Colombo (The Vibrant Capital Gateway)
Sample world-class contemporary dining, explore grand colonial-era architecture, and experience the emerging luxury rooftop lifestyle overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Explore Colombo
Travel Guides
Cities in Sri Lanka
Explore City Guides
Uncover an island of endless variety. Choose a city or region to discover the best places to visit, local tips, and tours from the UK.
Nuwara Eliya (Little England)
Escape to Sri Lanka's cool hill-country capital — Tudor mansions, emerald tea estates, elegant high tea, and mist-veiled mountain walks in the heart of Ceylon tea country.
Explore Nuwara Eliya
Ella (Mountain Hikes & Tea Country)
Discover Sri Lanka's adventure capital — the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock, cascading waterfalls, and boutique jungle cafés in the misty highlands.
Explore Ella
Kitulgala (White Water Rafting & Adventure)
Sri Lanka's adrenaline capital — Class III rapids on the Kelani River, jungle canyoning, rainforest treks, and the historic Bridge on the River Kwai filming site.
Explore Kitulgala
Galle Fort (Dutch Colonial Heritage)
Walk UNESCO-listed ramparts, cobblestone lanes, and whitewashed Dutch villas — Sri Lanka's most sophisticated coastal heritage city on the Indian Ocean.
Explore Galle
Hikkaduwa (Coral Reefs & Surfing)
Sri Lanka's original beach town — snorkel with sea turtles, ride reef breaks, dive shipwrecks, and unwind on golden Narigama Beach along the southwest coast.
Explore Hikkaduwa
Bentota (Luxury Watersports & Beach Resorts)
Sri Lanka's upscale lagoon resort — jet skiing on the Bentota River, golden Ventura Beach, Geoffrey Bawa's Lunuganga Estate, and premier Ayurvedic wellness.
Explore Bentota
Unawatuna (Protected Swimming Cove)
Sri Lanka's iconic crescent bay — calm reef-protected swimming, Jungle Beach, the Japanese Peace Pagoda, and a vibrant cafe culture minutes from Galle Fort.
Explore Unawatuna
Weligama (Beginner Surf & Sandy Bay)
Sri Lanka's sandy surf capital — gentle sand-bottom breaks, iconic stilt fishermen, Taprobane Island, and cliffside boutique resorts on a sweeping southern crescent bay.
Explore Weligama
Mirissa (Whale Watching & Coconut Tree Hill)
Sri Lanka's marine wildlife capital — dawn blue whale safaris, iconic Coconut Tree Hill, golden crescent beaches, and vibrant seafood cafes on the south coast.
Explore Mirissa
Tangalle (Secluded Luxury Beach Escapes)
The wild south's crown jewel — hidden rocky coves, clifftop boutique villas, Silent Beach, Hummanaya Blowhole, and total coastal isolation away from the crowds.
Explore Tangalle
Beruwala (Golden Mile Beach Resorts)
Where the south coast begins — the protected Golden Mile, historic Barberyn Lighthouse island, Arab trading heritage, and calm year-round swimming north of Bentota.
Explore Beruwala
Trincomalee (East Coast & Whale Watching)
Sri Lanka's east coast capital — Koneswaram Temple on Swami Rock, pristine Nilaveli Beach, Pigeon Island reefs, and blue whale safaris May to September.
Explore Trincomalee
Nilaveli (Pigeon Island & White-Sand Beach)
Sri Lanka's east coast crown jewel — powder-soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and the gateway to Pigeon Island National Park snorkeling.
Explore Nilaveli
Passikudah (Shallow Bay & Luxury Resorts)
One of the world's longest shallow reef coastlines — knee-deep turquoise waters, five-star eco-resorts, and a calm horseshoe bay on Sri Lanka's east coast.
Explore Passikudah
Arugam Bay (Surfing & East Coast)
Sri Lanka's surfing capital — world-class Main Point breaks, bohemian beach bars, Pottuvil Lagoon elephant safaris, and Kumana wildlife on the remote southeast coast.
Explore Arugam Bay
Kalpitiya (Kitesurfing & Dolphins)
Sri Lanka's northwest kitesurfing capital — flat Puttalam Lagoon, Bar Reef diving, spinner dolphin safaris, and fourteen wild coastal islands.
Explore Kalpitiya
Yala (Leopard Safaris & Wildlife)
Sri Lanka's premier wildlife sanctuary — the world's highest leopard density, luxury tented camps, elephant herds at watering holes, and Sithulpawwa rock temples.
Explore Yala
Wilpattu (Wilderness & Leopard Safaris)
Sri Lanka's largest national park — sixty natural Villu lakes, uncrowded leopard tracking, sloth bears, and raw northwest wilderness on the Land of Lakes.
Explore Wilpattu
Udawalawe (Elephant Safaris & Wilderness)
Sri Lanka's premier elephant sanctuary — guaranteed wild herds on open grasslands, the ethical Elephant Transit Home, and reservoir safaris between highlands and south coast.
Explore Udawalawe
Minneriya (The Elephant Gathering)
Home of the world's largest Asian elephant gathering — hundreds of wild herds on ancient reservoir plains in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle.
Explore Minneriya
Bundala (Ramsar Wetland & Bird Safaris)
Sri Lanka's first Ramsar wetland — flamingo flocks, five coastal lagoons, and uncrowded bird safaris between Hambantota and Yala on the southeast coast.
Explore Bundala
Gal Oya (Boat Safaris & Swimming Elephants)
Sri Lanka's untouched wilderness — unique boat safaris on Senanayake Samudraya, swimming elephants, Vedda heritage, and uncrowded eastern plains.
Explore Gal Oya
Sinharaja (UNESCO Rainforest & Bird Waves)
Sri Lanka's last primary rainforest — UNESCO World Heritage Site, endemic bird waves, jungle waterfalls, and luxury eco-lodges in the southwestern wet zone.
Explore Sinharaja
Jaffna (Northern Culture & Temples)
Sri Lanka's northern capital — Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna Fort, Delft Island wild horses, fiery crab curry, and authentic Tamil heritage.
Explore Jaffna