December-April
West and south coasts, hill country
May-September
Best on the east coast
Two weeks
Time for a tour and the beach
Car with driver
Common and affordable way to tour
Sri Lanka: a tour with a beach at the end
Sri Lanka is small enough to drive from the mountains to the sea in a day, yet varied enough to feel like several countries. In the north is the Cultural Triangle, with ancient royal cities and rock temples. In the middle is the hill country, with tea plantations and cool nights. In the south and west are the beaches, the national parks and the old fort town of Galle.
Most people book a tour with a driver, which is common and affordable in Sri Lanka, and finish with a few days by the sea. The food is a reason to go in itself: rice and curry with many small dishes, hoppers for breakfast and fresh fish on the south coast.
Sri Lanka lies in Asia, just south of India. Many combine the island with a few days in the Maldives, a short flight away.
Best places to visit in Sri Lanka
In short: from December to April, combine Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the train to Ella with a few days on the south coast around Galle and Mirissa. From May to September, finish on the east coast instead.
1. Sigiriya: the rock fortress
A palace built on top of a rock that rises straight out of the jungle, on the UNESCO list. Climb at opening time, before the heat. Stay at Heritance Kandalama nearby.
2. Dambulla: the cave temple
Five caves filled with Buddha statues and painted ceilings, another UNESCO site close to Sigiriya. Cover shoulders and knees.
3. Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura: the ancient capitals
Ruined palaces, stupas and giant Buddha statues spread over large areas. Hire a bicycle in Polonnaruwa, which is easier to manage in a morning.
4. Kandy: the Temple of the Tooth
The last royal capital, around a lake, with the temple that holds a relic of the Buddha. It is also the start of the most famous train ride in the country.
5. Ella and the hill country: tea and trains
Tea plantations, waterfalls and the Nine Arches Bridge. Book train seats from Kandy well ahead. Read about staying on a tea estate at Ceylon Tea Trails.
6. Yala and Udawalawe: leopards and elephants
Yala is known for leopards and is busy with jeeps, while Udawalawe is quieter and almost guarantees elephants. Parts of Yala close for a period each year, usually around September.
7. Galle: a fort by the sea
A walled colonial town on the UNESCO list, with cafés, small shops and the ramparts at sunset.
8. Mirissa and Weligama: beaches and whales
Surf lessons in Weligama, beach bars in Mirissa and whale-watching trips in the dry season. The sea can be rough from May to September.
9. The east coast: Arugam Bay and Trincomalee
Surfing at Arugam Bay and calm beaches around Trincomalee, at their best from about May to September, when the south and west are wet.
10. Colombo: the capital in a day or two
Markets, colonial buildings and good restaurants. Most travellers pass through on arrival or departure, and one or two nights is enough.
Travelling as a couple? See our Sri Lanka honeymoon route.
Suggested itinerary: Sri Lanka in two weeks
Sigiriya and Dambulla, 3 nights: climb Lion Rock early in the morning, see the cave temple at Dambulla and the ruins of Polonnaruwa.
Kandy, 2 nights: the Temple of the Tooth and the botanical gardens.
The train to Ella, 2 nights: the ride through the tea plantations and hikes to Ella Rock and Nine Arch Bridge.
Yala or Udawalawe, 1 night: a safari for leopards and elephants.
The south coast, 5-6 nights: Galle, Mirissa and Weligama, with whale watching, surfing and beaches.
Things to do in Sri Lanka
Climb the more than a thousand steps of Sigiriya before the heat arrives.
Take the train from Kandy to Ella, ideally by a window that opens.
Look for leopards in Yala National Park and elephants in Udawalawe.
Walk the walls of Galle Fort at sunset.
Go whale watching from Mirissa, where blue whales can be seen in season.
Taste fresh tea at a plantation in the hill country.
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is known for the architect Geoffrey Bawa, who designed several of the island's most famous hotels, and for small, personal hotels along the touring route.
Jetwing Vil Uyana: villas in the wetlands near Sigiriya
Thatched villas set among paddy fields and wetlands near Sigiriya. A calm base for the Cultural Triangle.
Heritance Kandalama: Bawa's hotel in the rock
Geoffrey Bawa's famous hotel, built into a rock face and covered in greenery, looking across a lake towards Sigiriya.
Jetwing Lighthouse: by the sea outside Galle
A Bawa hotel on the rocks just outside Galle, with a pool facing the ocean and a short drive to the fort.
Cape Weligama: villas on the headland
Villas on a headland above the Indian Ocean at Weligama, with a long crescent-shaped pool and views over the bay.
Cape Weligama is also our Sri Lanka pick among the best honeymoon destinations, and Sri Lanka features in our guide to cheap honeymoon destinations.
The route and six hotels for newlyweds are in our Sri Lanka honeymoon guide.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so it is always in season somewhere. December to April is best for the west and south coasts, the hill country and the Cultural Triangle. May to September is best on the east coast, around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. October and November can be wet across much of the island. See also where is hot in January and in March.
Check the current entry and visa rules before you travel.
The hotel the jungle took back
Geoffrey Bawa's overgrown hotel by the Kandalama reservoir is an experience in itself. Read more about Heritance Kandalama.
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Our pick
Cape Weligama: a crescent-shaped pool hangs over the edge of the headland
A crescent-shaped pool hangs over the edge of the headland, and below it the Indian Ocean rolls in towards Weligama Bay.
Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka
When is the best time to go to Sri Lanka?
December to April is best for the south and west coasts, the hill country and the Cultural Triangle. May to September is best on the east coast. October and November are often wet.
How long should you spend in Sri Lanka?
Two weeks gives you time for a tour and a few days on the beach. With ten days, choose either the Cultural Triangle or the hill country as well as the coast.
How do you get around Sri Lanka?
Many hire a car with a driver, which is common and affordable. The train through the hill country is an experience, but book a seat in advance.
Where should I stay in Sri Lanka?
Stay near Sigiriya for the Cultural Triangle, in Kandy or Ella in the hill country, and around Galle, Weligama or Mirissa on the south coast.
Can you combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives?
Yes. The flight from Colombo to Malé is short, and many finish their tour with a few days in the Maldives.
What is the most beautiful place in Sri Lanka?
Many would name the hill country around Ella or the view from Sigiriya. On the coast, Galle and the bays around Weligama are favourites.
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