Places to discover

Best places to visit in Sri Lanka

Even though Sri Lanka is only a small country, it's not always easy to choose an itinerary because the pearl of the Indian Ocean provides several possibilities to discover and explore.

To help you to put together a holiday that suits you, a team of travellers, part of the Evaneos Travel community, has sorted through the country's regions. Here they're giving you their advice and opinions. You can also take inspiration from their travel tales to prepare your holiday, being sure to discover all the beauties of the Ceylan island.

You'll almost definitely go through Colombo, the country's capital, a city in the midst of a change between its old colonial districts, brand new buildings and growing market. In the south, Galle, a historical city conceived of by Vauban, will be one of the must sees of your trip. And of course, you mustn't miss out on the impressive Sigiriya rock and its old palace, a UNESCO listed site.

If you're a lover of nature and mountains, throw yourself into climbing Adam's Peak to discover nature in its raw state. And if you want to stray from the beaten path, go to the Trincomalee region in the east of the country, a place which is still not often visited. Then a stop off in one of the several national parks of the country, such as Uda Walawe will be the perfect opportunity to do a safari.

A trip to Sri Lanka is a unique occasion to discover the culture of Ceylan tea, which made the island known throughout the whole world. Take the mountain train and lose yourself in the tea plantations meeting tea pickers. If you're interested in Buddhism, make a stop in Kandy and the Dent Temple, or go to discover the ancient cities Polonnâruvâ or Anurâdhapura.

40km to the north of Colombo, Negombo is a very pretty fishing village which stretches the length of a beautiful beach in the Indian ocean.
Climb up this imposing rock and see the maidens of Sigiriya.
Polonnaruwa is a historic city forming a part of the 'Cultural Triangle' of Sri Lanka, acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982.
In the past, Dambulla was only ever a simple hermitage, but today it is one of the most sacred locations in the country. Its troglodyte temples are named as UNESCO world heritage sites and attract pilgrims from all over the country.
116km from Colombo, Kandy is the main city in the centre of the island. Curled around its artificial lake and surrounded by beautiful mountains, its charm in undeniable.
Haputale is a charming and picturesque little village which will enchant you. It's surrounded by tea plantations as far as the eye can see. It's located in the heart of Sri Lanka to the south of the island.
Colombo is the most populated city in Sri Lanka, and the economic capital. It's a city with varied architecture from its long colonial past.
Galle: a little piece of Holland in Sri Lanka.
Situated some kilometres from Colombo, on the edge of the Mahawamsa, Perdeniya is famous for its royal gardens and its botanical university.
The town of Matale, which lies along the spice garden road and stands at the gateway to Sri Lanka's mountainous region, is an interesting place for a quick visit.
The Minneriya National Park is a genuine pachyderm sanctuary located on the plains in northern Sri Lanka. It's the perfect place for lovers of elephants and wildlife in general. You can see elephants living in their natural environment.
Mihintale is a sacred site which is home to the oldest stupas in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the heights of the Mahinda mountain at the centre of the island closer to the northern point.
Anuradhapura is the old capital of Sri Lanka, and today a holy city acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982.
A wonderful safari in Yala National Park.
Tissa: a place to spend the night before going on safari.
Kataragama: a holy town for the people of Sri Lanka.
To ride on the back of an elephant: Habarana
With its arid, deserted landscapes and its large water holes located next to the roads, around which herds of buffalo and elephant gather to drink, Uda Walawe is a dream destination for safari enthusiasts.
Beaches of fine sand, restaurants of grilled fish and whale-watching excursions all make up the attraction of Mirissa.
Unawatuna is an excellent tropical beach, at the foot of lush jungle, with its ocean floor covered with coral.
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