Sri Lanka packs a lot into one island: the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the rock fortress of Sigiriya, painted cave shrines at Dambulla, tea country and the hill railway to Ella, the Dutch-era streets of Galle Fort, and leopards in Yala. Most trips start in Colombo, about 35 km south of the main airport, and Kandy is about 3 hours from Colombo by road.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing, dress or booking. Below them you will find every sight we cover in Colombo and Kandy, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, then answers to the questions travelers ask most.
The 18 best things to do in Sri Lanka
Ticket and tour links search Klook in a new tab. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.
- 1Kandy
Visit Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, enshrines a tooth relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from Kalinga in ancient India in the 4th century. The relic became a symbol of the right to rule and was kept beside the royal palace in each capital, ending in Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhala kings. The temple is why UNESCO listed the Sacred City of Kandy in 1988. Look for the carved moonstone at the main entrance, the Kandyan-style shrine halls and the octagonal pavilion added by the last king. Rituals are held three times a day, and the ticket also covers the Dalada Museum, the World Buddhist Museum and the Royal Elephant Stable.
Tip: Come for the evening service from 6:30 PM to 8 PM, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and legs (shorts and sleeveless tops are refused), and expect to hand in your shoes and pass a security scan.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sri Dalada MaligawaForeign visitor: SAARC, Thailand or Myanmar: LKR 2,500 (about $8) · Other foreign visitor: LKR 3,000 (about $9) · Use official onsite ticket machines. Covered shoulders and knees; expect shoe storage and security checks.Last verified
- 2Sigiriya
Climb Sigiriya, the Lion's Rock
Sigiriya is a granite peak rising about 180 m above the surrounding jungle in the Matale District, north of Kandy. King Kassapa I, who ruled from 477 to 495, built his capital on its slopes and summit, and UNESCO listed the site in 1982. The climb takes you up a series of galleries and staircases that emerge from the mouth of a gigantic lion built of brick and plaster, past some of the oldest murals recorded in Sri Lanka, to the palace ruins on top. At the foot of the rock lie the water gardens, counted among the oldest landscaped gardens in Asia.
Tip: Start the climb early in the morning, before the midday heat, carry plenty of water, and keep your flash off near the murals, since flash can damage old paintings.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau - 3Ella
Ride the hill country railway to Ella
The railway that links Colombo with Badulla climbs into the central highlands, past tea plantations, forests and hill towns, and Ella is one of its most popular stops. Near the town, the line crosses the Nine Arches Bridge at Demodara, a colonial-era viaduct whose nine stone arches span a deep ravine among tea gardens; people walk out to viewpoints to watch the trains cross. Stay a night or two. Walk about 2.5 km from town to Little Adam's Peak, a 1,172 m hill with a 360-degree view that is at its best at sunrise. Ella Rock, reachable only on foot, faces it across the valley.
Tip: Reserved seats can be booked online up to 30 days before the travel date, with each passenger's passport number, so book as soon as your dates are firm.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Railways online seat reservation (official) - 4Galle
Walk the old streets of Galle Fort
Galle sits on a small rocky promontory on the southwest coast. The Portuguese founded it as a fortified town in the 16th century, and it reached its height under Dutch rule in the 18th century. UNESCO calls it the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South Asia. Its ramparts and bastions follow the rocky shoreline rather than a neat geometric plan, and inside them a grid of streets is lined with houses whose verandas sit under deep roofs on slender columns. The Galle National Museum occupies the oldest Dutch building in the fort, built in 1656, with ritual masks, Beeralu lace, turtle-shell work and porcelain and weapons from the Dutch era.
Tip: The Galle National Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on public holidays, so plan your fort day for a day it is open.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Department of National Museums (official) - 5Dambulla
Step into the painted caves of Dambulla
The Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple has drawn pilgrims for 22 centuries. Forest-dwelling monks lived in these natural caves from the 3rd century BCE, and today five cave shrines make up the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Inside are 157 statues, most of them of the Buddha, alongside kings and the gods Vishnu and Saman, and murals covering about 2,100 square meters of walls and ceilings. The interiors took their present form in the 18th century, in the Kandyan school, while a Brahmi inscription over the first cave dates from the 1st century BCE. It is a living temple and a natural pairing with Sigiriya, also in the Matale District.
