Destinations
The places worth staying in.
From fifth-century rock fortresses to lagoon beaches with no footprints.
By region
53 regions to build around.
Ancient Ceylon
Cultural Triangle · Featured
Ancient Ceylon
Rock fortresses, royal cities and frescoes older than most nations.
- collection
- culture
- heritage
- photography
Hill Country
Central Highlands · Featured
Hill Country
Blue trains, waterfalls and mountain villages wrapped in mist.
- adventure
- collection
- nature
- photography
Wild Sri Lanka
National Parks · Featured
Wild Sri Lanka
The highest density of leopards on earth and elephants by the hundred.
- adventure
- collection
- photography
- wildlife
Southern Coast
South · Featured
Southern Coast
Colonial ramparts, whale-watching bays and palm-shaded lagoons.
- beach
- collection
- culture
- food
Surf & Sea
East & South
Surf & Sea
Long right-handers, barefoot cafés and the easiest days of your life.
- adventure
- beach
- collection
Tea Country
Central Highlands
Tea Country
Emerald terraces, colonial bungalows and the world's finest Ceylon tea.
- collection
- culture
- food
- nature
Sigiriya
Cultural Triangle · Featured
Sigiriya
The rock fortress and sky palace of King Kassapa, rising sheer from the plains.
- culture
- heritage
- photography
- first-time
- nature
Dambulla
Cultural Triangle
Dambulla
Cave temples painted with centuries of Buddhist art, on the road between Kandy and the ancient cities.
- culture
- heritage
- corridor
Polonnaruwa
Cultural Triangle
Polonnaruwa
A medieval royal capital of stupas, palaces and carved stone Buddhas, best seen by bicycle.
- culture
- heritage
- photography
Anuradhapura
Cultural Triangle
Anuradhapura
Sri Lanka's first great capital: sacred bo tree, vast reservoirs and dagobas older than Rome's ruins.
- culture
- heritage
- history
Ritigala
Cultural Triangle
Ritigala
Forest monastery ruins inside a strict nature reserve — quiet, green and rarely crowded.
- culture
- nature
- off-the-beaten-path
- corridor
Habarana
Cultural Triangle
Habarana
A calm village base for the Cultural Triangle, elephant parks and rural lake life.
- nature
- wildlife
- family
- village
Kandy
Central Province · Featured
Kandy
Lakeside hill capital, home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the gateway to the hills.
- culture
- heritage
- food
- family
- first-time
- gateway
Matale
Central Province
Matale
Spice-garden country in the hills above Kandy, where true Ceylon cinnamon is peeled by hand.
- food
- culture
- spice
- corridor
Pinnawala
Central Province
Pinnawala
Elephant country on the Kandy road — an easy, family-friendly stop between the west and the hills.
- wildlife
- family
- corridor
Minneriya
Cultural Triangle · Featured
Minneriya
Dry-season grasslands where herds of wild elephants gather by the reservoir in their hundreds.
- wildlife
- family
- nature
- photography
Kaudulla
Cultural Triangle
Kaudulla
A quieter alternative to Minneriya for elephant viewing in the same reservoir system.
- wildlife
- nature
Wasgamuwa
National Parks
Wasgamuwa
Remote park between the Cultural Triangle and the Knuckles, with elephants and few vehicles.
- wildlife
- nature
- off-the-beaten-path
Nuwara Eliya
Central Highlands · Featured
Nuwara Eliya
Cool colonial hill station at 6,000 feet, ringed by working tea estates.
- nature
- tea
- food
- culture
- first-time
Ella
Central Highlands · Featured
Ella
Mountain village of viewpoints, waterfalls and the Nine Arch Bridge below the train line.
- nature
- adventure
- photography
- scenic
- first-time
Haputale
Central Highlands
Haputale
Ridge-top tea village with long views to the southern plains on a clear morning.
- nature
- tea
- scenic
Bandarawela
Central Highlands
Bandarawela
Mild-climate hill town among tea estates, useful as a calm hill-country base.
- nature
- tea
- relaxation
Hatton
Central Highlands
Hatton
Gateway to the high tea estates, reservoirs and Adam's Peak trailheads.
- nature
- tea
- adventure
- hiking
Horton Plains
Central Highlands
Horton Plains
High-altitude plateau of grassland and cloud forest ending at the World's End escarpment.
- nature
- hiking
- adventure
- photography
- corridor
Knuckles Range
Central Highlands
Knuckles Range
Rugged conservation range of cloud forest, villages and trekking routes east of Kandy.
- adventure
- hiking
- nature
- photography
- off-the-beaten-path
Riverston
Central Highlands
Riverston
Windswept ridges and mini World's End views on the northern edge of the Knuckles.
- adventure
- hiking
- nature
- scenic
Kithulgala
Rainforest
Kithulgala
Rainforest river town and the home of Sri Lankan white-water rafting.
- adventure
- rafting
- nature
- rainforest
Sinharaja
Rainforest
Sinharaja
The island's last major stretch of primary lowland rainforest, dense with endemic birds.
