Sri Lanka Things to Do

 
by JubileeB
 
  •   Things to Do
    by JubileeB
  •   Things to Do
    by shalike
  •   Things to Do
    by anilpradhanshillong
  •   Things to Do
    by anilpradhanshillong
  •   Things to Do
    by anilpradhanshillong
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Sri Lanka

101.

Temples   Colombo

Temples, Colombo

 22 Reviews  In the Pettah area of Colombo is the famous Sea Street, home to three important Hindu Temples, the Ganeshan, the Old Kathiresan and the New Kathiresan. All have their intricately-carved and colourful... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

102.

Day Trip   Colombo

Day Trip, Colombo

 11 Reviews  St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a branch of the Church of Scotland, earlier known as St. Andrew's Scots Kirk located in Princess Street, Fort, is the only Presbyterian Church in Sri Lanka. It opened... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

103.

Shopping   Colombo

Shopping, Colombo

 6 Reviews  This one is for the Gals, OK ! So you guys can take a peek as well. You find some of the best clothes in Sri Lanka at very reasonable prices and of very good quality. Clothes, Bags, Shoes, Travelling... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

104.

Cinnamon Gardens - Viharamahadevi Park   Colombo

Cinnamon Gardens - Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo

 7 Reviews  The green space of Viharamahadevi Park isn't all it could be but it still represents one of the city's largest open recreational areas. There isn't much to do here apart from walk in the shade of the... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

105.

Forts   Colombo

Forts, Colombo

 11 Reviews  Fort area, earlier known as Kolonthota, is the place the Portuguese landed in the early 16th century. They developed it and, to protect their economic interests, built a fort there in 1588. In 1656,... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

106.

Beaches   Colombo

Beaches, Colombo

 4 Reviews  On our final day in Colombo, we went to Mount Lavina beach in the morning. This is a ‘Golden Mile’ beach just next to a railway track and is about 12 kms away from the city. The roar of the ocean, the... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

107.

Zoo   Colombo

Zoo, Colombo

 8 Reviews  It has been several yrs since I last went to the Zoo, but it seemed better kept, more lush and was certainly well patronized. The restaurant facility had a pretty good rice selection which was tasty,... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

108.

Galle Face Green   Colombo

Galle Face Green, Colombo

 5 Reviews  Galle Face Green is a lovely stretch of land almost half a kilometre long by the side of the sea. It is located in the heart of the city in front of the old Parliament building with some of the best... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

109.

Museums   Colombo

Museums, Colombo

 8 Reviews  Just near the exit is a tall glass-covered display unit at the top of which is a stark skeletal statue of the Buddha. This is a startling, compelling image and one that you will not forget in a... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

110.

Buddha   Colombo

Buddha, Colombo

 5 Reviews  There are places and places to see in Sri Lanka but just about every place in Asia offers ruins, colonial cities, temples, and natural wonders. This puts a pilgrimage to Sri Pada, AKA Adam's Peak, in... 

 See All 111 Things to Do in Colombo

Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Save on Air + Hotel ? Book a Getaway Today!
hotels.com Vacations The One Stop Shop for Your Next Trip. Click or call now: 1-800-764-6835

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Pinnewala elephant orphanage

by josephescu

Hidden in the hills of central Sri Lanka, the government-run elephant orphanage was established in 1975 in a coconut property near the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2003, there were 65 elephants, reported to be the largest herd of captive elephants in the world.A breeding in captivity program has been launched in 1982. Since this time over twenty elephants have been born. While most of the elephants are healthy, one is blind and one, named Sama, has lost her front left leg due to a landmine.The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. Animals are allowed to roam freely during the day and a herd structure allowed to form. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of...

Tip Photo
Kandy - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

by josephescu

Undoubtedly the greatest attraction of the city is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or the Sri Dalada Maligawa. (Dalada means sacred tooth relic).The temple was built within the royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it's believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. This is one of the most sacred places for the Buddhists all over the world. Specially famous for its Sinhalese style architecture, the most dominant feature of the building is the Octagon (Pattirippuwa), the place from where the kings used to address the public on important occasions.Malwatte and Asgiriya monks conduct daily ritual worship in the inner chamber of the temple, in...

