UltimateGuide Sri Lanka
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The Colombo skyline The Colombo skyline The ramparts of Galle Fort The Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Sigiriya seen from Pidurangala Rock

The city guide to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

Best of Sri Lanka

Colombo’s seafront and Bawa buildings, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train and leopards in Yala.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka packs an astonishing amount into one island: a lively capital on the Indian Ocean, a Dutch fort town on the south coast, golden beaches, a sacred hill city, tea estates in the clouds, ancient royal capitals and national parks with elephants and leopards. We start in Colombo, with the best places to eat, drink, stay and shop, then guide you region by region, with the stories behind the places and the practical facts you need.

Galle Fort & the ramparts

The south coast

Walk the ramparts of Galle at sunset

Galle·UNESCO World Heritage Site

Inside the Dutch walls of Galle Fort, the lanes are lined with old houses, churches and cafés, and the ramparts look straight out over the Indian Ocean.

Plan your visit

Start here: planning your first trip to Sri Lanka

New to the island? Begin with the season, the visa and how to get around, then pick an itinerary for your trip length: 2 or 3 days in Colombo, 7 days, 10 days or 14 days.

Secret Beach, MirissaPlanWhen to goThe two monsoons, month by monthA tuk-tuk in Sri LankaPlanVisa, money & essentialsThe ETA, rupees, SIMs, apps and etiquetteThe hill-country railway between Kandy and EllaPlanGetting aroundRoutes, travel times, trains and driversSigiriya seen from Pidurangala RockItinerariesItineraries by trip lengthFrom one day to two weeks

Sri Lanka town by town

Start by the airport in Negombo, then Colombo and the west and south coasts.

The Negombo lagoonTown guideNegomboYour first night, by the airportColombo by nightTown guideColomboThe capital by the seaBentota beachTown guideBentotaRiver, beach and Bawa gardensThe ramparts of Galle FortTown guideGalleRamparts and beaches

The hills and the ancient cities

Kandy, the tea country, Ella and the rock fortress of Sigiriya.

The Temple of the Tooth, KandyTown guideKandyThe hill capitalLake Gregory, Nuwara EliyaTown guideNuwara Eliya & HattonTea estates in the cloudsThe Nine Arch Bridge, EllaTown guideEllaBridges and hill walksSigiriya seen from Pidurangala RockTown guideSigiriya & DambullaThe rock fortress and cave temples

Beaches, surf, the north and wildlife

The south and east coasts and the national parks.

Secret Beach, MirissaTown guideMirissa & WeligamaSurf, whales and palmsThe beach at TangalleTown guideTangalleWild beaches and hideawaysThe beach at HikkaduwaTown guideHikkaduwaReef, surf and nightlifeA beach near Trincomalee on the east coastTown guideTrincomaleeTemple, harbour and beachesThe beach at Arugam BayTown guideArugam BaySurf from April to OctoberThe gopuram of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, JaffnaTown guideJaffna & the NorthLonely Planet’s no. 2 for 2026A leopard in Yala National ParkRegion guideSafaris & wildlifeLeopards and elephants

Shopping in Colombo: ODEL and its founder

From a car boot in 1989 to a 52,000 sq ft flagship in Colombo 7, and the founder who went on to champion Sri Lanka’s street dogs.

The lit railings outside ODEL’s Colombo store at night (2011)FeatureODELThe Colombo department storeA street dog resting on a rock above Ella, in the hill countryThe founderOtara GunewardeneFrom ODEL to EmbarkColombo by nightColomboParadise RoadDesign and homewareColombo by nightColomboBarefootHandloom colourColombo by nightShoppingAll our shopping picksDesign, malls, gems and tea

Geoffrey Bawa: Sri Lanka’s great architect

Tropical modernism, from his Colombo house and his country garden to hotels in the jungle and on the rocks.

The garden at Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s country estateFeatured guideGeoffrey BawaHis life, work and buildingsThe garden at Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s country estateBentotaLunugangaHis country garden: daily toursColombo by nightColomboNumber 11His house, by guided tourHeritance Kandalama, covered by jungleDambullaHeritance KandalamaThe hotel the jungle covered

Sri Lankan culture

Food, music, cinema, books and art: the island’s creative life, and where to see it.

The Sigiriya frescoesCultureAll our culture guidesFood, music, film, books, artThe Temple of the Tooth, KandyCultureSri Lankan cinemaFrom Rekava to CannesThe Mirror Wall at SigiriyaCultureLiteratureTwo Booker winnersThe Esala Perahera in KandyCultureMusicBaila to Manike Mage HitheThe beach at UnawatunaCultureDuran Duran in Sri LankaThe 1982 Rio videosThe Colombo skylineFun factsSerendib and serendipityHow a fairy tale named a word

Sri Lanka: the back story

Ports and forts, a great architect, the island’s food and its wildlife.

Colombo by nightThe back storyColomboPorts and fortsThe Seema Malaka on Beira Lake, ColomboThe back storyGeoffrey BawaTropical modernismGalle Face Green, ColomboThe back storyThe Sri Lankan tableRice, curry and crabElephants in Minneriya National ParkThe back storyWildlife, responsiblyParks, not ridesElephants in Minneriya National ParkIn depthElephants and turtlesAn honest guide to the sanctuariesThe hill-country railway between Kandy and EllaIn depthThe main routesWith real travel times

Christmas & New Year in Sri Lanka

Lights in Colombo, festive feasts by the sea and the start of high season on the beaches.

