Things to Do

Things to Do in Sri Lanka

There are 68 attractions in Sri Lanka. Adam's Peak is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Adam's Peak
1
Adam's Peak
Trail
Temple of the Tooth
2
Temple of the Tooth
Buddhist temple in Kandy housing a sacred tooth relic
Temple
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
3
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Colonial-era fortified town with Dutch-era ramparts
Historical Site
Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
4
Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
Complex of cave temples with ancient Buddhist murals
Historical Site
Yala National Park
5
Yala National Park
Sri Lankan national park known for leopards
Park
Adam's Peak
6
Adam's Peak
Pilgrimage mountain with distinctive summit footprint shrine
Mountain
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
7
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Elephant care centre with daily feeding and bathing
Zoo
Udawalawe National Park
8
Udawalawe National Park
National park famous for wild Asian elephants
Park
Horton Plains National Park
9
Horton Plains National Park
Highland park with dramatic 'World's End' cliff
National Park
Sacred City of Anuradhapura
10
Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Ancient Sri Lankan city with vast Buddhist ruins
Historical Site
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
11
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Biodiverse tropical rainforest and UNESCO biosphere reserve
Nature Reserve
Pidurutalagala
12
Pidurutalagala
Sri Lanka's highest mountain and communication hub
Mountain
Bundala National Park
13
Bundala National Park
Coastal national park with important migratory bird habitat
National Park
National Museum of Colombo
14
National Museum of Colombo
Sri Lanka's largest museum preserving national history
Museum
Abhayagiri vihāra
15
Abhayagiri vihāra
Ancient Buddhist monastery complex and archaeological ruins
Religious Site
Avukana Buddha statue
16
Avukana Buddha statue
Large standing Buddha statue carved from granite
Monument
Mannar Island
17
Mannar Island
Sri Lankan island linked to mainland, famed fisheries
Island
Lotus Tower
18
Lotus Tower
Tall telecommunications tower and observation landmark in Colombo
Tower
Wilpattu National Park
19
Wilpattu National Park
Sri Lanka's oldest national park with sandy wetlands (villus)
Park
Mihintale
20
Mihintale
Ancient Buddhist monastery and pilgrimage complex in Sri Lanka
Mountain
R. Premadasa Stadium
21
R. Premadasa Stadium
Major Colombo stadium hosting international cricket matches
Stadium
Jetavanaramaya
22
Jetavanaramaya
Ancient massive Buddhist stupa from Anuradhapura period.
Religious Site
Beira Lake
23
Beira Lake
Urban lake forming Colombo's historic canal system
Lake
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
24
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Distinctive red-and-white striped mosque in Colombo
Mosque
Kumana National Park
25
Kumana National Park
Coastal national park famed for birdlife and wetlands
National Park
Bambarakanda Falls
26
Bambarakanda Falls
Sri Lanka's highest waterfall, dramatic single-drop cascade
Waterfall
Neduntheevu
27
Neduntheevu
Small Sri Lankan island (Delft) with colonial ruins
Island
Aberdeen Falls
28
Aberdeen Falls
Scenic waterfall in Central Province, popular viewpoint
Waterfall
Kirigalpoththa
29
Kirigalpoththa
Sri Lanka's second-highest peak with cloud-shrouded forests
Mountain
Knuckles Mountain Range
30
Knuckles Mountain Range
Sri Lankan mountain range and UNESCO biosphere reserve
Mountains
Thuparamaya
31
Thuparamaya
Ancient Buddhist dagoba in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Temple
Analaitivu
32
Analaitivu
Small Sri Lankan island in the Jaffna peninsula
Island
Bopath Ella Falls
33
Bopath Ella Falls
Scenic waterfall in Sri Lanka's rainforest