Tip: Dress modestly, and never pose for a photo in front of or beside a Buddha statue or mural, which is strictly forbidden at Sri Lankan temples.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau - 6Kandy
Wander the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, less than 5.5 km from Kandy on the Colombo road, were founded in 1821 on a former royal garden inside a loop of the Mahaweli River. More than 4,000 plant species grow across about 60 hectares. Look for the Java fig spreading like a giant living umbrella over the Great Lawn, the orchid house, a shady spice garden with nutmeg trees planted in 1840, and more than 200 kinds of palms, including the double coconut, which bears the largest seed in the plant kingdom. Palm avenues and giant bamboo line the drives, and the flowering trees put on their best show in the first half of the year.
Tip: Explore on foot, as the gardens themselves advise: the lake and the spice garden sit on either side of the main entrance, so start there.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Department of National Botanic Gardens (official)Admission LKR[fee]. Use the main entrance on the Colombo-Kandy road; the map pin is inside the garden. - 7Colombo
Watch the sunset from Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green is a 12-acre ocean-side park stretching 500 m along the coast in the heart of Colombo. The Dutch first cleared the ground to give their cannons a line of fire, and Governor Sir Henry Ward laid out the promenade in 1859. The green was once far larger and hosted horse racing, golf, cricket, polo and rugby. Today it is Colombo's playground: walk the seafront as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, then eat at the food stalls. The classics are kottu, chopped roti stir-fried with egg or meat, onions, tomatoes and green chilies, and wade.
Tip: Head over in the late afternoon for sunset, and bring small notes for the food stalls, since change is often hard to come by outside hotels and big shops.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Western Province Tourist Board (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauPublic seafront; keep out of rough water and follow weather or access notices. - 8Yala
Look for leopards on a Yala safari
Yala is one of Sri Lanka's two oldest national parks, the second largest in the country and one of the most visited. It is known above all for its high density of leopards, and it is also home to Asian elephants, sloth bears and a long list of birds, including endemic species. The Sri Lankan leopard is the island's only big cat, and the country counts among the places with the highest leopard densities in the world. As in all of Sri Lanka's national parks, visitors enter with a permit issued by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Tip: Choose an early morning or late afternoon drive, when animals are most active and you have the best chance of spotting wildlife.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Department of Wildlife Conservation (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council) - 9Kandy
Learn the story of Ceylon tea near Kandy
Sri Lanka's tea story began when a fungus devastated the island's coffee plantations from 1869 and planters turned to tea. James Taylor, a Scot, planted the first commercial tea on 19 acres of Loolecondera Estate near Kandy in 1867, and his first quality teas sold well at the London auction in 1873. The Ceylon Tea Museum at Hantane, about 3 km from Kandy, tells that story across four floors: old tea machinery on two of them, a library and audiovisual room, a tea sales floor, and a tea cafe on the top floor, where a telescope looks out over Kandy and the Knuckles and Matale hills. The grounds are planted with different tea varieties.
Tip: The museum is closed on Mondays but stays open on public holidays and poya (full moon) days; finish with a cup in the top-floor cafe.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ceylon Tea Museum (official); Ceylon Tea Museum (official); Ceylon Tea MuseumNonresident adult: LKR 1,000 (about $3) · Nonresident child; age confirmed at counter: LKR 500 (about $2) · Closed Monday. Tue to Fri 8:30 AM to 4 PM; weekends 8 AM to 5 PM. Check child eligibility at the counter.Last verified
- 10Colombo
See the eclectic Gangaramaya temple in Colombo
Gangaramaya stands near Beira Lake in central Colombo. It was established in the late 19th century by the monk Hikkaduwa Sri Sumangala Thera and is one of the first modern temples in the Colombo District. Its design draws on Sri Lankan styles along with influences from Thailand, China and India, and the grounds hold a bo tree, a stupa and a relic chamber, decorated with brass work and stone carvings. The temple is also a place of learning with a museum and library, and its collection runs from Buddha statues and relics to ancient coins and old motor vehicles. The Seema Malakaya, part of the temple, was designed by the architect Geoffrey Bawa in 1979.
Tip: If you are in Colombo in February, check the dates of the temple's Nawam Maha Perahera, the procession it has held every year since the 1970s.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauVisitor admission LKR[fee]. Cover shoulders and knees; follow worship and photography instructions. - 11Anuradhapura
Explore the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
In the North Central Province lie the ruins of two great royal capitals. Anuradhapura grew up around a cutting from the Buddha's fig tree, the tree of enlightenment, brought here in the 3rd century BCE. It flourished as a political and religious capital for 1,300 years until an invasion in 993, and its palaces, monasteries and monuments lay hidden in jungle for many years. Polonnaruwa then became the capital, and its ruins include Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas and the garden city created by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century; its ancient irrigation systems still water the farms around it. Both were listed by UNESCO in 1982.
