Last updated on October 21st, 2024 at 05:29 pm
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and although my visit was relatively short at just one week long, you will be surprised at the wide array of things you can see and do in that time – think sun, sand, temples, ancient ruins, tea, National Parks and wildlife.…you get the picture!
I visited Sri Lanka on a group tour in March 2022 and if, like me, you’re short on time, it is still possible to enjoy so much of what this wonderful country has to offer.
In this post I’ll share my list of 7 of the best things to do in Sri Lanka. I’ll give you some suggestions for additional activities to include in your 7 day itinerary and provide a general Sri Lanka travel guide and some travel tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Sri Lanka.
Whatever the length of your Sri Lanka trip and whether you’re travelling on your own or as part of a group, there’s definitely something for everyone in Sri Lanka.
Getting to Sri Lanka
The only way to get to Sri Lanka is to fly. Direct flights to Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo are available from the United Kingdom and other worldwide cities. Depending on which airline you fly with however, you may need to make a stopover.
I flew to Sri Lanka directly from London with Sri Lankan Airlines and had a very good experience. You can review all available flight options and book here:
As ever, before you book anything, you should check the entry requirements for Sri Lanka and any stopover(s) you may have. I needed to obtain a visa for travel to Sri Lanka, however this could be done online.
Travel Tip: do your research and if you can afford the extra time and the accommodation costs, visit the Maldives! Malé, the capital of the Maldives, is only about a 1.5 hour flight from Sri Lanka so it’s a great opportunity to stop over for a few days….and one that I did not take! Don’t make that mistake!
Where to Stay in Sri Lanka
There are a lot of different options when it comes to where to stay in Sri Lanka. As I was travelling through the country on a group trip I stayed in various places so I have set those out below.
You can research all available options for your Sri Lanka itinerary and book here:
Currency
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Bank notes come in denominations of 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 rupees and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 rupees. There are also coins for 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Some of the smaller bank note denominations have been replaced with coins.
7 of the Best Things to Do in Sri Lanka
Whether you are planning on joining an organised group tour and or making your own way around the island, here is my list of 7 of the best things to do in Sri Lanka:
1. Explore Negombo
Flying into Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city, you can either choose to stay there or travel the short distance to the coastal town of Negombo. Wide, sandy beaches, palm trees, some large hotels and an historic fishing industry make this a calm, albeit interesting introduction to the ‘teardrop in the Indian ocean’.
I stayed at the Camelot Beach Hotel which is located right on Negombo Beach. You can check availability and book here:
Negombo lagoon is home to fisherman’s huts and brightly painted boats. At the fish market you can see hundreds of fish drying out under the sun, it’s quite a spectacle! Unfortunately, a closed market meant my views were from the bus only!
Other popular activities to explore when in Negombo include:
- taking a boat trip or kayaking on Negombo Lagoon
- exploring along Dutch Canal (also known as Hamilton Canal)
- visiting Negombo Dutch Fort
- exploring the churches (e.g. St Mary’s Church) and temples (eg Angurukaramulla Viharaya Buddhist Temple or Sri Singama Kali Amman Kovil Hindu Temple)
You may want to consider combining some of these activities into a city tour such as these options:
Another popular option of course is to relax on the beach or by the pool!
2. Visit Kandy
Located in central Sri Lanka, Kandy is the country’s second city and the gateway to the surrounding hill country well known for producing tea. In addition to strolling the streets and admiring the historical buildings, there are two stops you must make:
a) Kandy Lake
Dominating the centre of the city is the man-made Kandy Lake. The Lake was created in the early 1800s from what were formerly paddy fields. It is a protected lake with fishing banned but it has suffered from pollution issues.
The walls which surround the lake (known as cloudy walls) indicate a nearby Buddhist Temple. In this case, the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa).
b) The Temple of the Tooth
The Temple of the Tooth is the most revered site in Sri Lanka. The sacred relic was smuggled into the country from India by Princess Hamamala and Prince Dantha in 310 – the relic itself hidden in her hair.
