The Ancient Cities
A memorable place to stay, this beautifully located guesthouse enjoys an idyllic position overlooking an expanse of rice paddies, replete with the sounds…
Must-see hotels in The Ancient Cities
The Ancient Cities
In the misty, verdant hills north of Matale, at an elevation of 450m, this working organic farm (harvesting coconuts, mangoes, bananas and papaya) is…
Anuradhapura
Exclusive and stylish, the 20 villas in this remote rural retreat, 40km from Anuradhapura, are top of the line, with private plunge pools and relaxing…
Sigiriya
An outstanding place to stay, thanks to the genuine welcome and attention paid to guests by Ajith and Ramya, the owners. Rooms are divided between the…
Anuradhapura
Hidden in a quiet residential street, Milano is a professionally run place in an elegant late-1950s house. The eight rooms are somewhat old-fashioned, but…
Anuradhapura
Renovated from top to tail, this modern hotel has a fine location near the lovely Nuwara Wewa tank. Rooms are stylish and fresh and come with a balcony or…
Habarana
A classy and professionally run hotel, Cinnamon blends Portuguese colonial design with traditional Sri Lankan stone architecture that takes its…
Sigiriya
The aptly named Hideout is indeed a real escape, tucked away at the end of a dirt road surrounded by paddy fields and with viewing platforms for spotting…
Sigiriya
This well-run place 9km outside Sigiriya (12km from Dambulla) has five stylish rooms in a leafy, rural compound south of the Kimbissa junction. Rooms vary…
Dambulla
The attention to detail at Kalundewa Retreat is impressive, with six suites that feature polished-concrete floors, modern art and stylish wooden furniture…
Polonnaruwa
With 14 luxurious rooms, this former government guesthouse has a superb location on a peninsula beside the Topa Wewa, right next to the Heritage ruins …
Habarana
Harmoniously built in a forest setting from recycled materials, this serene ecolodge is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, with nature (outstanding…
Polonnaruwa
Good vibes are guaranteed at this fine guesthouse thanks to the efforts of genial owner Upali and his family. Rooms are well-priced and sparkling clean,…
Sigiriya
For natural-world immersion – crocodiles in the pond, monitor lizards in the grass and occasional visiting elephants – the Jetwing is a great choice. The…
Anuradhapura
For sheer colonial class this Raj-era relic (formerly a British governor's residence) can't be matched. It's been beautifully and respectfully restored –…
Sigiriya
Set in over 80 hectares of unfenced grasslands, this high-end hotel is a terrific place to spot wildlife. Iguanas, monitor lizards and mongooses are all…
Dambulla
The Amaya Lake complex has 100 stylish villas set in magnificent landscaped grounds on the north shore of Kandalama lake. The scale of the place will suit…
Dambulla
The 12-roomed Lake Lodge lacks the scale of the big Kandalama resorts, but makes up for it with personalised service. Rooms are fresh and modern, with the…
Habarana
Cross the rope bridge into this ecolodge and you quickly feel a million miles from anywhere, even though it's just 1.5km from the centre. The nine…
Anuradhapura
Impressive two-storey place ('palace' is a little ambitious!) with 10 lovely, clean, bright and airy rooms with TV, fridge, neutral-colour schemes and…
Anuradhapura
There are just two rooms at this stylish family home, so two couples could have the entire upper floor to themselves. Rooms are excellent value, with a…
Polonnaruwa
Down a quiet, leafy suburban lane, this well-run, inviting and orderly homestay owned by a Malay-Muslim couple is a good choice, with five rooms (the…
Polonnaruwa
About 100m off the main road south of the Old Town, this place has clean, spacious rooms with terrace eating in two blocks; those at the rear with rice…
Sigiriya
For that living-with-a-family experience, Lal's is perfect. Your host family could not be more welcoming or friendly, offering home-cooked meals (try the…
Sigiriya
Groups like the villa-style rooms, fine balconies and stylish design at this well-tended place. The 25m pool is heaven after a hard day tackling the rock,…
Anuradhapura
Set in 38 hectares of forest and gardens with a lovely pool area, this resort hotel has spacious rooms with fine terrace seating. Some bathrooms are…
Polonnaruwa
This rural villa has high ceilings, pleasant balcony sitting areas and a quiet location amid the rice paddies, making it a peaceful choice. It's a bit far…
Anuradhapura
This fresh and modern property run by Milano Tourist Rest has 10 tiled rooms, a large restaurant, garden seating and a quiet central location. Milano is…
Dambulla
Designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, this is one of Sri Lanka's signature hotels. With 124 rooms, the hulking edifice emerges from the forest…
Habarana
This bombastic temple of bling has raised the bar of luxury very high indeed. The fortress-like entrance, lovely open-sided restaurant and village-like…
Anuradhapura
A terrific rural hotel, offering comfortable and excellent-value rooms in two new blocks, with slightly dated and smaller rooms in the old building. The…
The Ancient Cities
An elegant, modern place with rice-field views from the balconies of the five rooms, Sesatha has delightful gardens, dotted with palm trees and overlooked…
The Ancient Cities
An intriguing accommodation option, Littlemore Estate is a 50-hectare coconut plantation bordered by paddy fields and woodland with a healthy local…
Sigiriya
There are truly remarkable views of the rock from the pool area at this hotel. The 40-year-old breeze block exteriors are dated, but the rooms have been…
The Ancient Cities
A large resort-style property made up of 85 rooms in dozens of cottages. The pool, bar area and restaurant are all excellent. Some rooms have outdoor…
Dambulla
This former government rest house has been given the full Heritage treatment, and the four rooms now boast very classy interiors – the dark-wood furniture…
Polonnaruwa
If you're looking for a really inexpensive room, this simple guesthouse is located in a quiet area and has a pleasant sitting area for chilling. Rooms are…
Habarana
This rural guesthouse is run by a very accommodating couple: Mutu is a superb cook and Ajith takes good care of guests. The environment is great, with a…
Polonnaruwa
There are two blocks at this friendly place. The old block rooms have a fan, but can be hot, while the new block has much more modern, spacious air-con…
Habarana
Formerly the Rest House, this attractive historic structure has been very sensitively updated and offers high comfort levels and an excellent location…