Waterfall
Devon Falls
34
Devon Falls
Scenic waterfall in Sri Lanka's central highlands
Waterfall
Kataragama Temple
35
Kataragama Temple
Multi-religious pilgrimage temple complex in Sri Lanka
Temple
Kaudulla National Park
36
Kaudulla National Park
Sri Lankan park protecting elephants and dry-zone reservoir
National Park
Ruwanweli Maha Saya
37
Ruwanweli Maha Saya
Ancient colossal stupa in Anuradhapura
Religious Site
St. Lucia's Cathedral
38
St. Lucia's Cathedral
Roman Catholic cathedral in Colombo with colonial architecture
Church
Diyaluma Falls
39
Diyaluma Falls
Sri Lankan waterfall and popular natural swimming spot
Waterfall
Gal Oya National Park
40
Gal Oya National Park
National park protecting dry-zone forest and elephants
Park
Koneswaram Temple
41
Koneswaram Temple
Historic cliff-top Hindu temple overlooking Trincomalee Harbour
Temple
Minneriya National Park
42
Minneriya National Park
National park in Sri Lanka famous for elephant gatherings
National Park
Nainativu
43
Nainativu
Small Sri Lankan island with ancient Hindu shrine
Island
Parakrama Samudra
44
Parakrama Samudra
Ancient reservoir in Polonnaruwa built by King Parakramabahu
Lake
Pigeon Island National Park
45
Pigeon Island National Park
Sri Lankan marine park with coral reefs and snorkeling
National Park
Adam's Bridge Marine National Park
46
Adam's Bridge Marine National Park
Marine park protecting shoals between India and Sri Lanka
National Park
Dunhinda Falls
47
Dunhinda Falls
Waterfall in Sri Lanka with dramatic misty cascade
Waterfall
Kandy Lake
48
Kandy Lake
Artificial lake at Kandy city centre near Temple
Lake
Maduru Oya National Park
49
Maduru Oya National Park
Sri Lankan national park protecting dry-zone wildlife and reservoir
Park
Wasgamuwa National Park
50
Wasgamuwa National Park
Protected park hosting elephants and dry-zone wildlife
National Park
Angammedilla National Park
51
Angammedilla National Park
Protected dry-zone reserve with reservoirs and wildlife
National Park
Hikkaduwa National Park
52
Hikkaduwa National Park
Coastal national park protecting coral reefs and mangroves
National Park
Karaitivu (Jaffna)
53
Karaitivu (Jaffna)
Small Sri Lankan island off Jaffna peninsula
Island
Ussangoda
54
Ussangoda
Coastal plain with distinctive red soil in Sri Lanka
National Park
Chundikkulam National Park
55
Chundikkulam National Park
Coastal wetland park important for migratory birds
National Park
Elgin Falls
56
Elgin Falls
Waterfall in Sri Lanka's Central Province
Waterfall
57
Flood Plains National Park
Wetland national park protecting seasonal floodplain wildlife
National Park
Galway's Land National Park
58
Galway's Land National Park
Small urban forest reserve near Kandy's hills
National Park
Laxapana Falls
59
Laxapana Falls
Tall Sri Lankan waterfall surrounded by rainforest
Waterfall
Delft National Park
60
Delft National Park
Marine and island park around Delft Island, Sri Lanka
National Park
61
Horagolla National Park
Small Sri Lankan park protecting wetlands and birdlife
National Park
Lunugamvehera National Park
62
Lunugamvehera National Park
Dry-zone Sri Lankan park supporting elephants and reservoirs
National Park
63
Madhu Road National Park
Forest park protecting dry-zone wildlife corridors
National Park
64
Lahugala Kitulana National Park
Small Sri Lankan park notable for elephants and wetlands
National Park
Somawathiya National Park
65
Somawathiya National Park
Sri Lanka park protecting dry-zone wildlife and riverine forests
National Park
66
Kurundu Oya Falls
Scenic Sri Lankan waterfall amid forested river valley
Waterfall
67
Horowpathana National Park
National park in Sri Lanka protecting dry-zone wildlife
National Park
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
68
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Montane forests and tea landscapes with endemic biodiversity
Nature Reserve