Destinations

Small island, very different worlds.

Tap a place to see why it's worth the drive, how long the drive is, and when to go.

8UNESCO World Heritage Sites

65,610 km²About the size of Ireland

2Monsoons on opposite coasts

1,868 mNuwara Eliya, among the tea

● Destination┄ Hill-country railwayTimes are by road from the airport (CMB)

Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya

A 5th-century palace on top of a 200 m rock. Climb past the frescoes and the giant Lion's Paws, ideally by 7 am.

From airport4–4.5 h

Best timeYear-round

In journeys5

Features in: The Classic Island Loop, Leopards, Elephants & Whales, Ancient Kingdoms, East Coast Summer, Family Island Adventure

Read the Sigiriya guide →

Cultural Triangle

Anuradhapura

Capital for over a thousand years: brick dagobas the size of hills and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

4.5 h from the airport · best Year-round

Sigiriya

A 5th-century palace on top of a 200 m rock. Climb past the frescoes and the giant Lion's Paws, ideally by 7 am.

4–4.5 h from the airport · best Year-round

Dambulla

Five cave temples holding more than 150 Buddha images under painted rock ceilings.

4 h from the airport · best Year-round

Polonnaruwa

Medieval royal city best explored by bicycle. Ends at the Gal Vihara, four Buddhas cut from one granite face.

5 h from the airport · best Year-round

Hill Country

Kandy

The last royal capital, around a lake. Home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Esala Perahera.

3–3.5 h from the airport · best Jan–Apr

Knuckles Range

Cloud-forest trekking in a UNESCO-listed range, with village homestays.

4.5 h from the airport · best Jan–Apr

Nuwara Eliya

'Little England' at 1,868 m: tea estates, planters' bungalows and the walk to World's End on Horton Plains.

5 h from the airport · best Jan–Apr

Ella

Where the train ride ends. Nine Arches Bridge, sunrise on Little Adam's Peak and cafés with valley views.

6 h from the airport · best Jan–Apr

Wildlife

Minneriya

The Gathering: hundreds of wild elephants graze the drying reservoir bed. Peak August–September.

4.5 h from the airport · best Jul–Oct

Udawalawe

Elephants are almost guaranteed year-round. Visit the Elephant Transit Home, which rehabilitates and releases orphans.

4 h from the airport · best Year-round

Yala

One of the highest leopard densities on earth, plus sloth bears, crocodiles and wild beaches.

5 h from the airport · best Feb–Jul

South Coast

Hikkaduwa

Coral reef close to shore, green turtles in the shallows and easy surf.

2 h from the airport · best Nov–Apr

Galle

A 17th-century Dutch fort, still lived in. Walk the ramparts at sunset, then dinner in the old lanes.

2 h from the airport · best Dec–Apr

Mirissa

A palm-backed crescent bay and the best place on the island to see blue whales (Dec–Apr).

2.5 h from the airport · best Dec–Apr

Tangalle

Wide, empty beaches and villas. Turtles nest at nearby Rekawa.

3 h from the airport · best Dec–Apr

West Coast

Negombo

Lagoon fishing town next to the airport. An easy first or last night, with fresh seafood on the beach.

20 min from the airport · best Dec–Apr

Colombo

The capital: Galle Face Green at sunset, Pettah's markets and Geoffrey Bawa's modernist buildings.

45 min from the airport · best Dec–Apr

Bentota

River safaris, quiet sand, Ayurveda resorts and Bawa's garden at Lunuganga.

1.5 h from the airport · best Nov–Apr

East Coast

Trincomalee

Deep natural harbour, Nilaveli's long beach and snorkelling with reef sharks at Pigeon Island.

6 h from the airport · best May–Sep

Pasikudah

A calm, shallow bay where you can wade out a long way. Ideal for families.

6.5 h from the airport · best May–Sep

Arugam Bay

A world-class right-hand point break, laid-back surf town and Kumana's birdlife nearby.

7 h from the airport · best Apr–Oct

North

Jaffna

The Tamil north: the golden Nallur Kovil, island-hopping to Delft and the island's best crab curry.

7–8 h from the airport · best Feb–Sep