Tip Photo
Kandy (land of the mountains)

by josephescu

Hidden in the thick forests of the hill country at over 100 km from the seashores, Kandy has been the capital and the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings since its founding in the 14th century. The city resisted Dutch and Portuguese attempts to conquer for over 300 years, to be ultimately defeated by the British in the 19th century. The present name Kandy is only an anglicized version of Kanda Uda Rata (meaning the land of mountains) originated in the colonial era.Today, life in Kandy moves sedately, though not with inactivity. Away from tourist trappings, Kandy is filled with hidden thrills. Quiet and homely, residents cluster around the economic hub that buzzes a bazaar atmosphere. Although Colombo represents the prime commercial and administrative center, Kandy continues to remain the cultural capital of Sri Lanka with a rich heritage of living monuments: numerous spice gardens,...

Tip Photo
Skip Colombo

by josephescu

Skip over Colombo or at least minimise your stay, the rest of the country is exceptionally beautiful so it does not worth to get stranded in the capital for other reasons than “organisation”, i.e. the day and night before departure. Downtown Colombo looked like a capital under siege (January 2008), with no-go areas, “no photos”, wired fences and military patrols, closed restaurants and businesses, difficult to find a terrace to rest feet and have a beer. On shopping, there are plenty of opportunities everywhere throughout the island. I’m not describing the city in a flattery picture and I’m sure Colombo deserves more than that, but hope to have occasions and reasons to change mind another time.

Tip Photo
aaa

by henripesser

Hi It is better to stay at negombo in fist few days to orientation (negombo is beach near by air port ) .then you can continue journey to see the rest of the places , I will mention some attraction you must visit.1) pinnawala elephant orphanage 2) sigiriya rock fortress 3) dambulla cave temple4) polonnaruwa5) kandy6) nuwaraeliya 7) yala national parkafter the journey of inland it recommend to stay rest of your holiday at south cost , hkkaduwa or unawatuna would be nice places to be , having all the amenities like plenty of restaurant ,bars ,diving ect. at the day before last your holiday it easy to stay one again at negombo which is closer to get your flight back home.It convenience to bring us$ to sri lanka it very much familiar than the any other currency .Thanks you,henri

Highlights

by roberts_kim

Anuradhapura - an ancient city and home of the worlds oldest planted tree, taken from a cutting of the tree under which the buddha reached his enlightenment.World's End and Baker Falls - a great day trip and stunning scenery. Fascinating to watch the valley fill up with cloud (if you time it right)Hikkaduwa - Great wreck diving and back packer-y beachesNuwara Eliya - Sri Lanka's version of English. Misty lakes, tea plantations and horse racing, and a golf course! SL's highest city. Tak the scenic train from KandyDambulla - famous cave temples and Geoffrey Bawa's fantastic Kandalama hotelSigiriya - amazing old rock, ruined city of former rulers. Fascinating cave murals and temple on top. A good hike.Sri Pada - A fun and spiritual journey to the top of a mountain. Start at 3 am and arrive at the temple on top for sun rise. Touristy tat and tea shops on the way. An experience worth having!...

Tip Photo
A Cultural Trip to the "Triangle"

by WStat

Hi,I've been to those places already several times and agree completely to Maxus' advice.If you arrive in the morning, you could easily drive up to Anurhadapura (if necessary, passing Pinawela, although I also don't consider it as worthwile, unless you aren't an elephant-addict) and stay in a beautiful hotel for overnight (for instance at the "Palm Garden Village", see my tip at http://tinyurl.com/4vrg4e )Next morning drive via Mihintale to Dhambulla (Culture Club)and see Polonaruwa and Sigirya Rock. Last day drive back to a beach resort, like Negombo.Good Luck !

Tip Photo
Historical Ruinds in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Da

by Cat1123456

Use the tourist guide booklet from the Katunayaka airport. It has very helpful information about places to visit in Sri Lanka. I recommend tourist guide with a car. Very clean country. Lot of trees and places to visit. It is green all over the country. People keep historical places very clean. They do not drop paper and garbage all over. They put them in the garbage containers. I noticed even the ice cream vendors put plastic wrapping in his own garbage containers. It was very inspirational for our children.

