Sri LankaTravel Guide

Named among one of the top 25 resorts in Asia in 2021, Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala offers the best of the jungle and the beach with a large dose of luxury. Just picture it: luxury tented suites, sparkling plunge pools and four-poster beds. As an all-inclusive option, there’s no need to lift a finger during your stay, with sightseeing made easy at the Yala National Park, only four kilometres away.  

Sigiriya King’s Resort has a prime location on the shores of Lake Halmilla in Sigiriya and is set in a nature reserve. Each luxurious unit is elevated on stilts, giving it that whimsical treehouse vibe. Being higher up not only brings you closer to nature and the stars, but also offers views of Sigiriya Rock (read about this fortress further on). 

Enjoy the beach on your doorstep at Kumu Beach in Balapitiya. This modern hotel offers 10 secluded suites and personalised service without breaking the bank. There’s also a fabulous on-site spa, restaurant and infinity swimming pool. Sea views come standard! 

If you’re on a budget and looking to explore Sri Lanka’s West Coast, stay at This Is It Guest House and Restaurant in the beach town of Negombo. Offering comfy rooms and friendly service, it also has a convenient location — everything’s within walking distance, including the Indian Ocean. 

Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea is legendary, and the island enjoys educating visitors about the way of its brew. The most popular tea plantations are in Kandy, Ella, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya, where you can join various guided tours of plantations and factories to better understand the tea leaf picking and manufacturing process of this precious Sri Lankan commodity.  

The heart of Sri Lanka and the birth of Buddhism lie in the Cultural Triangle, an area connecting three ancient cities: Anuradhapura to its north, Polonnaruwa to the east and Kandy to the southwest. While it’s possible to cover the main attractions in as little as three days, we suggest taking a tour with an experienced guide to fully explore the many ruins and temples, the ancient monastery of Rathna Prasada, the Dambulla cave paintings, national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which are packed into this area.

A must-visit in the Triangle is Sigiriya Rock. This gigantic fortress perched on a rocky hill surrounded by jungle includes the ruins of an ancient palace. You’ll need to walk up more than 1,000 steep stairs to get there, so be prepared to work up a sweat. But it’s so worth it! Don’t forget to wear your walking shoes and bring something to cover your shoulders when you go through the Buddhist temple.

If you love hiking, pack your boots and include a day trek up Adam’s Peak in southwestern Sri Lanka on your itinerary. As most travel guides will tell you, it’s best to start early to make the summit at sunrise and take in the incredible views. With stair access, all fitness levels should manage, if somewhat out of breath! Curious about its name and significance? According to certain religions, this is where Adam took his first step on Earth. 

Ministry of Crab in Colombo has won multiple awards and is one of the best restaurants in the country. A superb dining experience combines with a welcoming ambience and authentic hospitality, serving up an assortment of — you guessed it — crab dishes! If you don’t mind a bit of heat, the chilli crab is delicious!

If you’re in the city of Kandy, we recommend the restaurant at Kandy House. Set in a colonial manor house built in 1804, it’s not only a romantic setting in which to wine and dine but it also features a curry menu and a selection of local fare to help get you acquainted with the culinary delights of the island. Oh, and the cocktails are amazing too!

Street food is easy to find in Sri Lanka with vendors across the island. But if you want to taste a variety of dishes, head to the food stalls at the Pettah Floating Market in Colombo. Must-tries include fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry), samosas (filled with peas, potatoes and hot spices like chilli), hoppers (a crisp pancake that can be savoury or sweet) and sweet, crispy, chewy manioc (cassava) chips. The best kottu roti can be found at the Galle Face Green night market. 

For an immersive dining experience, the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo has outdone itself! It has recreated an entire Sri Lankan village in the middle of the city, complete with a village-style restaurant. Nuga Gama serves traditional fare cooked by local ammes (village cooks), while you dine open-air under an ancient banyan tree. The menu features just about everything a Sri Lankan food lover or curious foodie could want, from kottu roti (a Sri Lankan staple of chopped roti) to Jaffna crab curry. We also love that most ingredients are grown on-site in the garden! 

