70+ Things to Do and See in Sri Lanka

Only three hotels in Sri Lanka are members of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group, and they’re all owned by Resplendent Ceylon, the accommodation offshoot of Dilmah tea.

With Tea Trails in the mountains, Cape Weligama on the south coast, and Wild Coast at Yala National Park, these properties are dubbed tea, sea, and safari respectively. They are the way to see the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer nature-wise, and then retreat at night to the best it has to offer accommodation-wise.

Fly via sea plane through Cinnamon Air between the sites, not only because it’s faster and scenic, but because Sri Lanka’s roads, due to death-wish driving from locals, are very dangerous.

Head to Tea Trails first: Five renovated colonial tea planters’ bungalows in the heart of Sri Lanka’s stunning tea country, with the largest having just six rooms. Move between by hiking through the tea plantations with a stop for lunch on the way, or, of course, drive—you are on holiday, after all.

Then head on to the sea: Cape Weligama’s crescent-shaped infinity pool is nestled between two beaches and overlooks the Indian Ocean. Have a cocktail by it and marvel that there’s nothing between you and Antarctica, more than 6,000 miles away. The property is an incredible 12 acres and has massive rooms to match. Book the pool villa, and you can jump out of your room’s sliding bay window into your own private infinity pool. Don’t leave without booking a speedboat ocean safari to see blue whales.

Finally, hop down to safari: Wild Coast Tented Lodge is the closest you can get to actually staying inside Yala National Park, and (in our humble opinion) it’s possibly the most beautiful hotel in Sri Lanka. This is safari glamping chic done perfectly: The rooms, cocoons made with spaceship technology so the cold stays in and the heat out, are French canvas inside and richly textured with lots of exposed copper, teak, and leather. You’re so close to the park that animals regularly intrude, making this a truly wild stay—they’ve had monkeys in the ocean-facing infinity pool and elephants stick their trunks through the kitchen windows to nab pieces of fruit. See a leopard, sloth bear, elephants, and crocodiles on safari, followed by sundowners on their private beach. Enjoy dinner while you’re lapped by sea breeze in the open-air restaurant.

Want more? Resplendent Ceylon’s opening a fourth hotel at Sigiriya, the portal to Sri Lanka’s ancient cultural areas, next year.

Basically the complete antithesis of the super-luxe travel experiences above, renting a tuktuk isn’t for the fainthearted, but it’s among the most authentic experiences you’ll have in Sri Lanka—especially if you venture off the tourist trail.

A tuktuk is a working-man’s vehicle. Most locals look at a foreigner driving one and wonder why. That wonderment almost instantly transforms into a charming mix of respect and adoration, which is then expressed through heartwarming hospitality. Jaws will literally drop at the sight of you driving, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms everywhere you go. It’s a sort of “one of us” mentality. Plus, it gives you the ability to go wherever you want, whenever you want—and drive past a trove of wild elephants while you’re at it.

Rent through Tuktuk Rental. A social enterprise, it facilitates rentals from local drivers and provides a legitimate driver’s license, insurance, and breakdown assistance. It also offers what is possibly the world’s best custom Google map of Sri Lanka with all the best spots pinned, including what must be nearly every waterfall and swimming hole in the country.

All across the island, there are huge, newly renovated holiday homes available to rent through Airbnb. In peak season, you’ll have to book a few months in advance, at least, but it’s well worth it. These aren’t your standard rental stays; some come with staff and even your own private chef. Some of our favorites in the country include a jungle house, a five-bedroom villa on Koggala Lake, and epic beachfront villas. If you’re still on the hunt after these picks, try villasinsrilanka.com for more options.

Until as recently as the late 2000’s, most of the accommodations in Sri Lanka were guest houses. And while there’s now an abundance of chic, Bali-esque accommodation options, we think a stay with a local family is still an essential must-have experience.

Do it through Neverbeen to avoid almost all potential problems. A Sri Lankan start-up, it ensures a host who can speak English (sometimes not a lot, but enough), a clean stay, and a custom map of the surrounding area with things to do and see during your stay.

It’s Sri Lanka’s biggest city, but we think one day here at the start or end of your trip is enough. The country has so much natural beauty to explore, so plan to only endure the traffic of this city for one day of your trip.

Start your day at Kiku, a light, airy, Japanese-inspired cafe, before climbing the Sambodhi Chaithya stupa for an aerial view of the city. From there, explore the bustling, crammed streets of Pettah or opt for a stroll along Galle Face Green—sample some street food at either.