Tip: These are large, open sites, so carry bottled water and sun protection, and plan a separate day for each city.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau - 12Colombo
Explore Pettah's market streets and the Red Mosque
Start in Colombo Fort at the Old Dutch Hospital, thought to be the oldest building in the Fort area and now a heritage shopping and dining precinct. Then head into Pettah, where a visit to the market is one of Colombo's classic experiences and long-distance buses leave from the Central Bus Depot. On Second Cross Street stands the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, known as the Red Mosque, built in 1908 and 1909 for the local Indian Muslim community. Its builder, Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe, mixed Indo-Islamic and Indian styles with Gothic revival and neoclassical touches, and it was designed to hold 1,500 worshippers.
Tip: The Red Mosque is in daily use for the five prayers and Friday Jummah, so admire it respectfully from outside, and keep a close hand on your bags in Pettah's crowded lanes.
Sources: Western Province Tourist Board (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Western Province Tourist Board; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauPublic market streets; watch for traffic and keep shop entrances clear. - 13Kandy
Walk around Kandy Lake and the royal quarter
Kandy Lake, also called Kiri Muhuda, lies just south of the Temple of the Tooth, with the old royal palace on the temple's north side and the Udawaththa Kele forest reserve to the east. A walk along the shore ties together the heart of Kandy, the last royal capital, which UNESCO lists as the Sacred City of Kandy. The National Museum of Kandy fills the Palle Vahala, built in the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Sri Lanka, as the palace of the king's consorts. Since 1942 it has displayed Kandyan-period crafts and royal treasures, with more than 5,000 objects from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Tip: The National Museum of Kandy opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 4:45 PM and closes on public holidays, so pair it with a morning temple visit.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (official); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Department of National Museums (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauWalk the public shore; the pin marks Queen's Bath beside the temple, not an entrance into the lake. - 14Mirissa
Go whale watching off the south coast
The waters around Sri Lanka are home to 26 species of whales and dolphins, including blue whales, sperm whales and humpbacks, which makes the island one of the best places in the world to watch them. On the south coast, boats head out to the waters off Dondra Point, reached from Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa, and Mirissa harbor fills with whale watchers in season. Trincomalee is the main spot on the east coast, and the sea off Kalpitiya in the west is known for dolphins. The Sri Lanka Coast Guard monitors whale watching at Mirissa to make sure boats follow the national rules for observing marine mammals.
Tip: Plan a south coast trip between December and February, the main season on the southwest coast, when skies are clear and seas are calm.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau - 15Hatton
Join the pilgrims climbing Adam's Peak
Sri Pada, also known as Adam's Peak, is Sri Lanka's holiest mountain, about 7,400 feet (2,250 m) high on the border of the Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya districts. Buddhists revere the footprint at the summit as the Buddha's, and Christians, Hindus and Muslims also make the pilgrimage. The mountain is covered in forest and can only be climbed on foot, by two main routes, one from the Ratnapura side and one via Hatton, with places of worship along the way and a temple beside the footprint at the top. It lies in the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka World Heritage Site.
Tip: Climb in the pilgrim season, which runs from the full moon of Durutu (December or January) to the full moon of Wesak (April or May), and pack a warm layer for the hills.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau - 16Colombo
Trace the island's history at the Colombo National Museum
The Colombo National Museum opened on 1 January 1877 as Sri Lanka's first national museum, founded by the British governor Sir William Henry Gregory in a building designed by the government architect James George Smither in the Italian style. The ground-floor galleries follow the island's history in sequence, and the upper floor is arranged by theme, with paintings, sculptures and sketches dating back as far as the 4th century BCE. On the same grounds, the National Museum of Natural History shows endemic, rare and threatened plants and animals of Sri Lanka, from mammals and birds to rocks.
