The country's rich indigenous and colonial heritage are mixed together in the capital city. Sri Lanka has always retained strategic relevance for European commercial powers as a crucial stop on the world spice trade routes. The country has been a colony of Portugal, the Netherlands, and, most recently, the British, and all of these cultures mingle together to make a wonderful hybrid. These influences may be tasted in the food, seen in the architecture and arts, and felt in the air in Colombo.

There are also museums and other activities in the city that might help you connect with Sri Lankan culture. Colombo is located on the coast, and in the center of the city, a big green space and beach area separates an area known as Fort from the Indian Ocean. It's the city's public playground, and it's a great location to go on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Colombo Lotus Tower, the city's new mega-tower, is a fantastic site to visit. It is Southeast Asia's tallest free-standing tower, offering spectacular views of the city. There's a fine restaurant at the top and a popular food court in the mall at the tower base, in addition to indoor and outdoor viewing decks.

Address: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Entrance fee: N/A

Best time to visit:

• between December and March
• between July and September

Hours: N/A

Kandy is the place to go if you want to discover and experience Sri Lankan history. The city is located in central Sri Lanka and was the historic capital of the Sri Lankan royal dynasty, as well as the country's principal metropolis prior to colonialism. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, the "Kandian Era" reached its pinnacle, when the territory remained independent while most of the coastal districts were invaded by European forces.

Visit the city's National Museum of Kandy, which uses exhibits and artifacts to tell the narrative of the region and its people. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, part of the royal palace complex, is a particularly important Buddhist shrine nearby.The city's heart, Kandy Lake, provides a quiet respite from the heat. Hiking pathways encircle the lake, which is lined with temples and shrines.

Kandy is encircled by mountains that are home to several tea plantations. Some are open to the public and provide tours and tea sampling. Rainforests surround it as well. Within the city, borders are the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, a forest park. There are miles of hiking routes in the forest reserve, as well as an excellent nature center with instructional materials.

Address: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: N/A
Best time to visit: December to April

Hours: N/A

This enormous animal park, Udawalawe National Park, is located in the country's southern region, around an hour's drive from the Hambantota vacation area. Because the park is on the border of the country's rainy and dry zones, the landscape and surroundings are diverse. Elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, and other animals can be seen in the park, which has a high population. In fact, it's one of the best sites outside of Africa to watch elephants in the wild.

Leopards can be found there as well, but they might be difficult to track or spot. Monkeys, as well as a variety of deer and small mammals, can be found. It's also a fantastic spot for bird watching. There are a few modest hotels and guesthouses on the outskirts of Udawalawe, as well as inside the park. You can also go for a day excursion; the best times to go are very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Address: Elephant road maha-ara, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: $15 USD
Best time to visit: January to March
Hours: Mondays - Sundays 6 am–6 pm

Hikkaduwa Beach is about 90 minutes from Colombo and is perfect for water sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. All of the necessary equipment can be rented at one of the seaside stands. It's one of the most popular surfing spots in the country, having the best waves from November to March.

Because the beach is so large, it never feels overcrowded. If you choose to stay overnight, there are a number of seaside booths providing a variety of great local street cuisine, as well as a number of hotels and guesthouses. Aditya is a boutique hotel located beyond the forest line on the Hikkaduwa beach. Each unit has its own private plunge pool.

Its coral is also well-known. The Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary is a protected marine region off the coast of Sri Lanka that is part of Hikkaduwa National Park. It was built to safeguard the area's coral reefs while also educating visitors on the subject. The sea has a brilliant turquoise color, and the sand is fine and white. Behind the beach area is a national park. It's one of the country's only three marine national parks, with its own coral sanctuary. The park is also recognized for its sea turtles and fish, in addition to the coral.

Address: Hikkaduwa, Hikkaduwa 80240, Sri Lanka

Entrance fee: LKR 380 or INR 150 (Hikkaduwa National Park)

Best time to visit: November to March

Hours: N/A

Galle Face Green is a 5-hectare ocean-side urban park in the center of Colombo, Sri Lanka's financial and business capital, that spans 500 meters along the shore. It is a great area to relax, to have a good time with other Sri Lankans, day or night. A huge grassy area, separate from the shore, is used for picnics and games. It is recommended for you to visit on a Friday or Saturday night for the most energy.

You can relax on the beach and swim, or sail a kite in the constant breeze. There are constantly pick-up games of football or cricket going on, so you can participate. Vendors and restaurants line the beach, while the region beyond it is lined with hotels ranging in price from budget to luxury. Galle Face Green is located in the center of Colombo's downtown district, directly across from Fort. The skyline is behind you, and the sea is ahead of you. This location is situated between Galle Road and the Indian Ocean.

