Top 20 attractions in Sri Lanka - ranking lists with tips for travellers

Besides our list of Top 20 attractions of the entire island of Sri Lanka, we also present Top 20 destinations for day-trips in each specific holiday region

Lanka's Top 20 places of interest

20 famous sites for multi-day round-tours
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20 more destinations off the beaten track

Top 20 attractions in Sri Lanka

1. Sigiriya Lion Rock

World Heritage Site Sigiriya is both a place of scenic beauty and a multi-faceted and unique excavated town. The "Lion Rock" is the most popular attraction in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle. More...

2. Yala National Park

Yala is Sri Lanka's most frequented wildlife park to due to its variety of landscape and vegetation forms and animal species and the record-breaking density of its leopard population. More...

3. Adam's Peak

Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka's landmark mountain, is one of the island's most sacred places for Buddhhists and Hindus and Muslims alike. The vistas from the top are breathtaking indeed. More...

4. Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is Sri Lanka's excavation site which comes closest to what is a picturebook dream city in ruins amidst the jungles. Its rock-cut Buddha statues of Gal Vihara are world-famous. More...

5. Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the most important ancient sites in South Asia. Its landmarks are three stupas that are unsurpassed in size, actually the world's largest bakestone-buildings. More...

6. Minneriya Elephant Gathering

During northern summer months, Minneriya Lake in the national park of the same name is the place with the largest amount of wild Asien elephants, an unforgettable wildlife experience. More...

7. Dambulla cave temple

The Golden Temple of Dambulla is the best example of a Sri Lankan cave temple, rock shelter transfrormed into image houses with Buddhist statue and decorated with Kandyan paintings. More...

8. Kandy

Kandy, situated in a green valley in the northern part of the hillcountry, is the religious and also the cultural centre of traditional Sinhalese Buddhism, Kandy has numerous tourist attractions. More...

9. Horton Plains

Horton Plains is the only national park situated in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The most popular hiking destination of Horton Plains are Bakers Falls and two vistas known as "World's End". More...

10. Kithulgala

Kithulgala is Sri Lanka's adventure holiday number one. White water river rafting is the main attraction. You can also do cayaking, waterfall abseiling, canyoning, hiking, birdwatching. More...

11. Ella

Ella is one of the loveliest place in Sri Lanka's hillcountry. The vistas to the Ella Gap are famous and hiking tours, easy or intermediate level, are rewarding in this scenic tea growing area. More...

12. Galle

The Fortress of Galle, the best-preserved Dutch colonial town in Asia, is the World Heritage Site which is situated close to the beach resorts of Sri Lanka's Southern Province. More...

13. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawela near Kegalle is famous for the world's largest elephant orphanage. Bottle-feeding of baby elephants is possible. Seeing the large herd of elephants bathing is a must-see. More...

14. Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is both a tea region and a city. The town, which is the highest in the mountains of Sri Lanka, is proud to be called Little England" due to its colonial flair. More...

15. Sinharaja Rain Forest

Sinharaja is Sri Lanka's largest virgin rain forest in the wet monsoon region. The reserve is a perfect area for hiking tours, particularly in the dry main season between December and April. More...

16. Yapahuwa

Yapahuwa is Sri Lanka's only well-preserved citadel from the medieval period and full of great attractions for heritage tourists. Surprisingly, it's still a pretty undisturbed place, a hidden beauty. More...

17. Mirissa Whale Watching

Mirissa is a lovely beach resort at the south coast, which has recently become Sri Lanka's most beloved destination for whale watchoing enthusiasts. Blue whale season is from November to April. More...

18. Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala has both the tallest rock-cut Buddha statue and the largest group of such rock-carved sculptures in Sri Lanka. They have evidently Mahayanistic and Tantric features. More...

19. Trincomalee

Trincomalee at the East Coast hasby far the best natural harbour of the Bay of Bengal. A major Hindu pilgrimage temple, Konneshvaram Kovil dedicated to Shiva, attracts devotees from India. More...

20. Nainativu Island

The small island of Nainativu to the northeast of Jaffna is a lgrimage site for both Buddhists and Hindus, a place visited by Buddha and nearby a huge Dravidian temple of the goddess, Shiva's consort. More...

Top 20 hidden gems in Sri Lanka

1. Pidurangala

Many travellers, of course, know the World Heritage Site Sigiriya, but only few know that the neighbouring rock of Pidurangala has even more breathtaking vistas and lots of other attractions, too. More...

2. Gal Oya National Park

Gal Oya is the only national Park in Sri Lanka which offers boat safaris, as the centrepiece of the park is the largest lake in Sri Lanka. Gal Oya is perfect for observing elephants and birds. More...

