43 Tourist Places in Sri Lanka - part 1

Full of romantic landscapes, stirring mountains, lush green tea gardens and golden beaches, the island nation of Sri Lanka is nothing short of magnificent. The country has no shortage of beautiful awe-inspiring spots, natural, historic and cultural, each more picture-perfect than the next. From soulful Buddhist monasteries and temples to exotic and impeccable spots rarely explored, Sri Lanka offers everything that makes your escape a memorable one! Whether traveling with your significant other or planning a vacay with your family, Sri Lanka won’t disappoint you! Take a trip to these most beautiful places in Sri Lanka and you would find it difficult to leave back home. Read on to know the most beautiful experiences of Sri Lanka that includes astounding places and popular attractions.

43 Most Beautiful Places In Sri Lanka 2023:

While you’re planning your next vacay to this serene country, scroll down to know where all you can head for an amazing trip with your friends and family. The following are the best traveling places in Sri Lanka that you can include in your itinerary.

Ella – Witness The Countryside Charm

Nuwara Eliya – Covered With Lush-Greenery

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – See The Giant Beasts

Polonnaruwa – The Ancient Ruins

Adams Peak – The UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mirissa – Go Whale Watching

Yala National Park – Amidst The Wildlife

Colombo – Visit The Bustling City

Jaffna – Explore The Historical Architectures

Ulpotha – Land Of Ayurveda

Trincomalee – The Temple City

Kandalama – The Surreal Village

Tissamaharama – Picture Worthy Place

Anuradhapura – See The Bodhi Tree

Horton Plains National Park – Of Lakes And Greenery

Sinharaja Forest Reserve – Tropical Beauty

Udawalawe National Park – With Wild Animals

Tawalantenne – Ideal Road Trip Location

Arugam Bay – Pristine Beaches

Commonwealth War Cemetery – For The Warriors

Unawatuna Beach – Beautiful Beaches

Sigiriya Museum – Visit The Historical Place

Perandeniya Botanical Gardens – See The Flowers Blooming

Dondra Lighthouse – Instagram Worthy

Dambulla Cave Temple – Witness The Murals

Old Dutch Fort At Galle – Picturesque Beauty

Sigiriya Rock Fortress – The Historical Beauty

Beira Lake – The Surreal Lake

Temple Of The Tooth Relic – One Of A Kind Temple

Bentota Beach – Beautiful Sunrise And Blue Waters

National Museum Of Colombo – Know The History

Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue – Gigantic Architecture

Nine Arch Bridge – Ride Amidst The Greenery

Gal Viharaya – Know The Ancient History

Ravana Falls – Explore The Surreal Beauty

Spice Garden – Add Some Spice To Your Vacation

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara – For Serenity

Ruwanwelisaya – A Sacred Buddhist Site

St. Anthony’s Church – Explore The Masterpiece

International Buddhist Museum – Experience The Spirituality

Mahiyanganaya Sorabora Lake, Uva Province – Explore The Greenery

Dehiwala Zoo – Experience The Wilderness

Bambarakanda Falls, Ohiya – A Treat For The Eyes.

1. Ella – Witness The Countryside Charm : Looking for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka? Get enamored by the stunning views through Ella Gap overlooking a spectacular gap in the southern mountain wall. Situated in the middle of beautiful countryside, with small vegetable plots, tea plantations on the hill slopes and forests on the tops this hill station is nothing less than breathtaking. Ella undoubtedly, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka.

Location: Town in Sri Lanka

Famous for: Hikes, mountain views, train rides

Best time to visit: January to March is the best time to visit Ella as the chances of rainfall are low and you can also enjoy hiking

How to reach: Ella is 235 km from Colombo. You can take a direct train to Ella from Colombo Fort Train Station

Where to stay: Blue Ribbon Homestay, Ella Tree houses and Cabanas

Tourist attractions: Ravana’s Cave, Nine Arches Bridge, Ravana Falls

2.Nuwara Eliya – Covered With Lush-Greenery ; One of the most beautiful Sri Lanka tourist places, this 19th century hill station Nuwara Eliya retains its colonial ambiance with its golf course, gentlemen’s clubs and mock-Tudor buildings. It is one of the most beautiful locations in Sri Lanka for a scenic rail ride. Experience the stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations, waterfalls and dramatic mountains the train takes you from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. You wouldn’t want the ride to end! You can enjoy trekking in Kandy and explore the beauty of nature. It is one of the safest places to visiting Sri Lanka during Covid. If you are looking for best places to visit in Rishikesh in 2 days, Nuwara Eliya should be on your itinerary.

Location: Nuwara Eliya District, Central Sri Lanka

Famous for: Stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations

Best time to visit: February to May is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya as the chances of rainfall are low and so is the temperature.

How to reach: There are frequent buses from Colombo and Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. However, thge bus ourney between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya takes a lot of time.

Where to stay: King Fern Cottage, Paradise Cottage, Haven Backpackers

Tourist attractions: Lake Gregory, Victoria Park, Pedro Tea Factory.

3. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – See The Giant Beasts : Can you imagine anything as heartwarming as staring at baby elephants as they enjoy a river soak? The Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage has many reasons to be called one of the best things to see in Sri Lanka! It won’t be hard to believe if you wouldn’t want to leave this paradise.

This place is 13 km away from the town of Kegalle and one can come from any public transport. This is a very popular tourist destination and gives visitors a very different kind of experience. Watching the baby elephants doing mischief and moving here and there is a lifetime experience. One cannot get to see all this anywhere else.

When you will come to this place, you will get many small reasons that you will definitely love this place. Therefore, whenever you come to Sri Lanka do visit this place as it’s one of the best places to see in Sri lanka.

Location: B199, Rambukkana 71100, Sri Lanka

Famous for: Having the largest herd of captive elephants

Timings: 9 AM -1 PM is when elephants proceed with their daily activities. The park remains open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

How to reach: Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is just 37 km from Kandy. You could take a train towards Kandy and get down at Kegalle, the nearest village to the orphanage. You can take an auto or tuk-tuk from here to the park.

Where to stay: Hotel Lagone

Tourist attractions: Pinnawala Zoo

4. Polonnaruwa – The Ancient Ruins : The next place in the list is again a city that is popular for the temples and this has to be one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. You could easily spend your day imagining the ancient city life at the ruins of Polonnaruwa. Well preserved and full of archaeological treasures with hundreds of ancient structures like tombs and temples, statues and stupas it is difficult to not be amazed by the ruins here.

This is known to everyone that Sri Lanka is the country of temples and also it has many monuments and heritages that depict its history and culture, it is one of the best Sri lanka tourist places. Polonnaruwa is one such place that is very popular among the tourists and one will get to experience the real life of Sri Lanka here.

So, if you are a spiritual person and also you have an interest in knowing the history, culture, and tradition of different countries, then you must visit this place. This place will give you the exact glimpses of Sri Lanka history and culture.

One would wonder as what are the things here, which will give the sneak peek of the Sri Lankan history? The answer to this question is that there are the remains of the old buildings and monuments that were once standing here.

Location: Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka

Famous for: Its green environment attractive tourist hotels

Best time to visit: July, August, and January are the best months