Daily services together with four main festivals take place at the Temple making it a popular destination with both pilgrims and tourists alike. Although the relic itself is not visible, the decoration, flowers and abundance of white clad pilgrims make it a wonderful place to visit.
Do check the official Temple of the Tooth website for up to date visitor information and note the following:
- tickets are priced at 2000LKR (save for visitors from certain Asian countries which are slightly cheaper – details are on the website under the FAQ quick link)
- the Temple is open from 5.30am to 8pm
- visitors need to pass through airport type security (the Temple was the site of a terror attack in 1998)
- visitors should dress conservatively with legs and shoulders covered
- shoes are removed once past security and reclaimed at the end of your visit
During my visit to Kandy I stayed 2 nights at the Thilanka Hotel and can highly recommend it. You can check availability and book here:
3. Catch the Train to Nuwara Eliya
A chance to experience the joy of train travel in Sri Lanka as you make your way south from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya in the tea country hills of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. This town, known as little England, was a retreat for the colonial British taking them away from the heat of places like Kandy.
I visited Nuwara Eliya as a day trip from Kandy.
As the train winds its way through the countryside, the landscape slowly changes until you arrive amidst the tea growing hills. Dotted against the verdant green of the tea fields are the pickers. Expectations are that the pickers will pick 18-20 kilograms of tea per day.
Tea plantations in the area offer visitors the opportunity to not only try selected teas but to witness the processing of the freshly picked leaves.
On arrival in Nuwara Eliya it’s hard to miss the imposing presence of The Grand Hotel. Built in 1828 as a holiday home for the Governor of Ceylon, a second storey was added in the 1890s. There have been other subsequent extensions and it now operates as a hotel.
Wandering around the town you will come to the local post office. It was built by the British in 1894 and is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka.
In addition to exploring the town, if you want to include a visit to one of the nearby tea plantations then do check these options:
My train ride to Nuwara Eliya really made me feel like I was in Sri Lanka! Be careful though, the thrill of hanging out of the doors whilst the train is moving is going to disappear pretty quickly if you fall out…and it has happened!
For those keen to see the famous Nine Arch Bridge, you will need to catch the train to the town of Ella and from there head to the bridge. Unfortunately, this was not on my trip itinerary. Also missing from my Sri Lanka travel plan this time was exploring the Horton Plains National Park some 30 kilometres from Nuwara Eliya and 50 kilometres from Ella…something for a return trip!
4. Dambulla Cave Temple
Located about 70 kilometres north of Kandy, the Dambulla Cave Temple is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It comprises 5 caves of different sizes dating to the first century AD.
I stayed 2 nights at the Oak Ray Elephant Lake Resort after having visited the Cave Temple. You can check availability and book here:
A climb of some 300+ steps will get you up to the Temple complex!
Once at the top, take time to look at the wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding area before making your way into the first of the five caves. The caves contain statutes of Buddha, various other gods and beautiful paintings.
For an organized tour, you may want to consider these options:
5. Climb Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya (also known as Lion Rock).
Although it is believed that the surrounding area has been occupied since prehistoric times, the rock was selected by King Kasyapa as his new capital in the 5th century. He built a palace at the top, a mirrored wall decorated with frescoes, bathing pools, moats and gardens. Halfway up he built a gateway in the form of a lion. The head has since collapsed but you can get a sense of scale when you see the paws!
The walk from the lion’s paws to the top is via a metal staircase. If you’re not good with heights, don’t look down! Depending on the crowd size however, it won’t take too long to get to the top.
The views from the top are incredible and worth the 1200 steps to get there! You’ll marvel at just how they built it all so long ago.
The palace complex was abandoned after the Kings death, but the rock was used as a monastery until the 14th century. It was rediscovered in the 19th century with archeological work beginning in the 1890s.