3. Pilikuttuwa

Pilikuttuwa is an ancient site that is still a living forest monastery. Situated not far away from the busy Colombo, Pilikuttuwa is a surprisingly quiet and lush green place off the beaten path. More...

4. Kumana National Park

Kumana is a less crowded national park east of the famous Yala NP. Kumana is known for Sri Lanka's largest variety of bird species. Chances to observe mugger crocodiles are high. More...

5. Deanston

Deanston between Hunnasgiriya and Corbett's Gap and Meemure in the Knuckles Range is starting point for a small, but very rewarding hike to a vantage point known as "Mini World's End". More...

6. Tantirimale

Tantirimale 37 km to the northwest of Anuradhapura has a large reclining Buddha cut from the rock and a very old Bo-tree and prehistoric rock paintings and much more in a very scenic setting. More...

7. Ridigama

Ridiviharaya, the "Siver Monastery", in Ridigama, rarely visited by foreign travellers, is a pilgrimage site and one of the most interesting and beautiful Buddhist cave temples in Sri Lanka. More...

8. Thiriyai

Thiriyai, though less known among tourists, is the most important ancient site in the Eastern Province, due to the best-preserved typical Sri Lankan circular temple and its sculptural art. More...

9. Maduru Oya National Park

Among Sri Lanka's 3 largest national parks, Maduru Oya is by far the most remote one, almost undisturbed. This is why a wildlife safari in Maduru Oya is highly recommendable for nature lovers. More...

10. Mulkirigala

Mulkirigala is a monadnock rising vertically from the green jungles also the best example of a painted cave temple in the deep south, hence a little bit of both Sigiriya and Dambulla. More...

11. Hatthikucchi

Embedded in a lush jungle and rocky outcrops, the site formerly known as Rayangana and now renamed "elephant belly", Hatthikucchi, is one of the quaintest heritage destination in Sri Lanka. More...

12. Dimbulagala

Dimbulagala, the largest mountain range near ancient Polonnaruwa, is crowded with nice heritage sites, such as a new museum, ruins of a monastery, caves and rock paintings. More...

13. Aberdeen Falls

Aberdeen Falls is one of the quaintest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. The stairway to the bottom of the waterfalls can be reached from Norton Bridge or from Kitulgala. Hiking tours start at Ginigathena. More...

14. Wilandagoda Aranya

Wilandagoda near Wilpattu National Park is a typical ancient monastery with several cave temples. The very picturesque site is almost unknown to most group or pocketguide travellers. More...

15. Madagama

Madagama is a typical monadnock with rock shelters. Some of them are still inhabited by Buddhist monks. Its natural beauty makes Madagama an amazing site indeed, calm and undisturbed. More...

16. Maligawila

Sri Lanka's largest monolithic Buddha statue is not rock-carved but free-standing. The giant ancient Buddha statue of Maligawila was broken and has been restored and reerected only recently. More...

17. Rufus Kulam

Rufus Kulam is one of the most lovely reservoirs in Sri Lanka. Bordering Kanchikudi, the largest jungle that is not a national park, Rufus Kulam is a place to observe wildlife without fees. More...

18. Mannakethi Falls

The picturesque Mannakethi Falls not far away from Sri Lanka's major river rafting area in Kitulgala are almost unknown to tourists, because they are a little bit hidden and not easy to find. More...

19. Kiralagala

Kiralagala is the first monastery in the Pamsukulika style. Though it's a relatively large heritage site, it is almost unknown to foreigners. Reason is the location apart from the main roads. More...

20. Bogoda Bridge

Bogoda in the Uva Bassin near Badulla has the oldest surviving wooden bridge of Sri Lanka, built in the 17th century. It served as piligrimm access to a cave temple and also as an Ambalama. More...

And where's Sri Lanka's largest National Park?

view from the top of Sigiriya

Lists of Sri Lanka's attractions...

... here you find them classified by topics

In the central of three columns on this page you will find links to overview pages to various categories of cultural and natural destinations. The left column has two Top 20 lists, firstly of most popular and, secondly those most recommendable sites that are less visited. The column to right presents numerous Top 20 lists of destinations for specific regions and cities in Sri Lanka. In the footer below our three columns, you can dind a list of more than 200 rewarding travel destinations in alphabetic order. But let's get started with the topics...

Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites

Sigiriya frescos

World Heritage Sites list...

Sri Lanka is prowd to have eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, six of them culturaland two of them natural, the latter being Sinharaja rain forest and the montane forest areas of the Central Highlands. Five World Heritage Sites are located in the Cultural Triangle, namely the ancient capitals Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, which form the "corners" of that triangle, and two spectacular sites in the centre of that area, namely Sigiriya Lion Rock and the Dambulla cave temples. The sixth cultural World Heritage Site is the fortified Old Town of Galle in the very southwest of the island, which is the best-preserved colonial town in Asia.