You could also check out the National Museum or escape the din with another coffee at Café Kumbuk, Kopi Kade, Plus Nine Four, or Barefoot. For lunch, head to Upali’s for (potentially) the best curry in the country or go to the Dutch Burgher Union, a Dutch colonial relic, and order the lamprais: curries, rice, sambol, and meats, wrapped up in a banana leaf.

For some culture, visit the Sapumal Foundation Gallery; for shopping, head to The Design Collective and Urban Island. Watch the sunset with a cocktail at either The Station or the Galle Face Hotel, then (if you went to Upali’s for lunch), head to Pilawoos for dinner and order the kottu, chopped up roti with vegetables, meat, and lots of spices.

Not wanting to plan this day trip on your own? Let Colombo City Walks do it all for you.

Most of the flights into Sri Lanka land in the early hours of the morning, and it’s a minimum of one hour to get through immigration, get your bags, and then head to Colombo.

If you’re jet-lagged, not up for a day exploring, and you booked an Airbnb or a hotel without a pool, grab a day pass to either of the Hiltons or either of the Cinnamons. This quick dip and a day spent in the sun will get you some rest before starting your days of adventures.

Upali’s is a fascinating place; the first time we went, there were a half dozen luxury cars parked outside, including a Lamborghini.

There’s one in Melbourne, and the original Colombo location is where Mr. Upali’s family grew up. It has a huge menu of incredible Sri Lankan food at incredibly cheap (for the quality) prices. If it all gets a bit much, just order the tasting plate and a few vegetable side dishes. The Kankung Saha Sudu Lunu, or spinach tempered with garlic, is essential.

Coconuts are ubiquitous in tropical Asia, but Sri Lanka’s endemic king coconut, or thembili, is sweeter than others, making its water even more delicious.

Aside from being naturally hydrating and unbelievably delicious, they’re a great way to reduce your plastic footprint: Instead of buying bottled water, buy coconuts. Making this easy, they’re everywhere, cost less than $1, and have less sugar than the coconut water we buy in our supermarkets.

Say no to the plastic straw; otherwise, it defeats the purpose. Scoop out the translucent flesh after you finish drinking. If you don’t have a spoon and don’t want to use your fingers, any coconut vendor will be happy to split it open for you.

Sri Lanka doesn’t have the same street food obsession as its neighbor, India–you’ll struggle to find curry roadside anywhere outside of Colombo–but the locals do a mean pick-me-up snack in the form of triangular, filled rotis, samosas, and wade.

The latter is a crispy, deep-fried lentil cake that’s soft on the inside, and is a must-try. Be warned, it’s hard to stop at one. When it comes to what to order, we prefer the vegetable options for all, both for taste and food safety purposes.

Sri Lanka’s already got a great reputation for its world-class surf breaks, but it’s also one of the friendliest countries in the world for newbies looking to ride the waves. Head to Soul & Surf in Ahangama for the relaxing vacation you need and learn to shred: Wake up with sunrise yoga, surf twice a day, and in your free time, sip from fresh coconuts by the gorgeous lagoon-side pool.

Expanded from Kerala, India (with a third in Portugal just opened), the week-long camp’s in a secluded, private jungle location, and just a 10-minute drive from the beach. The instructors are first-class—we’d never surfed before and were up on green waves in just two days—and Soul & Surf’s especially suited for solo female travelers.

The surf school team engages with the local community as much as possible, like using local tuktuk drivers for transport. They’ve also got the soul part down with delicious, healthy food, therapies, and life coaching on top of the twice-daily yoga. They top it all off with a professional photographer documenting the week, so you’ll leave with great pictures.

Sri Lankan food is delicious, but it’s also uniform, making it an ideal cuisine to pick up via a cooking class.

There’s lots scattered all over the island, with quality wildly differing. Welle Gedara Homestay in Weligama is our favorite. A local retired fisherman hosts vegan, Ayurvedic classes here in his third-generation family home. Sample all that the class has to offer, and then plan to reinvent the dishes or infuse the local flavors into your favorite recipes at home upon your return.

Created by two brothers who grew up in Sri Lanka but learned hospitality in Melbourne, Salty Swamis is easily one of the best cafes in the country. Here, they pour local coffee, rather than an average-at-best Italian blend, which we love.

Don’t nab the first table free. Instead, walk straight to the back of the cafe, toward the beach, where you’ll find an elevated, small seating area (pictured) that makes it feel like you’re brunching in a lifeguard tower. We’d give you advice on what to order, but all the food is fantastic—choose anything that interests you off the menu, and you won’t leave disappointed.

Brief Garden, the nearly five-acre estate of renowned Sri Lankan landscape architect Bevis Bawa, is what every kid who read or watched The Secret Garden has dreamed of—with a tropical flair. Agatha Christie, Laurence Olivier, and Vivien Leigh are among those who’ve visited this lush, overgrown, exotic space. It’s scattered with bizarre sculptures and murals, and it’s perfectly suited to finding a nook to rest and read in.

