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 vacation 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 include astounding places and popular attractions.
43 Most Beautiful Places In Sri Lanka 2022
While you’re planning your next vacation to this serene country, scroll down to know where you can head for an amazing trip with your friends and family. Make sure you cover all the must-have experiences at these beautiful places in Sri Lanka! The following are the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka, one must not miss out on while holidaying in this serene and rich cultured island located amidst the lush greenery.
- 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 Treehouses, 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 visit Sri Lanka during Covid.
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, the bus journey 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 most beautiful places 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 on 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 a 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 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's history and culture.
One would wonder what are the things here, which will give a sneak peek of 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 to visit Polonnaruwa. Avoid May-June as these are the hottest months in Polonnaruwa.
How to reach: There are no direct trains to Polonnaruwa but what you can do is take a train from Colombo to Habarana and then cover the onward journey by bus or taxi.
Where to stay: EKHO Lake House, Wildescape Polonnaruwa, Binara Home Stays
Tourist attractions: Sigiriya, Gal Vihara, Prakrama Samudra
5. Adams Peak – The UNESCO World Heritage Site
The next destination is one of the most mesmerizing Sri Lanka tourist places and is known as Adam’s peak. Adam’s peak is amongst the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka. Climb the slopes at night to watch a breathtaking sunrise at dawn that would be hard to forget.
A biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is difficult to match the spectacular views from Adams Peaks in the whole of Sri Lanka, making it one of the best Sri Lanka tourist places. The name itself of this place is unique and so is the destination. This place is situated in middle Sri Lanka and that one thing for which it is known is called Sri Pada. Sri Pada is basically considered as the footprints of Buddha.
This is in the form of a rock creation at the mountain above. Apart from this spiritual and religious importance, this place is known for the beauty that the vivid greenery provides it. Along with that, if you will go to the top of the peak, then you will witness some really amazing views of the surroundings. So, the little difficulties that you will have to bear are worth for the kind of experience that the place gives you.
Location: Central Sri Lanka
Famous for: Its rock formation
Best time to visit: Weather-wise, January and May are the best months. However, avoid full moon days and Sri Lankan holidays if you don’t want to wait in long queues.
How to reach: Though you will have to climb the steps, you can take a train from Colombo to reach the base of the peak. Take a direct train to Hatton from Colombo, Kandy, and other cities. Then take a bus or an auto to Dalhousie which is the closest town to Adama’s Peak
Where to stay: Slightly chilled hotel, Grand Adams Peak hotel
Tourist attractions: Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Laxapana Falls
6. Mirissa – Go Whale Watching
Spend your days, soaking in the sun on a hammock and whale-watching at the little village of Mirissa, one of the most appealing beach hideaways and places to see in Sri Lanka. The real world will be forgotten as soon as you enter this beachy paradise. Mirissa definitely has to be on your list of beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka for an amazing holiday.
Not everyone is fond of the rush and crowd of the city. Many of us want to spend our holidays in peace and in some quiet places. So, if you too are one such person and you are in Sri Lanka, then you should definitely visit this beautiful village called Mirissa.
This is the village where most of the citizens living are fishermen; therefore you will get a very close view of the life of the local people. You can even go fishing with the fishermen and have a look at the whales and other big fish. Some of the very popular and tastier fishes are found here, like tuna. When you are in this village, do not forget to eat the local cuisine that is very tasty.
Also, in the evening time, you can go to the beaches and spend your time relaxing there. So, there are enough reasons for which one can easily fall in love with this small, but beautiful village.
Location: South coast of Sri Lanka
Famous for: Tuna, mullet, snapper, and butterfish
Best time to visit: Mirissa is a windy place. So, avoid May-July. The best months would be December, October, and August in that order.
How to reach: Weligama is the nearest train station to Mirissa (7 km). You could take the direct train from Colombo or Bentota to Weligama, and then a tuk-tuk or bus ahead.
Where to stay: Mirissa Hills, Glamour Hotel, Paradise Beach Club
Tourist attractions: Mirissa Beach, Coconut Tree Hill, Parrot Rock Bridge
7. Yala National Park – Amidst The Wildlife
Get dazzled by the leopards at Yala National Park, home to one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. Full of grassy plains, forest, lagoons, and coastline, this National Park is no less than a big cat paradise. A complete package of natural beauty and heritage, Sri Lankan beautiful places will capture your heart and makes it one of the must-visit places in Sri Lanka.