Galle Face Green, ColomboHolidaysChristmas in Sri LankaColombo lights and carolsColombo by nightNew YearNew Year’s EveFireworks over the cityThe beach at UnawatunaWinter sunBeach seasonThe south and west coasts

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Sri Lanka, its beaches, trains, food and wildlife.

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    Galle Face Green

    This week's pick

    Galle Face Green

    Galle Face·Seafront promenade

    As the northeast monsoon reaches the east coast, Colombo and the west enter their best season. Head to Galle Face Green at sunset with the rest of the city.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Galle Face Green, ColomboItinerary48 hours in Colombo and the west coast2 daysSigiriya seen from Pidurangala RockItineraryThe classic Sri Lanka loop in 10 to 14 days10–14 days by car, train and jeepColombo by nightItineraryOne perfect day in ColomboA day by tuk-tukSigiriya seen from Pidurangala RockItinerarySeven days: culture, tea and the train7 days by car and trainThe Nine Arch Bridge, EllaItineraryTen days: the hills, a safari and the south coast10 daysA beach near Trincomalee on the east coastItineraryFourteen days in summer: culture and the east coast14 days, May to SeptemberThe ramparts of Galle FortItineraryBeach and culture in ten days10 days, December to AprilThe garden at Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s country estateItineraryBawa and luxury wellness in a week7 daysColombo by nightItineraryExploring Colombo in three days3 days by foot and tuk-tukTea country in the hills of Sri LankaItineraryCoast to coast in 14 days14 days, December to AprilSigiriya seen from Pidurangala RockItineraryTrace the footsteps: Duran Duran in Sri Lanka4–5 daysThe ramparts of Galle FortItineraryGalle Fort in three days3 days on footA leopard in Yala National ParkItineraryYala in three days3 days

    Sri Lanka by region

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants & Cafés

    1. 1Rice and curry, hoppers and lagoon crab: the Sri Lankan table, the back storySri Lanka · In depth: food
    2. 2Kottu, hoppers and short eats: Sri Lankan street foodSri Lanka · In depth: food
    3. 3Ministry of CrabColombo Fort · Old Dutch Hospital · Sri Lankan seafood
    See all 28

    Bars & Rooftops

    1. 1Botanik Bistro & Rooftop BarColombo Fort · Rooftop bar
    2. 2Travellers BarGalle Face Hotel · Hotel bar
    3. 3FirebeachGalle Face Hotel · Grill & bar by the sea
    See all 9

    Hotels

    1. 1Galle Face HotelGalle Face · Historic seafront hotel
    2. 2Shangri-La ColomboGalle Face · Luxury hotel
    3. 3Cinnamon Grand ColomboKollupitiya · City hotel
    See all 67

    Sights

    1. 1Ports, forts and a modern skyline: Colombo, the back storyColombo · In depth: history
    2. 2Geoffrey Bawa and the architecture of Sri Lanka, the back storyColombo & the island · In depth: architecture
    3. 3Elephants, turtles and safaris: watching wildlife responsibly, the back storySri Lanka · In depth: wildlife
    See all 23

    Culture

    1. 1Rice and curry, hoppers and lagoon crab: the Sri Lankan table, the back storySri Lanka · In depth: food
    2. 2Baila, Amaradeva and Manike Mage Hithe: Sri Lankan musicSri Lanka · In depth: music
    3. 3From Rekava to Cannes: Sri Lankan cinemaSri Lanka · In depth: cinema
    See all 9

    Shopping

    1. 1Sapphires and gems: how to buy in Sri LankaSri Lanka · In depth: shopping
    2. 2Otara Gunewardene: from ODEL to EmbarkColombo · In depth: the founder
    3. 3One Galle FaceGalle Face · Shopping mall
    See all 23

    Golf

    1. 1Royal Colombo Golf ClubColombo 8 · Borella · Golf club
    2. 2Victoria Golf & Country ResortDigana · near Kandy · Golf resort
    3. 3Nuwara Eliya Golf ClubNuwara Eliya · Golf club
    See all 4

    Spas & Wellness

    1. 1CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La ColomboGalle Face · Hotel spa
    2. 2Santani Wellness KandyNear Kandy · Wellness retreat
    3. 3Amangalla, The BathsGalle Fort · Resort spa
    See all 3

    Motoring

    1. 1Mercedes-Benz Sri Lanka (DIMO)Colombo · Official dealer
    2. 2BMW Sri LankaColombo · Official dealer
    3. 3Land Rover Sri LankaColombo · Official dealer
    See all 11

    Health & Fitness

    1. 1Staying well in Sri Lanka: hospitals, gyms, yoga and AyurvedaSri Lanka · Health + Wellness guide
    2. 21990 Suwa Seriya ambulanceIsland-wide · Emergency ambulance
    3. 3Lanka HospitalsColombo 5 · Narahenpita · Private hospital
    See all 20

    Property

    1. 1LankaPropertyWebOnline · Property portal
    2. 2Port City ColomboColombo · beside Galle Face · New development
    3. 3Cinnamon Life at City of DreamsColombo 2 · Beira Lake · New development
    See all 8

    Getting Around

    1. 1What to pack for Sri LankaSri Lanka · In depth: planning
    2. 2The main routes around Sri Lanka, with travel timesSri Lanka · In depth: getting around
    3. 3Sri Lanka by train: the hill-country line and how to bookSri Lanka · In depth: getting around
    See all 11

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