10 Best Places in Sri Lanka to Visit for First-Time Travelers in 2026

Not sure where to go in Sri Lanka as a first-time traveler? This guide will help you find the best places in Sri Lanka to visit in 2026. If you are planning for a long or a short holiday, you can cover Sri Lanka's top destinations to collect beautiful travel memories.

This is a complete guide for must-visit places in Sri Lanka, based on updated insights from Sri Lankan travel experts who have guided thousands of travelers. Whether you are from Canada, Australia, Germany, or any country and don't know what to see in Sri Lanka, this guide has got you covered.

Content

1. Sigiriya
2. Colombo
3. Anuradhapura
4. Polonnaruwa
5. Dambulla
6. Trincomalee
7. Kandy
8. Ella
9. Nuwara Eliya
10. Galle

Travelling is everyone's favorite way to spend leisure time with their family, friends, and loved ones. If you are looking for unique places to visit in Sri Lanka for a safe and enjoyable travel experience, now you can plan a trip to Sri Lanka to experience the wildlife, basking in beaches with beautiful sunsets, hiking, cycling, train tours, and experience the best Sri Lankan food. Additionally, it's essential to understand the dos and don'ts in Sri Lanka before visiting.

Would you like to plan an adventourous trip? We are here to help you.

1. Sigiriya

Sigiriya is one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sri Lanka, which features royal sleeping chambers, ornate ponds, alleys, canals and artistically painted frescoes. If you are visiting Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is a must-visit place in your Sri Lankan tour. At the start of the climbing rock, you can see the design of a lion’s paws. It is also known as 'Lion Rock', and King Kashyapa built it in the late 5th century.

The frescoes are colorful and believed to have been painted by skilled artists who visited Sigiriya in ancient times, and they feature gorgeous women adorned in stunning jewelry and dazzling flowers. It covers 1.6 hectares, and this is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to visit as a first-time traveler or an experienced traveler.

Best Things to Do in Sigiriya

• Watch the sunset from the top of Pidurangala Rock
• Visit Sigiriya Archaeological Museum
• Check out Pethikada Paintings
• Visit the “Sigiriya Handyman”
• Shop handmade items
• Hot air balloon ride
• Spend a night in a tree house

2. Colombo

Colombo is one of the most vibrant cities in Sri Lanka, and a must-visit place for first-timers, so it's better to include it in your things to see in Sri Lanka travel list. Colombo, Sri Lanka's Capital, has a rich history and is the main trade center of the country.

You can go to Galle Face Green to taste the popular Sri Lankan street foods in a beautiful sunset. Isso wade, Egg hoppers, and a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian short eats are the best answers for what to eat in Colombo. After 6 pm, travelers can go there to experience the vibrant Sri Lankan street food.

You can also have drinks on rooftops, find great coffee shops, luxury hotels, and you’ll find the best places to shopping around Colombo. Moreover, you can visit the most well-known places in Colombo from the list below.

Best Places to Visit in Colombo

1. Gangaramaya Temple
2. Viharamaha Devi Park
3. Geoffrey Bawa's home
4. Colombo Dutch Museum
5. St Lucia's Cathedral
6. Independence Square
7. Attadiya Bird Sanctuary, Colombo
8. Traditional Puppet Art Museum
9. Old Dutch Hospital
10. The Floating Market
11. National Museum
12. Nelum Kuluna
13. Zoological Garden

3. Anuradhapura

Our next destination is Anuradhapura, the sacred city with many ancient gems. Why is Anuradhapura one of the best places in Sri Lanka? Because Anuradhapura is the biggest district in Sri Lanka, it is covered with long reservoirs, rural villages, and ancient Buddhist ruins. Also, it is a popular tourist attraction in Sri Lanka.

There is a Clock tower in the middle of the city, a railway station, and small shops around the busy main road. In our round tours, we have included Anuradhapura because most tourists like this city and have included it in their list of top 10  places to visit in Sri Lanka.

The most sacred spot in Anuradhapura is Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which is believed to be a grown part of the original Bo tree in Bodh Gaya in India. In addition, you can see that different stupas in Sri Lanka were designed by ancient emperors and kings. If you are a first-time visitor looking for beginner-friendly Sri Lanka tourists places, exploring the Anuradhapura ruins is a must.

Things to Do in Anuradhapura

1. Ruwanweli Maha Seya
2. Thuparamaya
3. Mirisawetiya Temple
4. Isurumuniya
5. Abhayagiri Vihara
6. Ranmusu Uyana (Royal Park)
7. Mihintale
8. Tissawewa

4. Polonnaruwa

After exploring the sacred city, Anuradhapura, your next transition is Polonnaruwa. If this is your family trip, you’ll be looking for what are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa should be on your list. It is a historical home to beautifully carved Buddha statues and some ancient temples. The craftsmanship is also inspiring.

In Polonnaruwa, Parakrama Samudraya, created by King Parakramabhahu, is a popular tank. Every day, both local and foreign devotees visit these sacred sites in their tours. Also, you can listen to the fascinating historical stories about Polonnaruwa from our expert guides. Would you prefer listening to Sri Lankan historical stories? and find more educational details about the Sri Lankan history? Just click to plan your trip.

Most Beautiful Places in Polonnaruwa

1. Gal Vihara
2. Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu
3. Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum
4. The Shiva Devale No. 2
5. The Swimming pool
6. The Pabalu Vehera
7. The Buddha Statue at Lankathilake
8. The Rankoth Vihara
9. The Sacred Quadrangle
10. The Audience Hall

5. Dambulla

After exploring ancient cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, your trip continues to Dambulla, a home to enchanting places in Sri Lanka. If you have no idea about which part of Sri Lanka is most beautiful, visit Sri Lanka and collect travel memories from the top destinations in Sri Lanka, including Dambulla.