Tip: The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM and closes on public holidays, so do not plan it for a Monday.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Department of National Museums (official); Department of National Museums (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauAdmission LKR[fee]. Check public-holiday closure before visiting. - 17Colombo
Admire the murals of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, in Kelaniya in the Gampaha District, is a sacred temple dedicated to the Buddha's third and last visit to Sri Lanka, which tradition places eight years after his enlightenment, at the invitation of the Naga king Maniakkhitha. The Mahawamsa chronicle records that the original stupa enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached. Today the temple is best known for its murals by the artist Solias Mendis, which tell the history of the temple and Jataka stories from the Buddha's life.
Tip: If you are in Sri Lanka in January, check the date of the Duruthu Perahera, the temple's procession held every year on the full moon poya day of that month.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauCheck visitor access and any contribution locally; dress for an active temple. - 18Colombo
See Colombo from the Lotus Tower
Colombo Lotus Tower, shaped like the lotus, Sri Lanka's national flower, stands about 356 m tall and is the tallest completed tower in South Asia. Construction began in 2012, the structure was completed in 2019, and it opened to visitors in September 2022. The observation deck on the 29th floor, about 248 m up, gives 360-degree views from the city out to the Indian Ocean horizon, by day or after dark. Lower down, a 27th-floor restaurant serves meals with panoramic views, and the ground floor has a digital art space with projection mapping. Its LED-lit facade has programmable lighting, so the tower glows over the city at night.
Tip: The tower opens at 9 AM daily and stays open until 9 PM on weekdays and 10 PM on weekends, so go up after dark to see the city lights.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Colombo Lotus Tower (official); Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company; Colombo Lotus Tower (official)Foreign visitor, observation deck: $20 · Opens 9 AM; check visibility and current ticket options.Last verified
Every sight, city by city
Colombo Lotus Tower
The elevated deck puts Colombo streets, lake and coastline into perspective.Entry: Opens 9 AM; check visibility and current ticket options.Search tickets and tours on KlookColombo National Museum
Objects from Sri Lankan history give context before visiting temples and royal collections.Entry: Admission LKR[fee]. Check public-holiday closure before visiting.Search tickets and tours on KlookCrescat Boulevard food court
An indoor meal stop beside Cinnamon Grand, useful in rain or after a road transfer.Entry: Menus and outlet hours vary; choose an open counter on arrival.Dutch Hospital dining precinct
Courtyards in the former hospital now hold shops and restaurants in Colombo Fort.Entry: Choose a restaurant and check its menu; individual opening hours vary.Galle Face food stalls
Try a few freshly cooked snacks along the seafront, with an indoor dinner fallback nearby.Entry: Buy from open stalls; menus and availability vary with weather.Galle Face Green
An open lawn and promenade facing the Indian Ocean in central Colombo.Entry: Public seafront; keep out of rough water and follow weather or access notices.Search tickets and tours on KlookGangaramaya Temple
A central Colombo Buddhist temple with an eclectic collection of religious objects.Entry: Visitor admission LKR[fee]. Cover shoulders and knees; follow worship and photography instructions.Search tickets and tours on KlookIndependence Arcade dining
The shopping arcade beside Independence Square provides a useful lunch stop.Entry: Choose an open dining outlet and check the current menu.Independence Memorial Hall
Carved columns and stone lions surround a pavilion inspired by Kandyan architecture.Entry: Visit the public square and exterior; the separate museum is not included here.Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque exterior
Red and white patterned walls rise above the tightly packed streets of Pettah.Entry: Exterior visit only; keep entrances clear and respect prayer activity.Search tickets and tours on KlookKelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kelaniya
Murals by Solias Mendis are the main reason to make this short trip outside central Colombo.Entry: Check visitor access and any contribution locally; dress for an active temple.Search tickets and tours on KlookPettah Market
Busy trading streets make a good place to browse produce, textiles and everyday goods.Entry: Public market streets; watch for traffic and keep shop entrances clear.Pettah market dining
Small eateries among the trading streets make a convenient break during a Pettah walk.Entry: Choose a busy open eatery and check its menu before ordering.Viharamahadevi Park
Tree-lined paths beside Town Hall offer a shaded pause near the National Museum.Entry: Public park, 8 AM to 6 PM; follow local notices.Search tickets and tours on KlookWolvendaal Church
An eighteenth-century church still used by a living congregation above the market district.Entry: Exterior stop; enter only when welcomed. Avoid interrupting Sunday services.Search tickets and tours on KlookArthur's Seat on Upper Lake Drive
An elevated view across the lake helps make sense of Kandy's compact center.Entry: Roadside viewpoint; use the designated viewing area and skip in poor visibility.Search tickets and tours on KlookCeylon Tea Museum