The Galle Face Green night market in Colombo is one of the most popular spots to grab a bite to eat after the sun dips below the horizon. Set in the Galle Face Green urban park that runs along the ocean, the night market is well known for its food stalls. When you’re ready to walk off that roti, there are many other stalls selling souvenirs, local handicrafts, traditional batik cloth, spices and teas. The best part? It’s less touristy than Colombo’s Pettah Floating Market. But if you’ve heard all about it and you enjoy the buzz of rubbing shoulders with fellow travellers, it’s a real experience. While technically not afloat, the walkways alongside Beira Lake support more than 90 stalls under red-roofed pagodas. Here, you can snap up electronics, jewellery, toys and more.

Does your visit to Sri Lanka include retail therapy? Most malls are clustered in Colombo, so that’s the best place to start. The upmarket Marino Mall features a wide selection of stores showcasing both local and international clothing brands, home décor and electronics, as well as shops not usually found in a mall set-up that sell crafts and souvenirs.  

Over in Kandy, the go-to shopping complex is Kandy City Centre. Ultra-modern, it’s a shopper’s delight with top brands under one roof such as Levi’s and the Body Shop, plus luxury watches, jewellery and a virtual reality gaming zone to mention a few highlights. 

How about taking home some Sri Lankan teas? Then make sure to visit to the Mlesna Tea Centre, located on Galle Road, Colombo. Their tea catalogue offers an impressive range of top-quality blends, including jasmine, rose, mint and traditional Ceylon.  

Open from 10am to 7pm daily, Paradise Road is a unique retail, art, design and hospitality hub. Although the prices lean towards the higher end of the spectrum, everything is superior quality from one-of-a-kind furniture to décor.  

Arugam Bay, on Sri Lanka’s southeast coast near the Yala National Park, boasts a pristine beach that stretches for about 3km. Considered one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, it’s also a famous surfing hotspot. The biggest swells occur between June and August, and surfers descend from all over the world; surfing competitions are held, and it's party time! 

If you arrive in or depart Sri Lanka via Bandaranaike International Airport, chances are you’ll find yourself at Negombo Beach. Although most travel guides will tell you there are better beaches in Sri Lanka, it remains a popular stretch of sand with visitors. Bars and restaurants nearby add a buzz.

A quieter and more secluded option is Tangalla Beach, near the city of Tangalle, in the southeast corner of the country. With lagoons, mangroves and miles of white sand, this stretch of coastline never gets too busy — not even in peak season. Because of strong currents, the only place to swim is in the small bay, which is sheltered by a coral reef.

Another one of our favourite beaches in Sri Lanka is Hiriketiya. Set on the south coast, this horseshoe bay flanked by coconut palms is perfect for bathing year-round. It also features restaurants, coffee shops and affordable guest houses.

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife reserve, home to unique animals, such as sloth bears, sambar deer and Sri Lankan leopards. To get the full experience, stay here overnight or bed down at Tissamaharama, a city located at the Yala entrance. The best time to visit is from February to June during the dry season when the vegetation thins out and the animals are easier to spot.

In the Southern Province of the island, Bundala National Park is known for its huge flock of flamingos that have made this wetland their home. The park’s other residents include a wealth of water birds and endangered sea turtles.

For fun in the sun and water for the whole family, plus a whole lot more, head to the Leisure World Water Park in Hanwella. With various water slides and rides, pools (even a ladies’ pool!) and an on-site amusement park, this one-stop entertainment venue also has a 9D cinema! 

For incredible elephant sightings, we recommend two parks. The Udawalawe National Park on the border of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, and the Minneriya National Park in the North Central Province, where more than 300 elephants gather at the Minneriya Lake in September and October. Imagine that! 

If you’re looking for a playpark, Kelimadala Children's Park in Colombo is popular for its fun rides and more than 20 activities for kids. It’s been designed with differently-abled kids in mind and also has a jogging/walking path.