If you are planning a trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress (and you should!) then my advice is to:
- go early – this will help avoid crowds and to climb in cooler conditions
- wear good walking shoes
- wear comfortable clothing – it can get hot and humid
- carry plenty of water
- wear sunscreen and take a hat – there’s no shade up high
- take your time walking up
- do what I did and treat yourself to a massage after!
Check the official Sigiriya website for up to date visitor information, including as to pricing. If you prefer to join an organised tour, then you can review the numerous options available and book here:
6. Experience an Elephant Safari
The Minneriya National Park is home to various species of animals but the one we all want to see are the elephants! Jumping into jeeps, you will travel through the Park along bumpy, dusty roads in search of these magnificent animals.
It didn’t take too long before we came across several other jeeps, a dead giveaway that something is nearby! I was so lucky on my visit to see many wild elephants including a little precious bundle aged about 1 week.
At one point, the females panicked when some idiot in another jeep touched one of them. This triggered lots of noise and rushing together to protect the baby. An amazing event to witness but please, don’t touch the elephants.
You can start your research into available safari options and book here:
7. Explore Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During my visit to Anuradhapura I stayed 1 night at the Miridiya Lake Resort and can highly recommend it. You can check availability and book here:
Anuradhapura is home to various sites of veneration which take the form of stupas. A stupa is a dome like structure which houses a relic.
The Ruwanwelisaya stupa, at 103m tall, is one of the most impressive. Its white colouring indicates that construction has finished. Buddhists will walk around a stupa 3 times in a clockwise direction. Shoes must be taken off but there are mats to walk on as the ground can be very hot. You can wear your socks, although many worshippers were in bare feet!
Jetavanarama stupa is unfinished and comprises some 93 million bricks! Its original height was 122m but it’s now 71m tall. It was built during the period 273-301 and the compound covers some 5.6 hectares.
Travel Tip: Make sure you are either wearing clothing that covers your shoulders and legs when visiting Temples or carry light weight trousers or a sarong with you.
I explored Anuradhapura by bike and can highly recommend it! If you would prefer something a little less energetic, then consider this Tuk Tuk Tour.
More Time in Sri Lanka?
If you have more time available in Sri Lanka than just 1 week, then you may want to consider heading:
1. further south and exploring:
- Udawalawe National Park, home to the largest population of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka as well as leopards and other wildlife
- Yala National Park, home to an array of wildlife including the Sri Lankan Leopard, elephants and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
- the historic Galle Fort on the south coast
2. north and exploring:
- the city of Jaffna (now open to tourism)
- the north east coastal town of Trincomalee
For more itinerary ideas, you can review these tours and activities throughout Sri Lanka.
Travel Tips
In addition to my recommended best things to do in Sri Lanka, here are a few general travel tips to help you have a great time:
- as I noted above, check entry requirements and get your visa before travelling
- don’t drink the tap water
- experience travelling in a tuk tuk
- try the local Sri Lankan food – dosas (a savoury pancake) and kottu (made from chopped up roti, vegetables, meat and spices) were particular favourites (& very filling!)
- take sunscreen and bug spray
- take temple appropriate clothing
and the last tip….a reminder – if you can afford the time and extra cost, considering stopping over in the Maldives before or after your Sri Lankan adventure…it’s so close it would be a shame not too (as I know only too well!).
Final Thoughts
Sri Lanka might be a small island nation in the Indian Ocean but it offers visitors so much! Whether it’s relaxing on beautiful coastline, seeing Sri Lanka wildlife on a National Park safari, learning more about Buddhism or taking an iconic train journey, all of these and more are possible on a 7 day Sri Lankan adventure.
If you a planning a multi week Sri Lanka itinerary, then you have the option of exploring the now open northern region or the southern coast. Whatever you decide to do however, I’m sure that you, like me, will have a wonderful time.
If you need any further assistance in planning your trip to Sri Lanka then do check out my Resources page.
Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.
Disclosure – This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you book something using them, I will earn a small commission but you will not pay anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog.
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