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Highlights

The Must-See Shortlist

If you only have a week or two, these are the anchors. They earned their place here by being the destinations the rest of the island keeps pointing at - the sites other guides, routes and itineraries orbit around. Start with these, then use the quieter collections to fill the gaps between them.

Showing 36 of 36 destinations

Kandy, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Kandy

Hill Country

Sri Lanka's cultural capital, home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Ella, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Ella

Hill Country

A lush hill-country village with iconic train rides, waterfalls, and tea plantations.

From $20–35/dayHalf day
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Sigiriya

Cultural Triangle

An ancient rock fortress rising 200m above the jungle - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From $25–40/dayFull day
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Anuradhapura

Cultural Triangle

Ancient capital with massive stupas, sacred Bo tree, and sprawling ruins.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Ancient ruins of the medieval capital city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Polonnaruwa Ancient City

Cultural Triangle

Ruined medieval capital with palace, temples, and monuments scattered across a vast park.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Colombo city skyline at night, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Colombo

West Coast & Colombo

Sri Lanka's energetic capital - colonial quarters, temple treasures, seafront promenades, and the island's best food.

From $25–45/dayQuick stop
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Nuwara Eliya

Hill Country

'Little England' - a cool hill-station surrounded by endless tea estates.

From $20–35/dayHalf day
Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Mirissa

South Coast

A crescent beach paradise with world-class whale watching and surf breaks.

From $25–40/dayFull day
Sri Lankan leopard resting on a rock in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Yala National Park

South Coast

Sri Lanka's most famous wildlife reserve - the best place to spot leopards.

From $40–60/day (safari included)Overnight
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Hindu temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Jaffna

The North

The proud capital of Tamil Sri Lanka - grand kovils, a star fort, palmyrah groves, and legendary crab curry.

From $20–35/dayOvernight
Galle, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Galle

South Coast

A UNESCO-listed Dutch fort town with cobblestone streets, boutiques, and ocean views.

From $30–50/dayFull day
World's End cliff viewpoint at Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Horton Plains

Hill Country

A dramatic highland plateau with World's End cliff and misty cloud forest.

From $30–45/dayHalf day
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Arugam Bay

East Coast

Sri Lanka's surf capital - a laid-back east-coast bay with world-class waves.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Bentota, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Bentota

West Coast & Colombo

A golden beach resort town known for water sports, ayurveda, and luxury hotels.

From $30–50/dayFull day
Rows of Buddha statues inside Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Dambulla Cave Temple

Cultural Triangle

Five golden caves filled with 153 ancient Buddha statues and stunning religious murals.

From $20–35/dayQuick stop
Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Trincomalee

East Coast

One of the world's finest natural harbours with pristine beaches and diving sites.

From $25–40/dayFull day
Peaks of the Knuckles Mountain Range in Matale, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Knuckles Mountain Range

Cultural Triangle

A rugged limestone range with hiking trails, cloud forests, and endemic wildlife.

From $30–50/day (with guide)Overnight
Herd of wild Asian elephants gathering near the Minneriya tank in Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Minneriya National Park

Cultural Triangle

Home of 'The Gathering' - the largest meeting of wild Asian elephants on Earth.

From $35–55/day (safari included)Full day
Dense rainforest of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Sinharaja Rainforest

Rainforest & Gem Country

Sri Lanka's last great lowland rainforest - a UNESCO World Heritage Site bursting with endemic species.

From $30–50/day (guide included)Overnight
Adisham Bungalow monastery at Haputale, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Haputale

Hill Country

A ridge-top tea town with edge-of-the-world views, misty monasteries, and the gateway to Lipton's country.

From $15–30/dayHalf day
White sand and calm turquoise sea at Nilaveli Beach, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Nilaveli Beach

East Coast

A long ribbon of white sand north of Trincomalee, with calm turquoise water and Pigeon Island offshore.

From $25–40/dayQuick stop
Sunrise view from the summit of Adam's Peak (Sri Pada), Sri Lanka
Must-see

Adam's Peak

Hill Country

Sacred mountain with a pilgrimage trail and sunrise views across the Central Highlands.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Gregory Lake amid the hills of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Gregory Lake

Hill Country

Nuwara Eliya's centrepiece lake - swan boats, pony rides, and misty mountain reflections in 'Little England'.

From $15–30/dayHalf day
Kataragama Maha Devale shrine complex, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Kataragama

Hill Country

Sri Lanka's great multi-faith pilgrimage town, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Veddas alike.

From $20–35/dayQuick stop
Colourful gopuram of the Muthumariamman Kovil in Matale, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Matale Muthumariamman Kovil

Cultural Triangle

A riot of sacred colour on the Kandy–Dambulla road - one of Sri Lanka's most spectacular Hindu gopurams.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Clock tower in the gem city of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Ratnapura

Rainforest & Gem Country

The 'City of Gems' - Sri Lanka's sapphire capital, gateway to Sinharaja and the classic Adam's Peak trail.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Palm-fringed Unawatuna Beach bay near Galle, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Unawatuna

South Coast

A famous banana-shaped bay minutes from Galle, with calm swimming, reef snorkelling, and a jungle-clad headland.

From $25–40/dayQuick stop
Sri Lankan national flag flying over Galle Face Green, Colombo
Must-see

Galle Face Green

West Coast & Colombo

Colombo's beloved ocean-front lawn - kites, street food, and the whole city gathered for sunset.

From $10–25/dayHalf day
Seema Malaka lake pavilion of Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Gangaramaya Temple

West Coast & Colombo

Colombo's most famous Buddhist temple, with the serene Seema Malaka pavilion floating on Beira Lake.

From $20–35/dayQuick stop
Hikkaduwa beach on Sri Lanka's south-west coast
Must-see

Hikkaduwa

South Coast

Beach town famous for coral reefs, diving, and a lively backpacker scene.

From $20–35/dayHalf day
Horseshoe-shaped Hiriketiya Beach bay at Dickwella, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Hiriketiya

South Coast

A tiny, palm-fringed crescent bay - the definition of a hidden gem.

From $20–35/dayOvernight
Rocky outcrop and forest at Kudumbigala Sanctuary near Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Kumana National Park

East Coast

Sri Lanka's bird paradise - lagoons and mangroves alive with nesting waterbirds, plus uncrowded leopard country.

From $35–55/day (safari included)Overnight
The great white dome of Ruwanwelisaya Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Ruwanwelisaya Stupa

Cultural Triangle

King Dutugemunu's great white dagoba - the most beloved stupa in Sri Lanka and a wonder of the ancient world.

From $20–35/dayQuick stop
White dagoba beside the lake at Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Tissamaharama

South Coast

An ancient lake-side temple town of great white dagobas - the classic base for Yala and Kataragama.

From $25–40/dayFull day
Weligama Bay beach with palm trees and fishing boats, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Weligama Bay

South Coast

A perfect crescent bay with fishing stilt boats, gentle surf, and a vibrant village atmosphere.

From $20–35/dayOvernight
Natural villu lake surrounded by dry-zone forest in Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Wilpattu National Park

Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka's largest national park - a wilderness of natural lakes, leopards, and sloth bears without the crowds.

From $40–60/day (safari included)Overnight