Sri Lanka Travel Tips & Advice

Plan your next trip with expert travel advice, insider guides and local recommendations curated by Lonely Planet contributors worldwide.

Destination:

Europe Asia North America South America Australia & Pacific Africa Middle East Caribbean Central America Antarctica

Category:

Adventure Art & Culture Beaches Budget Couples Events Family Food & Drink Outdoors Road Trips Sustainable Travel Travel Advice

Results (30)

Lighthouse in Galle fort in a sunny day in Sri Lanka, License Type: media, Download Time: 2026-05-21T16:56:36.000Z, User: lonelyplanetmedia, Editorial: false, purchase_order: 65050 - Digital Destinations and Articles, job: Comp Ingestion, client: Global Publishing WIP, other: Pia Peterson

Aug 20, 202617 min read

18 Things to Do in Sri Lanka and the Best Way to Do Them

Bala Murugan Temple at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka with colourful boats in foreground.

Jul 28, 202611 min read

16 Things to Know Before You Head to Sri Lanka

An elephant stands in the road with a tuk tuk in the distance stopping to give the elephant plenty of space.

Jul 21, 20267 min read

A Guide to Driving a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka

GettyImages-2236408381.jpg
Elephant bathes in Sri Lanka lake with Sigiriya rock in background.

Apr 20, 202612 min read

13 Top Places to Visit in Sri Lanka

Buddhist monk at the Gal Vihara in Sri Lanka. Hugh Sitton/Getty Images

Feb 18, 20266 min read

The Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

A group of surfers climb down Elephant Rock towards the beach for a surfing session.

Jan 15, 20266 min read

13 of the Best Beaches in Sri Lanka

A diver at the Navy Underwater Museum and Shipwreck, Trincomalee. Epic Ocean Adventures

Jan 14, 20267 min read

Guide to Diving in Sri Lanka

Banyan Camp at night. Banyan Camp

Jan 5, 202610 min read

Top 10 Safari Lodges in Sri Lanka

A large spotted cat looks back over its shoulder as it stalks along a dirt track through woodland in a national park.

Jan 5, 20268 min read

The Best Places for Safari Experiences in Sri Lanka

Blue-green waters ripple on a coast lined with buildings and palm trees

Dec 1, 202513 min read

11 of the Best Places to Surf in Sri Lanka

Follow these itineraries to some of Sri Lanka's most beautiful corners, like Mihintale. Getty Images

Nov 14, 202511 min read

Sri Lanka Itineraries: 4 Incredible Routes to Explore the Island

Sri Lanka may be relatively small, but it packs in some epic rail journeys. SurangaLK / Shutterstock

Nov 7, 20258 min read

The 4 Best Train Journeys in Sri Lanka – and How to Book Them

Sep 3, 202512 min read

What to Eat and Drink in Sri Lanka

The train trip from Ella to Kandy in Sri Lanka, is one of the most scenic. peacefoo/Shutterstock

Aug 25, 20256 min read

How to Get Around in Sri Lanka: Trains, Buses, Tuk Tuks and Cars

Visitors at top of the rock fortress of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. Wesche/Shutterstock

Aug 23, 20253 min read

Visa Requirements for Sri Lanka: What Visitors Need to Know

Sri Lanka's Southern Province. Mystockimages/Getty Images

Aug 22, 20259 min read

6 of the Best Road Trips in Sri Lanka

From trekking to Adam's Peak to hiking through Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka has many superb trails. iStock

Aug 22, 20258 min read

The Best 7 Hikes in Sri Lanka

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Matt Munro/Lonely Planet

Aug 7, 20257 min read

The Best Things to Do in Sri Lanka with Kids

Ella Rock from Little Adam's Peak. Michael Roberts/Getty Images

Jul 12, 20258 min read

The dos and Don’ts of Traveling Through Sri Lanka

Scenic views along Sri Lanka's Pekoe Trail. Thetriggerhappydoc/Shutterstock

Mar 18, 20259 min read

7 Ways to Seek Out an Outdoor Adventure in Sri Lanka

An elephant wandering through grass near a lake in a national park.

Mar 18, 20259 min read

10 of Sri Lanka’s Best National Parks

Ella Rock on the Pekoe Trail offers panoramic views over Sri Lanka's Hill Country. Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images

Mar 16, 20256 min read

How to Hike the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya viewed from Pidurangula Hill at sunrise. StephenBridger/Getty Images

Mar 7, 20259 min read

5 of Sri Lanka's Most Incredible Ancient Wonders

Your cell phone is an invaluable tool for exploring Sri Lanka's beaches, national parks and ancient cities. Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images

Mar 4, 20259 min read

How to Get Your Cell Phone Connected in Sri Lanka: eSIMs, Wi-Fi and Mobile Networks

Jan 13, 20259 min read

16 Tips for Keeping Costs Low on Your Next Sri Lanka Adventure

Jul 29, 20213 min read

A Holiday in Galle

An aerial photo of a coast line with palm trees, sand, white surf and turquoise water

Jan 19, 20212 min read

Here's What to Expect When Sri Lanka Opens to Visitors This Month

The serene waters of Sri Lanka's Madu River are best explored by boat. Chalabala / Getty Images

Jan 21, 20205 min read

The Rewards of Slow Travel on Sri Lanka's Waterways

Sri Lanka has made great strides to recover from so many hardships, this most recent setback should not keep you away. Ffilipovich / Getty Images

Jun 29, 20195 min read

Why I Won't Give up on Sri Lanka and You Shouldn't Either

Dec 2, 20124 min read

Sri Lanka: Nirvana for Beach Lovers

Explore More

Explore

Attractions

Explore

Destinations

Shop

Books