12 tips on what to see in Sri Lanka and what attracted us there too

Last Updated on 1.5.2025 by Pája

Imagine a place where the sea glitters in all directions, where the green hills cover endless tea plantations and where history mixes with living culture. This is Sri Lanka – an island pearl of the Indian Ocean, thanks to which we have experiences that we will not easily forget. There you can experience everything from chilling on the beach to mountain adventures or whale watching. So what to see in Sri Lanka?

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka and when to go

Before you go to Sri Lanka, Don’t forget that monsoons are rampant in this country, but in theory you can go here all year round. Monsoons are always only on one part of the island, so in the north of the country it rains from October to January, while in the south from May to August. But the reality tends to be more friendly, because there are only minor rains during the day and sometimes it rains more, otherwise it is usually nice.

We went to Sri Lanka ourselves in July and spent a whole month there. Even though it was supposed to rain, we only caught the monsoon once, and that was the very first day. There were short rains at times, but It was actually perfectly fine.

Why Sri Lanka?

We went to Sri Lanka because we found cheap tickets and it was possible to go there even during our Czech summer. Now Sri Lanka has become one of our favorite places to spend time on the road. Here you can find untouched beautiful nature, beautiful beaches, but also rich culture influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism, which is mixed here. On your travels, you will meet elephants, you can rent a tuk-tuk and walk in the mountains.

Top 12 Tips on what to See in Sri Lanka

Most of the people who go to Sri Lanka travel in a typical circuit that starts in the capital of Sri Lanka – Colombo in the north and turns across the interior to the south. We drove it the other way around, because when we arrived in Sri Lanka, we didn’t have return tickets, but only a room for the first night and no plans, and the weather was nice in the south, so we started there.

Because Sri Lanka needs at least 3 to 4 weeks to travel properly, choose the best places to see in Sri Lanka according to what you enjoy most (beaches, mountains, cities, etc.). We went through almost everything.

Mirissa – Paradise for surfers and whale lovers

After a long journey, universities and periods of stress, first we went to the beach to relax for a few days. Mirissa is a small fishing village, but one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka is located in it. Surfers, beach bums and nature admirers will find their way, Because whales can be observed there from November to April. In addition, there is an air-conditioned bus directly from Colombo (which you will appreciate after a few trips by local transport).

TIP: Animal rescue station – Where does tourists’ money go and how does sea turtle protection work?

Unawatuna – beach oasis

Not far from Mirissa is another beach oasis – Unawatuna, where you will find long sandy beaches, palm trees and beautiful sunsets. Snorkeling or diving is popular here. You can also do a diving or surfing course here. In the past, the beaches used to be wide here, but in 2004 the tsunami hit the coast, so today some hotels reach the sea.

Yala National Park

If you’re attracted to the wilderness, Yala National Park is a place you shouldn’t miss, although in Sri Lanka you can easily meet many animals anywhere on the road near this NP. Yala is one of the largest and oldest national parks in Sri Lanka and is home to many kinds of animals, including elephants, leopards and crocodiles (you will probably see them outside the park), but also snakes (for example, Kober). 

But if you’ve been on an African safari before, it probably won’t be such a bad thing for you. In addition, you are not sure that you will actually see something.

Safari for elephants, leopards and cobras

Safari at Yala is an experience of a lifetime. Imagine driving an open jeep over a savannah, looking for animal tracks, and suddenly seeing a herd of elephants or even a leopard in your natural habitat. It is one of the few places in the world where you have such an opportunity. 

Sometimes it But In reality, it looks a little different, because as soon as the jeep sees the elephant, all the other expeditions will come together, so get ready for it. And if you’re lucky enough to see a leopard, it’s probably a long way from you. In any case, you will take a ride in untouched nature and see, for example, wild beaches that really impressed me.

Tangalle 

Another popular seaside town is Tangalle. Not so many people drive here because it’s not that close to Colombo (approx. 200 km). Sea turtles, geysers, practicing yoga or visiting an elephant shelter can be observed here. Night trips watching the hatching of little turtles are also popular.

Ella – tea plantations and the most sloppy bridge

Ella is a small town in the mountains surrounded by tea plantations, waterfalls and Buddhist temples. At the same time, you will find another of the icons of Sri Lanka – The Nine Arch Bridge, where all travelers are heading. We appreciated the pleasant change in the weather (it was normally over 40 °C in the Yala National Park) and especially our beloved mountains, so we extended our stay here to a total of 5 days.

They are held at Elle Excursions to tea plantations and factories for tea processing (we bought a pile of tea, which we then had to drag through 3 other countries), You can easily reach the waterfalls and the many amazing mountains in the area. Popular treks and trips include a trek to Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak or Rawana Ella Falls and many other places.

Tip: Sri Lanka – Ella: Tea plantations, mountains and waterfalls

Nuwara Eliya – Little England Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England, is a city that still retains its colonial charm to this day (Sri Lanka was an English colony for quite a long time). It is strange in the middle of the temples, where Buddhism and Hinduism mix, suddenly see a colonial city that looks like you were back in Europe.