One of the must-visit places in Dambulla is Rangiri Cave Temple, which most travelers visit on their vacations. Inside the temple, you can see five caves consisting of 150 Buddha statues and some paintings on the surface of the rock. In addition, travelers can visit National parks by planning a safari to see wildlife of different animals.

Best Places to Visit in Dambulla

1. Minneriya National Park
2. Pidurangala Rock
3. Buddhist Museum and Museum of wall paintings
4. Kaludiya Pokuna
5. Arangala Mountain Peak
6. Pophams Arboretum

6. Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a place where you can find the best beaches in Sri Lanka. There are lots of things to do in Trincomalee, and that's why you should choose Trincomalee for your tour. If you're a new traveler, you can visit the Pigeon Island in Trincomalee as it offers travelers a chance to see turtles, colorful fish, birds, and small sharks. 

As well as, you can do whale watching and swim with whales. These are not only Sri Lanka attractions, but here are some more reasons to visit Trincomalee as one of the unique places to visit in Sri Lanka.

Best Things to Do in Trincomalee 

1. Visit Nilaveli beach
2. Explore Fort Frederick
3. Visit Koneshwaram Temple
4. Spending time at Dutch Bay Beach
5. A small tour of the Maritime Museum
6. Swimming experience in Pristine Marble Beach
7. Try the most delicious seafood
8. Go Scuba Diving

7. Kandy

Kandy is a city that you cannot forget in your Sri Lankan tour, as you can find the best places in Sri Lanka around Kandy to spend your vacation with unforgettable travel memories. Visiting the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic and witnessing the colorful Kandy Perahera are among the most popular things to do in Kandy.

Choose the best time to visit Sri Lanka when the Kandy Perahera begins. It will give you a chance to see the Traditional Dances and some historic wonders of the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka. 

Things to Do in Kandy

1. Ceylon Tea Museum
2. Ranawana Purana Rajamaha Viharaya
3. Wales Park
4. Peradeniya Botanical Garden
5. Ranweli Spice Garden
6. Hulu River waterfall

Whether you are a couple, a family, or a group of friends, there's no need to worry about planning your trip to Kandy. Click the button below.

8. Ella 

Ella is a place surrounded by misty mountains, tea plantations, and beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka. If you are a nature lover, Ella is the perfect place to enjoy, so this is one of the must-visit places in Sri Lanka. The temperature in Ella is slightly cooler and much lower compared to other regions in Sri Lanka. The Nine Arch Bridge is the most iconic Ella’s attraction, so don't miss the world’s popular scenic train ride that passes over it.

There are some cooking classes in Ella if you love to learn how to cook traditional Sri Lankan food and can experience mouth-watering Sri Lankan dishes there. If you choose to include Ella in the list of best places to visit in Sri Lanka, don't forget to visit the below famous places in Ella.

Things to Do in Ella

1. Ella Rock- hiking
2. Go ziplining at Flying Ravana
3. Visit Little Adam's Peak
4. Admire the Lipton's seat view
5. Swimming experience at Rawana Pool Club
6. Explore the highest waterfalls near Ella

9. Nuwara Eliya 

If you are a first-time traveler, choosing the top 10 places to visit in Sri Lanka will be difficult, as there are lots of the best places to travel in Sri Lanka. But with this tour guide, it simplifies things for you. With our expertise guiding experience, we know most tourists love Nuwara Eliya and are often called “Little England’. It is surrounded by green tea plantations and cool weather.

You can plan an educational tour to the Pedro tea factory to get a complete understanding of the tea production, because tea is one of Sri Lanka's main agricultural exports. 

Best Places to Visit in Nuwara Eliya

1. Horton Plains National Park
2. Lovers Leap Falls
3. Ambewewa Farms
4. Gregory Lake
5. Bomura Ella Waterfalls
6. Moon Plains
7. Hakgala Botanical Garden

10. Galle

Among the must-see attractions in Sri Lanka, the final interesting tourist destination is Galle, which is included in the top tourist attractions on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. Galle Fort is another top attraction in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO Heritage Site. As well as, Galle Lighthouse is another must-visit place in Sri Lanka as it is the oldest lighthouse, which tells a long story dating back to 1849. 

Below are some reasons why Galle is included in the best places to visit in Sri Lanka, and adding all these to the best things to do in Sri Lanka list will make your tour filled with unforgettable golden memories.

Best Things to Do in Galle

1. Dutch Reformed Church
2. National Maritime Museum, Galle
3. Unawatuna Beach
4. Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre
5. Meeran Jumma Masjid
6. Old Dutch Hospital
7. Sinharaja Forest

Now you can get a complete idea about what to do in Sri Lanka. Whether you are a first-time traveler or an experience traveler, this Sri Lankan travel guide will help you choose the top 10 places to visit in Sri Lanka. But it will be easier to visit Sri Lanka with proper guidance. We are here to help you for a safe journey.

Important: looking for new Tourism Updates? Then follow Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority ( SLTDA ) to find about Sri Lankan traveling details. No terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka now, but remember to follow the basic health tips and all safety precautions for a hassle-free tour.

Conclusion

If your next destination is Sri Lanka, and you don't know the must-visit places in Sri Lanka in 2026? This comprehensive Sri Lankan travel guide will cover everything you need to know about the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. Additionally, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beaches,  and more natural and cultural areas. Don't forget to make your next trip a memorable one. 

FAQS about Best Places in Sri Lanka