More about Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites...

Sri Lanka's Cities

Kandy festival

To be honest, Sri Lanka's cities are not the most amazing ones in Asia. Only Kandy, which is charming indeed, is a must-see for those who are interested in round tours. The largest city, of course, is Colombo. Though not a must-see, the sprawling city has variety of places of interest from the colonial past as well as from modern times.

List of Sri Lanka's Cities...

Sri Lanka's Sacred Places

Tooth Temple

List of Holy Places...

Sri Lanka is the country with the highest density of waterfalls in the world.

Sri Lanka's National Parks

List of National Parks...

Sri Lanka's Activity Attractions

Activity Destinations List...

Sri Lanka's Beaches

List of Sri Lanka Beaches...

Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka

Attractions near Jaffna...

Top 20 attractions for 1-day-trips

day-excursions for holidays at only one place

Top 20 day-trips for holiday makers...
at southern coasts... or in the hillcountry... or in the Cultral Triangle... or in North and East...
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Top 20 places of interest in great cities...
Kandy... Anuradhapura... Polonnaruwa... Colombo...

Southern & Southwestern Coasts

1. Yala National Park
2. Galle
3. Sinharaja Rain Forest
4. Mirissa Whale Watching
5. Buduruwagala
6. Udawalawa National Park
7. Maduganga
8. Mulkirigala
9. Rekawa Turtle Beach
10. Hoomaniya Blow Hole
11. Lunuganga Gardens
12. Bundala National Park
13. Maligawila
14. Kataragama
15. Unawatuna Beach
16. Wawulpane Cave
17. Meetiyagoda moonstone mine
18. Brief Gardens
19. Hikkaduwa Beach
20. Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Highlands of central Sri Lanka

1. Adam's Peak
2. Kandy
3. Horton Plains
4. Kithulgala
5. Ella
6. Nuwara Eliya
7. Deanston
8. Lankatilaka
9. Aberdeen Falls
10. Peradeniya Gardens
11. Haputale
12. Dunhinda Falls
13. Embekke
14. Ramboda
15. Gadaladeniya
16. Hakgala Botanical Gardens
17. Degaldoruwa
18. Bogoda Bridge
19. Hanguranketa
20. Namunukula

Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

1. Sigiriya
2. Polonnaruwa
3. Anuradhapura
4. Minneriya Elephant Gathering
5. Dambulla
6. Yapahuwa
7. Mihintale
8. Aukana Buddha
9. Pidurangala
10. Dimbulagala
12. Rasvehera
13. Medirigiriya
14. Thantirimale
15. Kaudulla National Park
16. Kalupokuna
17. Habarana
18. Kiralagala
19. Namal Uyana
20. Menikdena

All places mentioned above are within day-trip distance from almost all hotels and guest houses in the Cultural Triangle. However, the best starting point for single-day excursions in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle is the Sigiriya-Dambulla area includung Habarana and Kandalama.

North and East of Sri Lanka

1. Trincomalee
2. Nainativu Island
3. Kumana National Park
4. Thiriyai
5. Nallur
6. Arugam Bay
7. Kantharodai
8. Delft Island
9. Jaffna
10. Kudumbigala
11. Mannar Island
12. Topigala
13. Batticaloa
14. Lahugala
15. Pottuvil
16. Velgam Vehera
17. Dighavapi
18. Manalkadu
19. Seruwila
20. Panama

Lists of Top 20 places of interest
in major cities and heritage sites of Sri Lanka:

Top 20 attractions in Kandy

1. Tooth Temple
2. Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
3. View to the Kandy Lake
4. Malwatta Monastery
5. World Buddhism Museum
6. Kataragama Devale
7. Lankatilaka
8. Udawattakale
9. Embekke
10. Ceylon Tea Museum, Hantana
11. Degaldoruwa
12. Natha Devale
13. Bahiravakanda
14. Vishnu Devale
15. Gadaladeniya
16. National Museum
17. Pattini Devale
18. Garrison Cemetery
19. Monte Fano monastery
20. Galmaduwa Temple

Top 20 attractions in Colombo

1. Pettah Markets with Dutch Museum
2. National Museum
3. Kelaniya Temple
4. Nelum Pokuna Theatre
5. Galle Face Green
6. Beira Lake with Seema Malakaya
7. Independence Square & Independence Hall
8. Dehiwala Zoo
9. Mount Lavinia
10. Diyawanna Lake with Parliament
11. Gangarama Temple
12. Kailawasanathan Swami Kovil
13. Viharamahadevi Park with Town Hall
14. Wolvendaal Church
15. Number 11
16. Central Point - Economic History Museum
17. Colombo Lighthouse
18. Sri Ponnambelam Vanesar Kovil
19. Isipathanaramaya Temple
20. National Railway Museum