Address: 56 Colombo - Galle Main Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: 18,434 INR
Best time to visit:

• from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Hours: Mondays - Sundays: 24 hours

Visitors can get a look into the past by visiting Anuradhapura, one of the country's ancient capitals and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anuradhapura is the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of Sri Lanka's North Central Province and the Anuradhapura District. Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's historic capitals, known for the well-preserved ruins of a Sinhala civilization. You are not simply exploring ruins in this location; there is a lively, modern community next to an ancient one. With its current population, it is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited places (starting in the 4th century, BCE).


There are numerous collapsing temples, statues, lakes, and other constructions among the ruins. There are some modern constructions, and the temple is still used for worship. The complex's heart is a really old tree. The Sri Maha Bodhi is thought to be the world's oldest human-planted live tree. Anuradhapura is a wonderful destination to visit because it has a lot of tiny guesthouses and inexpensive restaurants, as well as bike rental, tour guides, and other tourist-oriented companies.

Address: Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: Rs 3,250
Best time to visit: April to September
Hours: N/A

Another of the country's World Heritage Sites is this famous ancient city ruin site. Polonnaruwa, the second oldest of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, was founded as a military station by the Sinhalese kingdom. After the Chola dynasty successfully invaded the country's then-capital, Anuradhapura, in the 10th century, it was called Jananathamangalam.

Although most of the structures are in ruins, the garden-city has been totally preserved. Gardens, palaces, and temples abound, and while the area is small, it's best visited by bicycle. A plus is that the ruins are home to a huge troop of macaque monkeys, who have lived in the area since antiquity. Fans of Duran Duran will remember the location because it was used to film their Save a Prayer video in the 1980s.

A few miles from the ruins lies a tiny, modern village with guesthouses, bike rentals, cafés, and other tourist amenities. The town is near Minneriya National Park, which is a fantastic site to see elephants.

Address: Polonnaruwa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee:

• Adults: $ 25.00
• Kids: $ 12.50

Best time to visit: November to March
Hours: Mondays -Sundays: 7 am – 6.30 pm

Ella is a small town controlled by an Urban Council in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. It is located around 200 kilometers east of Colombo, at an elevation of 1,041 meters above sea level. The area boasts a diverse bio-diversity, with a wide range of vegetation and fauna.

Ella, a little hill-country hamlet nestled among Sri Lanka's gorgeous tea plantations, is an example of this. It's full of little guesthouses, delicious food, and friendly people. It's a great way to get away from the city or spend a few days hiking in the countryside.

The train travel from Kandy is a popular reason for visitors visiting Ella. It winds its way up and over hills, through little towns, and across green tea fields for almost six hours before reaching the small mountain town. The voyage is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful train journeys. You can alternatively begin your travel in Colombo, however, this will add three hours to your journey.

Address: Ella, Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: N/A
Best time to visit: January to March
Hours: N/A

Adam's Peak is another fantastic destination to visit in Sri Lanka. Adam's Peak is a conical peak in central Sri Lanka that stands at 2,243 meters. The Sri Pada is known as the "sacred footprint," a 1.8-meter rock structure near the peak. This mountain is crowned by a sacred rock formation, and pilgrims trek to the summit at night to catch a glimpse of the sunrise.

The area around the mountain is a wildlife reserve, home to a diverse range of animals, from elephants to leopards, as well as a number of rare species.

The popular hike (which is also wonderful for families and children) takes around three hours to complete and includes rest stops and food sellers. Following the climb, you'll come to a rock with a footprint-shaped indentation, which some say is where Adam took his first step. Others believe it is the imprint of Buddha, while others claim it was created by Shiva, the Hindu god. The Adam's Peak walk begins in the central Sri Lankan hamlet of Nallathanniya. The months of December through May are the greatest for climbing.

Address: Sri Pada / Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee: free
Best time to visit: December to May
Hours: N/A

Sigiriya, also known as Sinhagiri, is a historic rock stronghold in Sri Lanka's Central Province. It is located in the northern Matale District, near the town of Dambulla. It is a historically and archaeologically significant site that is dominated by a gigantic 180-meter-high rock column. Sigiriya, like Machu Picchu and Masada, strikes tourists simply by the folly of its creation. It's a massive rock formation that has been sculpted into a palace. The ruins are located near Dambulla, in the country's central region.

The palace complex, which was built around 1,500 years ago, rests on a 660-foot (220-meter) cliff with sheer walls. The antique painted paintings and carvings on the walls transform the entire structure into a work of art. A massive doorway carved in the shape of a lion stands in the middle of one rock wall.

Aside from the palace, the region beneath the palace is a sophisticated city complex with gardens, residential and commercial districts. It's a significant surviving example of early city planning from this time period.

Address: Rock front, Sigiriya 21120, Sri Lanka
Entrance fee:

• Foreigners: $30
• Locals: $0.65 (INR 50)

Best time to visit:
Hours: Mondays- Sundays: 7 am - 5 pm