The Colombo World Trade Centre is 152 metres high, the tallest building on the island. The twin towers have 40 storeys each, with the Bank of Ceylon standing next to them. The towers stand in the Fort business district. Nearby is the Galle Face Green promenade, a favourite with locals.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Sri Dalada Maligawa

 4.7/5

24625 reviews

Sri Lanka’s sacred relic, the Buddha’s Tooth, is located in the temple of the same name in the city of Kandy. The tooth (one of the four teeth of the Buddha cremated after his death) was transported to the island from India in 371. The Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tooth is credited with magical powers, and detractors have tried to destroy it many times.

Open time

Monday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya

 4.6/5

17865 reviews

One of the best in Asia and the largest green park on the island, it covers an area of almost 60 hectares. The botanical garden is divided into thematic zones and is located on the banks of the Mahaweli River in a beautiful hilly area. The garden is well known all over the world for its rich collections of plants. The year of foundation is considered to be 1821 (the time of the arrival of the British), although the first mentions refer to the distant 1371.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

 4/5

2677 reviews

The elephant nursery was opened in 1975 to provide shelter for baby elephants who were left without parents. At that time, there were only seven elephants. Now there are about 80 of them, including those born already in the nursery. Pinnawela is a very popular attraction in Sri Lanka, elephants are trained and educated here and tourists have the opportunity to get very close to them.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Pinnawala Zoo

 4/5

2422 reviews

Very recently a zoo opened next to the Pinnawela Nursery on 17 April 2015. This is the second zoo in Sri Lanka, but the first to be located in the open air. The 17-hectare area has become home to many of the island’s endemic animals. Construction is ongoing, with more than 862 million Lankan rupees already spent on the work.

Open time

The Tea Garden

 4.5/5

86 reviews

Nuwara Eliya is located at the foot of the highest mountain of the island. There are many spa and golf hotels, Nuwara Eliya is famous worldwide as a gastronomic and eco-tourism area. People come here to learn about tea traditions and admire the beauty of nature.

Open time

Monday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Galle Dutch Fort

 4.7/5

14908 reviews

The fort was built by the Dutch in 1663 on the site of a ruined Portuguese fortress. In the 16th century it was an important strategic trading port. The fort is perfectly preserved to our days, on its territory today as well as several centuries ago there are many residential and administrative buildings. The streets are well preserved and there are interesting sights.

Open time

Victoria Dam

 0/5

The hydraulic structure is located upstream from the mouth of the Maaveli River. Construction began in 1978 and was ceremonially completed in 1985. It is the largest hydroelectric power station in the country. Approximately 30,000 people had to be relocated during construction.

Negombo Beach

 4.3/5

460 reviews

This is often the place to stay on the last days of a trip to Sri Lanka. The beach and the resort of the same name are only seven kilometres from the international airport. In Negombo you can buy souvenirs and visit local restaurants, which are famous for seafood dishes. There are many hotels on the beach and water sports are popular here.

Open time

Kabalana beach

 4.6/5

114 reviews

A vast resort area with numerous hotels and a long beach on the south-west coast of the island. Bentota has the status of a national resort, so it strives to live up to this status. The Bentota River flows next to the coast in the shade of mangrove trees, and this is an opportunity to diversify your beach holiday with boat trips along the river.

Open time

Kuda Ravana Ella (Water Fall)

 4.4/5

75 reviews

The waterfall is about 25 metres high. It is located near the town of Ella, from there you can reach the waterfall by bus. The journey time is about 15 minutes and the public transport stop is right at the foot of the waterfall.

Open time

Sacred City Tourist Resort

 4.6/5

103 reviews

The archaeological monuments are located in the Old Town of Anuradhapura, it is divided by the Aruwi River from the tourist and residential area (New Town). The historical monuments of Anuradhapura are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mahabodhi temple and tree is considered a special sacred place.

Open time

Mihintale

 4.7/5

314 reviews

Very close to Anuradhapura is another interesting attraction, the Mihintale mountain range. It is a historical place with many remains of Buddhist buildings. There are 1850 steps leading up to the top of the mountain, and from the top you can see how big the monastery complex used to be.

Polonnaruwa Ancient City Entrance

 4.6/5

507 reviews

The ancient city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most interesting places on the island, preserving magnificent archaeological monuments from the time of the first rulers of the Kingdom. The Gal Vihara stone temple, which features four rock-cut Buddha statues, is the most interesting.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM