Historic sites
Galle Fort
Galle, Southern
A fortified old town built by the Portuguese and Dutch on a headland on the south coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ramparts, a lighthouse, c…
Travel tips in Sri Lanka
Tours and activities
Kandy to Ella train
Badulla District, Uva
One of the world's most scenic train rides, about 7 hours through the hill country, past tea plantations, waterfalls and mountains.
Historic sites
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, Matale
A 5th-century palace built on top of a 200 m rock rising from the jungle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historic sites
Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
Kandy, Central
Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist temple, in the royal palace complex beside Kandy Lake, housing a relic of the Buddha's tooth.
Walks and treks
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)
Ratnapura
A sacred mountain, 2,243 m, with a 'footprint' on the summit held holy by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Historic sites
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa District, North Central
The medieval capital of Sri Lanka, from the 11th to 13th centuries, with palaces, temples and stupas spread over a large park, a UNESCO World Heritag…
Historic sites
Dambulla Cave Temple
Matale District, Central
Five caves under a huge rock, used as Buddhist shrines for over 2,000 years, filled with 153 Buddha statues and ceilings covered in murals, a UNESCO …
Tours and activities
Mirissa whale watching
Matara District, Southern
Mirissa is one of the best places in the world to see blue whales, the largest animals ever, from November to April, as well as sperm whales and dolp…
Natural features
Yala National Park
Moneragala, Uva
Sri Lanka's most famous wildlife park, with one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, as well as elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and …
Historic sites
Jaffna
Jaffna District, Northern
The capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil north, with a distinct culture, Hindu temples such as the golden Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, a Dutch fort, and its own …