Bevis was the brother of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa, and is said to have meticulously cared for and developed the estate right up until his death in 1992. The property remains a stunning fixture well worth a visit, especially for those dreamers and literature lovers who will enjoy basking in the property’s lush grounds and rich history.

Pronounced “tree” Lanka as in Sri Lanka, this private, lakeside gem was a labor of love for owner Rob Drummond, who sat on the land for a decade until he found an architect to make his vision a reality. That time spent ruminating has translated into 11 sustainably built, isolated suites, spiraling a six-acre hill overlooking Koggala Lake. Here, everything is considered, and everything is custom. Even the bed frames are purpose-built.

There’s an incredible cantilever infinity pool that melds into the lake on calm mornings, but what you really want to do is book a suite that has its own pool and spend your days taking private dips and ordering room service.

If you do venture out, there’s a great guided bike ride through the cinnamon and tea surrounding Tri; you can also hire a private boat for whale watching, diving, or just some cocktails out on the ocean.

The waters off Sri Lanka’s south and east coasts get deep very fast, making the country one of the only in the world where you can see blue whales while the shore’s still visible.

Book with Borderlands in the south, which has worked with the likes of CNN and National Geographic, and has great quality speedboats. Raja & the Whales is a locally run business that runs bigger boats, but also runs them responsibly and sustainably.

Be warned: Many of the country's operators run very old, seemingly unsafe boats that spit black smoke into the sky. Most also go too close to the whales when coast guard boats aren’t monitoring—we recommend the above operators, but choose yours wisely to keep safety and sustainability top of mind.

Built by the Portuguese, fortified by the Dutch, and used by the British, Galle Fort is a still-inhabited UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fort is huge—you could spend two days getting lost in it if you went down every street and lane. Walk down Pedlar Street, the main drag, and pop into our favorites below. Or, take the thinking out of it and go with Galle Fort Walks, run by a former advertising executive. Make sure you catch the sunset high up on the fort’s walls.

Amangalla is indisputably the best place to stay in the fort, but otherwise both the brand-new Bungalow and Fort Printers—a restored 18th-century mansion—are great options that also have great restaurants. Taru Villas has two four-room boutique villas that we also love.

Our favorite eats, apart from the above, are Poonies, The Heritage Café, and Hoppa. Make sure to get some gelato from Pedlar’s Inn for dessert. Galle Fort is probably the most Westernized area of Sri Lanka outside of Colombo; if you are looking for a taste of home, you can get dumplings, burgers, tacos, and more here. Shop at Barefoot for knickknacks and books, Stick No Bills for creative poster art, Stolen Paradise for local surf wear, and Tallentire House for great fabrics.

Around Galle, there’s the vast, beautiful Koggala Lake, paddy fields, cinnamon and tea plantations, ancient temples, and local villages. The best way to take this all in is by bike, which you can rent and tour through Idle Bikes. The staff all grew up in the area, so you couldn’t wish for better guides.

Standard trails range from a leisurely 12-kilometer to a challenging 41-kilometer run. If you’re an experienced rider and want to go even further, they can arrange private, custom routes as well.

Our recommendation? See the micro by bike and then the macro by air, from the comfort of a helicopter or a small plane.

Cinnamon Air runs scheduled flights to 16 destinations across Sri Lanka, so you can add some thrill to your transport, or charter a plane and go wherever you choose. Most of the planes are seaplanes—they can take you to small beaches in the middle of nowhere, if you’d like. For a helicopter charter, go with Helitours, the commercial arm of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

Sri Lanka’s been crying out for a contemporary, well-designed magazine for some time, and the Ceylon Chronicle answered that calling. The publication tackles local issues from a liberal, young point-of-view, and as an easy “in” into what’s going on in Sri Lanka's art and culture scenes. It also boasts several international contributors who tackle global issues and their relevance to Sri Lanka.

Copies are kind of haphazardly scattered about. Look out for one at cafes or boutique clothing stores as you travel the country.

You’ve probably seen pictures on Instagram of people swinging beneath coconut palms on a beach in Sri Lanka. Chances are, they were swinging on the one at Dalawella Beach, which, unless you stay at the hotel that owns it, you now have to pay to use.

Luckily, there are actually coconut palm swings that you can use for free, and not have to queue up for, all across the south coast. Our favorite is on the eastern end of Tangalle Beach. Walk along the sand and you can’t miss it. Given that it's a relatively hidden gem (until now), you’ll probably have it all to yourself.