- nature
- rainforest
- wildlife
- hiking
- off-the-beaten-path
Yala
National Parks · Featured
Yala
Scrub, lagoons and rock outcrops holding the island's best-known leopard population.
- wildlife
- adventure
- photography
- first-time
Udawalawe
National Parks
Udawalawe
Open reservoir country with reliable elephant sightings all year and easy family game drives.
- wildlife
- family
- nature
Wilpattu
National Parks
Wilpattu
Vast northwestern park of forest villus, quiet tracks and elusive leopards.
- wildlife
- nature
- off-the-beaten-path
Gal Oya
National Parks
Gal Oya
Boat safaris across a wild reservoir where elephants swim between islands.
- wildlife
- nature
- adventure
- off-the-beaten-path
Galle
South · Featured
Galle
Dutch-walled fort town of ramparts, courtyards and cafés above the Indian Ocean.
- culture
- heritage
- beach
- architecture
- food
- first-time
Unawatuna
South
Unawatuna
Curved swimming bay minutes from Galle, easy for families and first stays on the coast.
- beach
- family
- relaxation
Hikkaduwa
South
Hikkaduwa
Reef, turtles and a long strip of beach cafés on the southwest coast.
- beach
- surf
- marine
- relaxation
Weligama
South
Weligama
Wide, forgiving bay — the island's most popular place to learn to surf.
- surf
- beach
- adventure
- beginner-surf
Mirissa
South · Featured
Mirissa
Palm-fringed crescent bay and the main harbour for blue whale and dolphin trips.
- beach
- marine
- relaxation
- first-time
Hiriketiya
South
Hiriketiya
Horseshoe bay with a point break, yoga decks and a slow, barefoot rhythm.
- surf
- beach
- lifestyle
- relaxation
Tangalle
South
Tangalle
Long empty beaches, lagoons and quiet luxury on the deep south coast.
- beach
- relaxation
- nature
- luxury
Matara
South
Matara
Working southern town with a star fort, temples and uncrowded stretches of sand.
- culture
- beach
- food
Colombo
West Coast
Colombo
The island's port capital: markets, colonial streets, rooftop bars and the best food scene.
- city
- food
- shopping
- culture
- arrival
- gateway
Negombo
West Coast
Negombo
Fishing town beside the airport — the natural first or last night of a Sri Lanka trip.
- arrival
- beach
- seafood
- gateway
Bentota
West Coast
Bentota
River-and-sea resort strip with water sports and long southwest beaches.
- beach
- family
- luxury
- relaxation
Beruwala
West Coast
Beruwala
Sheltered west-coast bay with calm swimming and easy access from Colombo.
- beach
- relaxation
- family
Kalutara
West Coast
Kalutara
Riverside town of temples and coconut groves on the road south from Colombo.
- beach
- culture
- relaxation
- corridor
Arugam Bay
East Coast · Featured
Arugam Bay
Long right-hand point break and a barefoot surf village that empties into the season.
- surf
- beach
- adventure
- lifestyle
- young-travellers
Trincomalee
East Coast
Trincomalee
Deep natural harbour, hilltop temple and warm, flat swimming water on the east.
- beach
- family
- culture
- marine
- relaxation
Nilaveli
East Coast
Nilaveli
White sand and Pigeon Island reef snorkelling just north of Trincomalee.
- beach
- marine
- family
- relaxation
- diving
Pasikuda
East Coast
Pasikuda
Shallow, calm bay made for swimming, with resort comfort on the east coast.
- beach
- family
- relaxation
Batticaloa
East Coast
Batticaloa
Lagoon city of forts, bridges and singing fish stories, still largely untouristed.
- culture
- beach
- off-the-beaten-path
Jaffna
Northern Province
Jaffna
Northern cultural capital: Tamil temples, palmyra plains, islands and a distinct cuisine.
- culture
- history
- food
- north
- off-the-beaten-path
- photography
Mannar
Northern Province
Mannar
Baobabs, windmills, salt flats and causeways towards Adam's Bridge.
- north
- nature
- off-the-beaten-path
- photography
Delft Island
Northern Province
Delft Island
Coral-walled island of wild ponies and Dutch ruins off the Jaffna peninsula.
- north
- nature
- off-the-beaten-path
- history
Island highlights
Names to know.
Ancient Ceylon
Hill Country
Wild Sri Lanka
Southern Coast
Surf & Sea
Tea Country
Sigiriya
Dambulla
Polonnaruwa
Anuradhapura
Ritigala
Habarana
Kandy
Matale
Pinnawala
Minneriya
Kaudulla
Wasgamuwa
Nuwara Eliya
Ella
Haputale
Bandarawela
Hatton
Horton Plains
Knuckles Range
Riverston
Kithulgala
Sinharaja
Yala
Udawalawe
Wilpattu
Gal Oya
Galle
Unawatuna
Hikkaduwa
Weligama
Mirissa
Hiriketiya
Tangalle
Matara
Colombo
Negombo
Bentota
Beruwala
Kalutara
Arugam Bay
Trincomalee
Nilaveli
Pasikuda
Batticaloa
Jaffna
Mannar
Delft Island