Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful places to plan a vacation all year round. Gracefully located in the Indian Ocean, this island country is blessed with the best of everything. Be it the vast wildlife, the ancient temples, the pristine beaches or the tall mountains, Sri Lanka has every element to make you fall in love with it. This tiny country has a total of eight world heritage sites within, which itself speaks about the country’s historical importance. Whether you are a beach person or a mountain person, Sri Lanka has the best of both. Read on to see some of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.
10 Top Places to Visit in Sri Lanka
Out of many beauties that this country has, we have come up with best places to visit in Sri Lanka below:
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Yala National Park
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Arugam Bay
- Galle Fort
- Nuwara Eliya
- Bentota Beach
- Temple of Tooth Relic
- Adam’s peak
- Ella
1. Dambulla Cave Temple
The cave temple in Dambulla is one of the very finest temples in Sri Lanka due to the unique architecture it has. Being an ancient temple, it is home to 150 statues of Buddha. Apart from the statues, there are few more shrines and murals to leave you stunned. If you want to have a touch of old history along with the culture, then this is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.
Location: Kandy
2. Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the country’s largest national park. The reason that it attracts a large number of tourists is because of the high density of animals like leopards, deers and many more. Apart from housing animals, it also stands as home to a wide range of birds that come here all year round. If you are an avid wildlife lover, then this is one of the top places to visit in Sri Lanka and shouldn’t be missed from your must-do list.
Location: Yala
3. Sigiriya Rock Fortress
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka is Sigiriya, which is popularly known for its rock fortress. This is also referred to as Lion’s rock because of the ancient remains of the fortress standing strong. Apart from the remains, there are also frescoes and water gardens to admire this beauty a little longer. If you are planning to trip to Sri Lanka, the make sure you visit this iconic place and get a dramatic view from the top.
Location: Sigiriya
4. Arugam Bay
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka which is also a beautiful beach is Arugam Bay lying 320 km from Colombo. Popularly known as the surfer’s paradise because of the very reason that it gives best surfing experiences. While on the beach, you will be able to find many spots to surf for both skilled and beginners. Apart from surfing, it also offers scuba diving and speed boating. The fun does not end here. In addition, you can also take a stroll on the streets where you will find the best spots to taste the local cuisines.
Location: Arugam Bay
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5. Galle Fort
Galle Fort, a Dutch-built fort in Galle district, is declared as one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. This is also said to be one of the largest sea forts remaining in Asia which makes it one of the top places to visit in Sri Lanka and a major tourist attraction. The fort is also lined with some cafes to have coffee, watching the setting sun. Visit to experience how it would feel to watch the sea from an old Dutch fort.
Location: Galle
6. Nuwara Eliya
Here comes another beautiful town in Sri Lanka which is even called as Sri Lanka’s hill station. Nuwara Eliya is blessed with such scenic beauty besides retaining its colonial ambience which makes it one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka. The town has so many attractions like waterfalls, magical mountains and rich tea plantations as well. One of the best things that you could do at Nuwara Eliya is taking a train ride to Kandy which will leave you fascinated for sure.
Location: Nuwara Eliya
7. Bentota Beach
Located in a resort town in the southern part of the country, Bentota Beach is loved not only by the tourists but also by the locals. You can have a relaxed feeling lying down on the golden sands of the Bentota beach, which is definitely one of the top places to visit in Sri Lanka. It is known for its crystal clear waters with waves crashing and boat cruises that one can experience. Apart from the beautiful views, it also offers some water sports activities one can indulge in.
Location: Galle
8. Temple of Tooth Relic
Temple of Tooth Reliz stands as one of the most interesting places to visit in Sri Lanka. This is one amongst the many heritage sites declared by UNESCO. Besides being historical, it never misses on giving you a spiritual experience. It is said that the tooth that is been preserved in the temple is of Buddha. Whether to seek blessings or admire its historical beauty, one should definitely visit this beautiful piece of architecture.
Location: Kandy
9. Adam’s peak
Located 7359 ft up above the clouds, is the Adam’s Peak which is another world heritage site in Sri Lanka. It is popularly known for the foot-shaped structure it has at its summit of the mountain which is called as Sri Pada. The word Sri Pada translates to Buddha’s footprints. Because of the very reason that you get to see some amazing views of sunrise, it’s a perfect choice to start hiking in the night to witness the beauty in the morning. Spectacular views of mountains, an experience of hiking with some religious importance are what makes this one of the must visit places in Sri Lanka.
Location: Centra Sri Lanka
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10. Ella
Ella is a beautiful town in Badulla district which is very famous for the Ella Gap. Besides offering a pleasant climate, it also offers some breathtaking views of the Sri Lankan mountains. It doesn’t stop with just admiring. In addition, there are many walking trails that you can take, cafes to chill and guesthouses to stay at. Surrounded by dense forests, this town is also rich in tea plantations. At Ella, don’t miss to take a train ride in the iconic railway bridge that runs through Ella, which is one of the best in Sri Lanka.
Location: Badulla
The above places to visit in Sri Lanka are only a little of what it actually has and there is a lot more to explore. No wonder Sri Lanka stays consistently in one of the most visited destinations in the world. With the fascinating beauty of mountains, crystal clear beaches and world heritage sites, Sri Lanka has everything to make you revisit. For those who would love to spend a vacation in this island country, check out some amazing Sri Lanka holiday packages that we have for you.
Fall in love with the best of Sri Lanka with Pickyourtrail!
Kandy, Bentota and Colombo Holiday – 4N
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 4 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 37,343
Starting price/person
Nuwara Eliya, Bentota and Colombo Tour Package – 4N
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 4 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 38,490
Starting price/person
Nuwara Eliya, Bentota and Colombo Tour Package – 5N
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 4 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 44,046
Starting price/person
Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Bentota and Colombo Holiday – 5N
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 5 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 47,940
Starting price/person
Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Bentota & Colombo Tour Package – 6N
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 6 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 48,609
Starting price/person
Colombo and Kandy Holiday – 4 Nights
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 5 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 28,963
Starting price/person
Colombo and Bentota Tour Package – 5 Nights
- Flights excluded
- 3.5 star accommodations
- 6 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 31,805
Starting price/person
Colombo & Kandy Tour Package – 5 Nights
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 5 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 26,796
Starting price/person
Short trip to Sri Lanka – 3 Nights
- Flights excluded
- 3.5 star accommodations
- 4 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 21,593
Starting price/person
Weekend Getaway to Sri Lanka – 3 Nights
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 1 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 14,646
Starting price/person
