Places to visit in Sri Lanka
Every place here carries the things a list normally leaves out: how long a visit actually takes, what it costs to get in, whether it is step-free, and whether there is an open animal-welfare question about it.
Looking for a whole area rather than a single site? Start from the destination guides.
Beaches (11)
Nature (10)
Bentota River Boat Safari
Southern 2 hours5,000 LKR
Brief Garden
Southern 1 hour 15 minutes1,500 LKR
Gregory Lake
Central 1 hour 30 minutes500 LKR
Horton Plains
Central 4 hours6,000 LKR
Lunuganga Estate
Southern 1 hour 30 minutes2,500 LKR
Madu River
Southern 2 hours 30 minutes6,000 LKR
Pigeon Island National Park
Eastern 3 hours8,000 LKR
Ravana Falls
Uva 30 minutesFree
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Central 2 hours3,000 LKR
Viharamahadevi Park
Western 1 hourFree
Wildlife (9)
Elephant Transit Home
Sabaragamuwa 1 hour1,500 LKR
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
welfare Southern 45 minutes1,000 LKR
Millennium Elephant Foundation
welfare Sabaragamuwa 1 hour 30 minutes4,000 LKR
Minneriya National Park
North Central 4 hours12,000 LKR
Mirissa Whale Watching
welfare Southern 5 hours12,000 LKR
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
welfare Sabaragamuwa 2 hours6,000 LKR
Rekawa Turtle Watch
Southern 2 hours3,000 LKR
Udawalawe National Park
Sabaragamuwa 4 hours15,000 LKR
Yala National Park
Southern 5 hours18,000 LKR