Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
The UNESCO 'Lion Rock' — a 5th-century sky palace with ancient frescoes.
Where to go
Sri Lanka attractions by region
Compare heritage, hill-country, wildlife and coastal stops before deciding how much of the island fits your trip.
The places below are grouped by region so you can see which stops belong together. Start with two or three priorities, compare them with the day-by-day tour routes, and allow for the travel between regions instead of treating every attraction as a quick add-on.
Cultural Triangle
5 places
Cultural Triangle
Dambulla
The Golden Cave Temple — a UNESCO site of frescoed Buddhist shrines.
Cultural Triangle
Polonnaruwa
A UNESCO city of medieval royal ruins and serene rock-carved Buddhas.
Cultural Triangle
Mihinthale
The mountain cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism, dotted with ancient stupas.
Cultural Triangle
Hiriwadunna
An idyllic lakeside village offering catamaran rides and rural village life.
Wildlife
7 places
Wildlife
Minneriya National Park
Home to 'The Gathering' — hundreds of wild elephants by the reservoir.
Wildlife
Wilpattu National Park
Sri Lanka's largest park — leopard country dotted with natural lakes.
Wildlife
Udawalawe National Park
The island's finest place to see wild elephants in open grassland.
Wildlife
Kumana National Park
A celebrated bird sanctuary of mangrove lagoons on the south-east coast.
Wildlife
Bundala National Park
A Ramsar wetland sanctuary alive with flamingos and migratory birds.
Wildlife
Gal Oya National Park
Boat safaris across a vast reservoir where elephants swim between islands.
Wildlife
Sinharaja Rain Forest
A UNESCO rainforest reserve teeming with endemic birds and wildlife.
Hill Country
4 places
Hill Country
Pinnawala
Famous for its elephant herd and the daily river-bathing spectacle.
Hill Country
Nuwara Eliya
'Little England' in the cool hills, ringed by emerald tea estates.
Hill Country
Horton Plains
A misty highland plateau crossed by the cliff-edge trail to World's End.
Hill Country
Royal Botanical Garden
Peradeniya's grand gardens — palm avenues and orchid houses near Kandy.
South Coast
7 places
South Coast
Galle Fort
A UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial fort of rampart walks and boutique lanes.
South Coast
Unawatuna
A crescent of palm-backed sand beloved for swimming and snorkelling.
South Coast
Weligama
Beginner-friendly surf and the south coast's iconic stilt fishermen.
South Coast
Tangalle
Quiet, wide beaches and turtle-nesting coves on the deep south coast.
South Coast
Hikkaduwa
A lively reef-fringed beach town known for coral gardens and surf.
South Coast
Tissamaharama
An ancient tank town and the gateway to Yala and Bundala safaris.
South Coast
Hambantota
A southern gateway near Bundala's lagoons and the wild deep-south coast.
West Coast
4 places
West Coast
Bentota
Golden west-coast beaches, river safaris and easygoing watersports.
West Coast
Beruwala
A palm-fringed west-coast resort town and historic fishing harbour.
West Coast
Negombo
A breezy lagoon town near the airport, known for beaches and fish markets.
West Coast
Kalpitiya
A breezy peninsula prized for kitesurfing and dolphin-watching.
East Coast
3 places
East Coast
Arugam Bay
A laid-back east-coast bay regarded as one of the world's great surf breaks.
East Coast
Passikudah
A shallow, calm bay with some of the island's clearest swimming water.
East Coast
Trincomalee
A natural deep-water harbour with golden beaches and whale-rich seas.
Northern Province
1 place
Northern Province
Jaffna
The cultural heart of the north, rich in Tamil heritage and temples.
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