Tip Photo
Anuradhapura

by schmechi

Once upon a time Anuradhapura was the greatest monk city of ancient Sri Lanka, also the islands capital was situated there. After the city was abandoned during the 11th century it was nearly forgotten till the first British explorer rediscovered it during the 19th century. Today you'll find tracks of this once proud history widespread in the whole Anuradhapura area, which obviously offers the highest density of buddhist sanctuaries of Sri Lanka.Already during the approach you'll notice huge dagobas and especially three of them are worth to be mentioned: The ochre Jetawanarama-dagoba, which is the largest dagoba with a total diameter of 113 metres and a hight of 122 metres. Compared to other dagobas it looks very unusual due to the fact, that it is not painted with marmoreal colour, so you'll see the original construction with thousands of bricks.Despite the dimesion of the...

Tip Photo
Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage

by schmechi

In Pinnawella, a small village near Kegalle, an elephant orphanage is hosted.Although it looks a little bit artificially and it is more a zoo rather than a real natural experience , the orphanage is a good place to see a bunch of Asian elephants. Most of the animals are abandoned by their herds and the pachyderms, mostly young ones, are coddled up by educated keepers. The main target of the orphanage is, to free them, after they do not need mor costudy.The best place to watch them is from a patio above, where also fresh but overpriced drinks are served.Finally don't be lightheaded, keep in mind, that these elephants are wild animals... I was told, that accidents occure due too careless tourists.

Tip Photo
Fun things to do in Sri Lanka

Top 3 Hotels in Sri Lanka

Mount Lavina Hotel  Colombo

 5 Reviews and 395 Opinions  This is the closest hotel you can experience the Beach as you come to Colombo. Good food, good rooms... 

 Hotels in Colombo

Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy  Kandy

 4 Reviews and 235 Opinions  Kandy Perahara Starts on Esala Full Moon Poya Day in July & finishes on Nikini Full Moon Poya Day on... 

 Hotels in Kandy

Palm Garden Village Hotel  Anuradhapura

 3 Reviews and 111 Opinions  The Palm Garden Village is like a colonial club, but one with a relaxed and freestyle-air. It was... 

 Hotels in Anuradhapura

227 Hotels in Sri Lanka
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Sri Lanka attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Sri Lanka sightseeing.

Experience Sri Lanka
Things to Do: Cities in Sri Lanka
  1. Colombo Things to Do
  2. Kandy Things to Do
  3. Negombo Things to Do
  4. Nuwara Eliya Things to Do
  5. Hikkaduwa Things to Do
  6. Galle Things to Do
  7. Bentota Things to Do
  8. Unawatuna Things to Do
  9. Anuradhapura Things to Do
  10. Sri Lanka Things to Do
  11. Polonnaruwa Things to Do
  12. Sigiriya Things to Do
  13. Trincomalee Things to Do
  14. Dambulla Things to Do
  15. Beruwala Things to Do
  16. Jaffna Things to Do
  17. Mirissa South Things to Do
  18. Wadduwa Things to Do
  19. Kataragama Things to Do
  20. Pinnawala Things to Do
  21. Bandarawela Things to Do
  22. Batticaloa Things to Do
  23. Ella Things to Do
  24. Hambantota Things to Do
  25. Haputale Things to Do
  26. Chilaw Things to Do
  27. Horton Plains Things to Do
  28. Aluthgama Things to Do
  29. Matale Things to Do
  30. Tissamaharama Things to Do
  31. Hatton Things to Do
  32. Peradeniya Things to Do
  33. Tangalla Things to Do
  34. Nilaveli Things to Do
  35. Matara Things to Do
  36. Mihintale Things to Do
  37. Yala National Park Things to Do
  38. Kegalle Things to Do
  39. Piliyandala Things to Do
  40. Wellawaya Things to Do
  41. Pottuvil Things to Do
  42. Induruwa Things to Do
  43. Ambalangoda Things to Do
  44. Kandalama Things to Do
  45. Matugama Things to Do

More Cities in Sri Lanka

 

Popular Regions in Sri Lanka

Western Province Things to Do  Southern Province Things to Do  Central Province Things to Do  North Central Province Things to Do  North Eastern Province Things to Do  Province of Uva Things to Do  Province of Sabaragamuwa Things to Do  North Western Province Things to Do 

More Regions in Sri Lanka

Questions and Answers

MacedonianUK profile photo

Q:  Thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka in the end of March for 3 weeks. I will go with my 6 yr old. Will take Medical precoushns bu... 

HansDK profile photo

A: Any special reasons why you want to stay in Colombo for 3 days. Everywhere in Sri Lanka is child friendly, but as you want to end up in Trinco (and spend part of your... 

Read 5 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for Sri Lanka

Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Plenty of choices
agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835

Sponsored Links