Top 15 Must See and Do’s in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island that has so much to offer. In this article we will tell you about our Top 15 Must See and Do’s in Sri Lanka

Visit Galle

Galle is a major city in the South of Sri Lanka. Both the Portuguese and the Dutch have been in Galle and made it the city it is today. There are a lot of Dutch buildings and names in the city which is funny for us as Dutchies. Galle is a World Heritage site and has a lot of nice restaurants & café’s. Also it’s a good place to shop some souvenirs in one of the cute boutique shops in the center.

Eat Local Food it’s Yummy

Sri Lanka has some amazing (street) food. Make sure you try at least these dishes when you visit Sri Lanka:

• Curry & rice: Simple as it sound you can get this everywhere and we found it really tasty. Make sure you try it!
• Kottu: The main ingredient is roti, which is cut up into small bits. Apart from roti, other ingredients added are usually onions, leek, cabbage, eggs and sometimes chicken, mutton, beef and the more modern version, with cheese.
• Dhal Curry: is a very mild and nutritious curry made up mainly of lentils, tomatoes, and chilies. Sometimes potatoes and gourds are added. Very few spices are used and the heat level can be adjusted by using more or less dried chilies. This curry is very kid friendly as it can be made relatively mild.
• Hoppers: The Sri Lankan answer to the pancake. The batter is made from a slightly fermented concoction of rice flour, coconut milk, sometimes coconut water and a hint of sugar.

Play a Game of Cricket with the locals

The most famous sport in Sri Lanka is cricket. You can see people play it all over the island. We dare you to join them in the game. Locals like it when you open up to them and you will create the most amazing memories doing this.

Visit a Tea factory

If you love Tea Sri Lanka is your place. There are many tea plantations and factories in the Ella / Nuwara Eliyah region make sure you visit one. They will show you the process of making tea and ofcourse you can taste some to. Better plan this in the morning because that’s the moment the tea will be harvested! Some suggestions:

• Heritance Tea Factory
• Glenloch Tea Factory

Learn to Surf and Chill

Sri Lanka is a very good place to surf & chill for a few days. It’s a good way to build in some relaxed days in your busy schedule. The best places to surf are Hikkaduwa & Weligama.

Relax at a Spa

All that travelling can be hard. So make sure you treat yourself with a nice pampering session at a good spa. Do your research and not just jump in the first massagesalon you see. If you are going for it better do it well!

Visit the Ancient cities Anuradhapura and Polonnarawu

We visited this place on our first trip to Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura is Sri Lanka’s ancient city and it’s an UNESCO world heritage site. There are a lot of beautiful temples and it’s huge. It’s smart to do some research before you go to decide which places you want to see.

Visit the Nine Arch Bridge

If you are in Ella you should do the hike to Nine Arch Bridge. It’s a nice hike and you get rewarded with a stunning view. If you come early it’s easier to make some good shots without people in it. If you are not living for the gram just go whenever you want. Ask a local when the trains are passing to be sure you also see a train on the bridge (we missed it). Also bring enough water because it’s super humid when we were there.

Drive the B35 road and spot wild Elephants

Sri Lanka has tons of wild elephants. And a nice way to spot them is on the B35 road. This road is famous because of these big friends. Drive there and spot them yourself it’s so much fun. Make sure you keep your distance from the animals they are still in the wild. Passing them by Tuk Tuk could have easily be a number one on the list. But well it’s a Top 15 Must See & Do’s in Sri Lanka, so you have to do all of it.

Swing at Dalawella beach

We were super unlucky with the weather in Sri Lanka. That’s why we weren’t able to see the amazing beaches the island has to offer. We recommend anyway to visit them. For example Dalawella beach with the supercool palmtree swing above the beach!

Take the train from Ella to Nuwara Eliyah

This is one of the most scenic trainrides of the world you can not miss this when you are in Sri Lanka. Buy a ticket in the 2nd class because that’s the place to be. The doors & windows can open and you have the chance to meet amazing locals. The views are super stunning and you can make some shots for the gram ;). Make sure you try the cookies people are selling on the train they are super delicious.

Drive your own TukTuk

We explored Sri Lanka by TukTuk. You can rent your own and drive around wherever you want to go. Check our blog about renting a TukTuk in Sri Lanka for more info. It could have been the number one on our list of Top 15 Must See & Do’s in Sri Lanka, but it can be a bit dangerous for our older readers. No offense.

Sleep in Yala National Park

We spend 2 nights in Wild Coast Tented lodges. A lodge located in Yala National Park. The elephants are coming in to the lodge so now and then we were lucky because there were 2 sightings when we stayed there. The lodge is beautiful and also offers a gamedrive per night in the package. It’s not cheap but an experience you will remember forever.

Visit Pidurangala Rock or Lions Rock

One of the most popular places in Sri Lanka is the Lions rock. When we went for the first time to Sri Lanka 5 years ago we hiked this rock. The view was amazing but you don’t really see the rock itself because you are on it. This time we hiked the Pidurangala Rock. Supercheap and less tourists and amazing views on the lions rock. This place can not be missed in you trip to Sri Lanka.

Spot Leopards and go on Safari in Yala National Park

Our number 1 experience in Sri Lanka was the day we went on safari in Yala. We saw not 1, not 2 but 4 leopards in one gamedrive. It was so amazing to see these amazing animals in the wild. We saw one on the rocks, one chilling in a tree and 2 hunting on a rabbit. We were amazed and also very lucky to see all these sightings in one gamedrive. So we can’t guarantee that you will see them to but a safari is magical and you should visit Yala for sure!

We hope you enjoyed our Top 15 Must See & Do’s in Sri Lanka. Getting around in Sri Lanka is easy. Local transport is good and there a different ways to get around.