Old machinery and displays explain tea production in a former factory above Kandy.Entry: Closed Monday. Tue to Fri 8:30 AM to 4 PM; weekends 8 AM to 5 PM. Check child eligibility at the counter.. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on KlookKandy Central Market
A compact stop for produce and everyday shopping away from the temple courtyards.Entry: Public market; individual traders choose their hours.Kandy Lake shore at Queen's Bath
A lakeside path links the temple edge with views across water to the surrounding hills.Entry: Walk the public shore; the pin marks Queen's Bath beside the temple, not an entrance into the lake.Search tickets and tours on KlookNational Museum of Kandy
Objects from the Kandyan period occupy part of the former royal palace setting.Entry: Admission LKR[fee]. Tuesday to Saturday; check public-holiday closure before traveling.. Closed Sundays and MondaysSearch tickets and tours on KlookRoyal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Palm avenues, orchids and plant collections fill a large garden beside the Mahaweli River.Entry: Admission LKR[fee]. Use the main entrance on the Colombo-Kandy road; the map pin is inside the garden.Search tickets and tours on KlookTemple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
A major Buddhist pilgrimage complex beside Kandy Lake, best approached with time and respect.Entry: Use official onsite ticket machines. Covered shoulders and knees; expect shoe storage and security checks.Search tickets and tours on KlookWorld Buddhist Museum
Country galleries introduce Buddhist traditions beyond Sri Lanka within the temple complex.Entry: Included in the temple visitor ticket; retain it and check the open galleries on arrival.Search tickets and tours on KlookWorldSpice at Kandy City Centre
A central indoor dining option between the lake, market and temple district.Entry: Choose an open counter on Level 4 and check its menu.Questions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Sri Lanka for a first trip?
Start in Kandy at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, then head north to climb Sigiriya and see the painted caves of Dambulla. Ride the hill country railway to Ella for tea country views, and spend a day inside the walls of Galle Fort. In Colombo, walk Galle Face Green at sunset and explore the Pettah markets. With more time, add a Yala safari, the ancient capitals or whale watching.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council); UNESCO World Heritage CentreHow many days do you need in Sri Lanka?
The tourism board's suggested itineraries each run from 7 to 11 days, built around one theme such as the ancient cities, the beaches or the hill country, and you can combine them for a longer trip. With about a week, a first trip can cover Colombo, Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla. Leave room for travel days: Kandy is about 3 hours from Colombo by road, and the roads are often narrow and congested, so journeys take longer than the map suggests.
Sources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauWhat is the best time to visit Sri Lanka for sightseeing?
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so some part of the island is usually dry. December to February is peak season on the southwest coast, with clear skies and calm seas, and the hill country is cool and fairly dry from January to April. March and April are warm, with afternoon storms, and good for the ancient cities and the hills. From May to September rain falls on the southwest and the hills, while the north and east are drier. October and November bring showers island-wide.
Sources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauDo you need to book Sri Lanka attractions in advance?
A few things are worth sorting out early. At the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tickets come only from the official machines inside the temple, and tickets sold by anyone else are not valid. Book hill country train seats online, up to 30 days before travel, with each passenger's passport number. National parks admit visitors on permits from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. In peak season, mid December to mid January and around Easter, book your hotels well ahead.
Sources: Sri Dalada Maligawa; Sri Lanka Railways online seat reservation (official); Department of Wildlife Conservation (official); Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion BureauWhat is the best way to get around Sri Lanka?
Trains link Colombo with the main tourist towns, including an intercity express to Kandy, and the hill country line is a highlight in itself. Roads are often narrow and congested, so trips take longer than the distance suggests, and the tourism board recommends hiring a car with a driver for touring. Buses run from Colombo's Pettah to most of the island. For short hops, three-wheelers are everywhere; most have no meter, so agree the fare first. Traffic drives on the left.
Sources: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Visit Uva (Ministry of Tourism, Uva Provincial Council)What should I wear and know when visiting temples in Sri Lanka?
Cover up: at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, shorts, sleeveless tops and revealing clothes are refused, and you hand in your shoes before going in. Modest dress is wise at every religious site. Never pose for a photo in front of or beside a Buddha statue or mural, which is strictly forbidden, and keep your flash off, since it can damage old murals. On poya, the monthly full moon day, alcohol is not sold, so plan around it.
Sources: Sri Dalada Maligawa; Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau