Tea hills, ancient kingdoms, and beaches within a day's drive
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Colombo is the commercial capital)
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)
Languages
Sinhala, Tamil
Time zone
SLST (UTC+5:30)
Visa
ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) required for most nationalities
From Options
Ready-to-book packages for Sri Lanka from our Options catalog — open any trip for the full day-by-day plan.
Why visit
Sri Lanka fits ancient cities, misty tea plantations, wildlife safaris, and palm-fringed beaches into a country you can cross in a day.
heritage
UNESCO sites like Sigiriya rock fortress and Anuradhapura.
landscape
Misty hill-country train rides through emerald plantations.
food
Whale watching, surfing, and seafood on golden-sand beaches.
Top destinations
Things to do
Climate
Mar–Jun · Hot before the monsoon
Dec–Feb · Dry and pleasant on the west/south coast
May–Sep (southwest), Oct–Jan (northeast) · Two separate monsoon systems
December to March for the west and south coasts
Travel guide
Scenic trains connect the hill country; private drivers are common for multi-stop itineraries.
Rice and curry, hoppers, and fresh Ceylon tea.
Ceylon tea, gemstones, and handloom textiles.
Colombo has a growing bar and rooftop scene; the coast is more low-key.
Tourist SIMs available at the airport with reasonable island-wide coverage.
ATMs common in cities; carry cash for rural areas and small vendors.
Reliable in Colombo and tourist hubs; slower in the hill country.
Dress modestly at temples and remove shoes and hats before entering.
Cities
Highlights
Common questions
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