A visit to all these gorgeous spots will make a trip an unforgettable experience. This place again comes in the list of the most visited places of Sri Lanka. It is somewhat 200 KMs away from the town of Bentota.
This is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries not just in that particular area, but among all the sanctuaries of Sri Lanka. One should hire a jeep to have a ride across the jungles of the Sanctuary. This ride of yours will be full of fun and adventure.
One can even spot many elephants and leopards while the jeep ride in the jungle. By just reading this article one can imagine how adventurous it would be to have such a ride. Therefore, Yala National park is one such place that one cannot miss at any cost if they are in Sri Lanka.
Location: Yala, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Being home to a large number of animals
Best time to visit: February to June is a dry season when the chances of spotting wildlife are high.
How to reach: The drive to Yala National Park from Haputale is only one hour. There are direct trains from Colombo, Ella, Kandy, etc to Haputale.
Where to stay: Kulu Safaris, Elephant Lake Yala, Ceylon Wild Safaris
Tourist attractions: Kumana National Park, Ruhunu Maha Katagrama
8. Colombo – Visit The Bustling City
The next place on the list is the city of Colombo which is certainly amongst the best places in Sri Lanka. This will be completely unfair and your trip will not be complete if you do not visit the city of Colombo, which is the capital of Sri Lanka. There are several places in this city that you can visit and that will attract you definitely.
The city is beautiful overall and the beauty of it cannot be described in words. To visit the whole city one can book a cab or tuk-tuk and can make a list of places that can be visited. It is sure that one will be able to visit the whole city in one day. This lively capital city is surely among the best places to see in Sri Lanka.
Location: Colombo District, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Its national museum and temples
Best time to visit: January to March is the best time to visit Colombo as it is the dry season. The chances of rainfall are low.
How to reach: Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka and has a well-established network of rail, road, and air transport.
Where to stay: Mandarina Colombo, C1 Colombo Fort
Tourist attractions: Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Memorial Park, Viharadevi Park
9. Jaffna – Explore The Historical Architectures
Looking for religious tourist places in Sri Lanka? This place is also called the city of temples in Sri Lanka, as it has some of the most beautiful temples of Sri Lanka and one of the best Sri Lanka attractions for a spiritual retreat. The most visited temples of all in this place are the temple of Nallur Kovil.
This temple has the most of the visitors always and this is the most crowded of all temples. Other temples nearby to are visited by the people who come to visit this one. Apart from these temples, the other center of attraction of this place is the Jaffna Fort. This fort is not just a beautiful monument to see but is also the symbol of the history of Sri Lanka.
So, the city of Jaffna is not just for the spiritual kind of people, but those who are a little bit interested in history and culture can also visit this place. With these main spots, another point of attraction in Jaffna is the Nagadeepa Vihara Purana temple.
This temple too is known for its glory and beauty and is a must-visit. One can easily reach this temple through waterways, thus you can hire a boat and they can come to this place. The area surrounding provides you with the most peaceful environment and one can go for meditation and all.
Location: Northern Province of Sri Lanka
Famous for: Its historical architectures
Best time to visit: January-September and December are the best months to visit Jaffna as the rainfall is mediocre and temperatures are warm.
How to reach: There are no direct trains or buses to Jaffna. However, Kandy is the nearest city to Jaffna. So, if you are in Kandy, you could take a small detour by car or taxi.
Where to stay: Jaffna Guest House, Jaffna Heritage Hotel
Tourist attractions: Fort Jaffna, Nallur Kandaswamy
10. Ulpotha – Land Of Ayurveda
One thing more for which Sri Lanka is popular is the studies in Ayurveda and Yoga. The village of Ulpotha has some really good centers, where you can practice yoga and that too in the midst of nature. This place looks like next to heaven and spending time here is very pleasurable.
There are many yoga as well as Ayurveda retreat centers. So, even if you are least interested in these things, you should come here to gain more interest. This is believed to be one of the most serene tourist places in Sri Lanka!
Location: Ulpotha, Sri Lanka
Famous for: Ayurveda Retreat Centres
Best time to visit: It is only open 7 months a year
How to reach: If you book a stay with Ulpotha, then you don’t have ti worry about the accommodation. You will be picked up by the staff at the airport
Where to stay: Ayurveda Paradise Maho, Hotel Yapahuwa Paradise
Tourist attractions: Sigiriya Rocks, Yapahuwa Rock Fort