Rock Fortress Sigiria – Lion Rock (UNESCO)

One of Sri Lanka’s most famous symbols is ancientSigiriya rock fortress, or Lion Rock. Reminds me of Peruvian Machu Picchu, because even here at the very top of the rock there are the remains of the city from ancient times. This monumental rock formation that rises to a height of 200 meters above the surrounding landscape, It was once a royal fortress and palace. There you will find a rock town, caves with paintings and you will also see a great view far and wide.

Today Sigiriya is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The entrance fee to Sigiriya was comparable to several days of accommodation. We didn’t miss it though and it was definitely one of the best things to see in Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa – An ancient city

Polonnaruwa is One of the most important archaeological sites in Sri Lanka and the former capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th and 12th centuries. Today it belongs to UNESCO monuments, It is full of temples, statues and ruins of palaces that commemorate the time of his greatest glory. A typical icon of the city is the monument of Gal Vihára, which is the 4 statues of the Buddha. So if you are tempted by walking around the sights, you will love it there.

Dambulla

In the very center of Sri Lanka (literally, because Dambulla is the geographical center of the island), it is a city full of cave temples that are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Here you can see, for example, the popular royal temple on the outskirts of the city, in which there are a total of 5 caves with 150 images of the Buddha. The walls and ceilings of the caves are covered with paintings that preserve memories from royal life. 

Anuradhapura – the cradle of Buddhism

Anuradhapura is The former royal city and at the same time it is considered the very cradle of Buddhism. That’s why today it is A place of pilgrimage, where not only tourists, but also many locals go. It is full of beautiful Buddhist temples with a touch of rich history. 

We recommend taking one with you A local guide that you can easily find at the entrances to individual temples. For a few euros, you will not only be guided, but instead of just a walk, you will learn all the attractions, which will only add to the value of these important places.

Because you are not allowed to go to the temple grounds in shoes, We recommend having socks with you (ideally not white, like we had), because the floor can be really hot and walking on it on a sunny day barefoot could bake them a little.

Tip:13 things to take on a plane for a long flight, to enjoy it and not just survive

Kandy and the Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth

Kandy is a larger city and one of the most sacred places in Sri Lanka. The Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth, where the tooth of the Buddha himself is said to be stored, It is the main place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. We recommend going  Inward in the early evening, when the whole temple will not be completely full. Around the temple you can go for a beautiful walk around the lake and there is also a beautiful botanical garden in the city. In Kandy, you will only need to stay for 1 night.

Capital Colombo and Negombo

We deliberately saved Colombo until the end, although you will probably arrive there first. We were looking forward to Sri Lanka mainly because of the nature and rich history, so Colombo didn’t really appeal to us. Anyway, if you’re going there, you can go to Galle Road, Fort Fort, and also visit the fragrant spice and tea market. But expect the busy vortex of the big city.

Just next door is the city of Negombo, which lies 6 km from the airport Bandaranaike and 35 km from Colombo and many people confuse them together. Mainly people who don’t want to travel much across the island come here, that’s why belongs to the busiest resorts. It used to be a fishing village and a trading port, and you can still find huge markets there today. But it doesn’t look like much in Sri Lanka, because the city is made up Lots of monuments from the days of colonization.

TIP: You can also enjoy a real adventure in Colombia and we have for you 15 most beautiful places to see in Colombia And how to experience an unconventional vacation, to see coffee plantations, intoMedellin,Cartagens orthe capital of Bogotá.

What would we do differently?

Maybe you too are thinking ‘Ah, so we could do this differently next time’ after each trip. As for Sri Lanka, We would spend more time in nature and on the beaches, because they are really magical, we would skip some bigger cities and instead of them, we would be more in nature, whether in some national park or in the mountains, because we liked it there the most. 

If we had to choose only a few places to see in Sri Lanka, it is clearly: 

• Ella with tea plantations
• Sigiriya and its magnificent views,
• sunny beaches in mirissa
• National parks with leopards, elephants and crocodiles

FAQ

Resources

• Prakash, S.L., Perera, P., Newsome, D., Kusuminda, T. and Walker, O., 2019. Reasons for Visitor Dissatisfaction with Wildlife Tourism Experiences at Highly Visited National Parks in Sri Lanka. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 25, pp.102-112.
• Chandralal, K.P.L. and pallıyaguruge, K., 2010. Impacts of Tourism and Community Attitude Towards Tourism: A Case Study in Sri Lanka. South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage, 3(2), pp.41-49.
• Jayampathi, E.K. and Punchihewa, p.s.d., 2019. Relationship between Travel agents’ service quality and tourists satisfaction with special reference to mirissa Coastal Tourism Zone. International Journal of Small and Medium Enterprises and Business Sustainability, 4(1), pp.39-67.