Cities in Sri Lanka

Known For : Galle Face Green Gangaramaya Temple Viharamahadevi Park

Colombo is Sri Lanka's prime city. The official capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is also within the urban area of Colombo, so Colombo is often called the capital of Sri Lanka as well. The city has a rich colonial heritage, and also some very scenic and popular attractions.

Best Time: December to March

68 Colombo Attractions

Known For : Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Kandy Lake Big Buddha - Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue

Kandy is a prominent city in Sri Lankan found precisely in the middle of the country. A city of both historical as well as religious importance, Kandy is renowned for being the site of the Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic, unarguably the most famous among all the temples of Sri Lanka. Kandy is also home to numerous remarkable museums and scenic attractions. Kandy is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 1988.

Best Time: December to April

47 Kandy Attractions

Known For : Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Jaffna Fort Jaffna Library

Jaffna is arguably the most historical city in Sri Lanka located at the northern tip on the country and the city from time to time had been passed under the rule of various kingdoms, governments and the armies. Unlike the country’s southern parts which are more influenced and in a way controlled by the Buddhist and the Sinhalese, the northern realms including Jaffna have a strong influence of the Tamil and the Hindu cultures.

Best Time: January to September

13 Jaffna Attractions

Known For : Galle Fort Galle Lighthouse Galle Fort Clock Tower

The port city of Galle is situated along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. A UNESCO World Heritage Site primarily known for Galle Fort was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and later fortified by Dutch in 1649.The attractions in the precincts of the Galle Fort include Dutch Reformed Church, Old Dutch Hospital, Galle Clock Tower and Galle Lighthouse. The National Maritime Museum, also located at the fort, offers fascinating insights into the country’s maritime history.

Best Time: February

33 Galle Attractions

Known For : Bentota Beach Saman Villas Brief garden by Bevis Bawa

Bentota is a rural, beach and resort city in Sri Lanka located in the southern part, around 62 kms from the capital city, Colombo. Bentota is famously known for the Bentota Beach, which is loved by tourists and locals alike. The town known for its pristine waters and lush green landscapes, with the dominance of tall palm trees. Interestingly, the name ‘Bentota’ is derived from Ben, a demon who once ruled the Tota or river bank.

Best Time: November to April

25 Bentota Attractions

Known For : Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple Fort Frederick Uppuveli Beach

The quaint city of Trincomalee also famously known as ‘Gokarna’ is an essential fragment of the country, contributing towards the betterment and development of the district and in a nutshell, Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is a port city in Sri Lanka famous for its white sand beaches and most beautiful harbours. The locals here predominantly speak Tamil. Trincomalee is well known for its beautiful beaches such as Nilaveli, Uppuveli and the off-shore Pigeon Island.

Best Time: May to June

20 Trincomalee Attractions

Known For : Sri Maha Bodhi Lovamahapaya Ruwanweliseya

Anuradhapura is a historical paradise as it houses several heritage monasteries, palaces and monuments. It is known for its vast dagobas or brick stupas, ancient ponds and pools and magnificent temples. This city in Sri Lanka was established as the first capital of Sri Lanka in 377 BC. The most popular tourist attractions in Anuradhapura are its ruins, or Anuradhapura World Heritage Site, the scared Maha Bodhi tree, Lovamahapaya or Brazen Palace

Best Time: April and September

20 Anuradhapura Attractions

Known For : Dambulla Cave Temple Dambulla Golden Temple & Museum Sigiriya

Dambulla is an ancient city in Sri Lanka. Along with being a major tourist destination, it is also a major commercial joint in the country of Sri Lanka due to its location. It is the centre of vegetable distribution in the country. Other than that, the town is widely known for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Golden Temple and the Buddhist Cave temple. Due to its religious and spiritual monuments, the town has a very peaceful environment.

Best Time: January to May

11 Dambulla Attractions

Known For : Maha Saman Dewalaya Kalthota Doowili Ella Falls

Famous for its gemstone industry, Ratnapura is a populous southwestern city in Sri Lanka. It is also known for serving as the start point of a trail that leads to the sacred Adam's Peak. A flourishing centre for gem trade for local and foreign traders alike, Ratnapura is home to numerous gem mines and a fascinating Gem Museum. Some of the world's most recognized gemstones, such as the Star of India, Blue Belle of Asia and The Star of Adam, were discovered at Ratnapura.

Best Time: January to March

8 Ratnapura Attractions

Batticaloa also is known as 'Batti' for short, is a small city in Sri Lanka located on the east coast, which has a very mellow and calm vibe to it. The calming city is surrounded by beautiful lagoons and palm trees. This town is in the east of Sri Lanka is also easy to reach due to its connectivity to roads, railway, and the bridge connected to the causeway, which makes the city easily accessible. Batticaloa is a small city and the best way to explore it is on foot.

Best Time: April to September

Vavuniya is a transport hub in the Northern province of Sri Lanka. Located almost 250 km from Colombo and one of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka, this city is known for its historical significance and cultural attractions ranging from Mosques, Temples, and Churches to Clock Towers and Museums. This bustling city in Sri Lanka has just a few sights, but as it’s on the way to Jaffna, a pause here for a while won’t be too time-consuming and unpleasant.

Kalmunai is a beach city in the Ampara district of Sri Lanka. Situated in the Eastern province, it has seen a profound history like no other place has. Kalmunai is bestowed with beautiful beaches and aesthetic landscapes that historically it was considered the King’s Royal farm and resort town. There are lush green trees and paddy fields across the side of the roads, and the narrow streams have small river birds that nestle there.

Best Time: December to April

Home to the main International Airport of Sri Lanka, Colombo International Airport, Katunayake is towards the west coast of Sri Lanka right next Negombo city. Due to a massive transformation in the economy, the city now has one of the largest free trade zones with investments from all over the world.

Kolonnawa, a small suburb in Colombo, is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious city which offers temples and buddhist statues to admire. As it is located at the coast of the Western Province in Sri Lanka, one can definitely enjoy the sunset at the beach for a rejuvenating time.

The name of this city in Sri Lanka translates into ‘the blessed fortress city of growing victory’. Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is considered to be the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. Although there is not much to see in the city, people are known to take a stroll around to get the feel of the town out of sheer curiosity.

Moratuwa is surrounded by water on three sides: the Indian Ocean, a river and Bolgoda lake, suffice to say these water bodies make way for some fantastic water activities, water sports, and sunsets. Tourists flock to the city for its rich historical and cultural history which can be seen embodied in old churches, museums and more.

Home to one of Asia’s largest Zoological Gardens, the National Zoological Gardens Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia has a lot going for it being the second-largest municipality in Sri Lanka lying immediately south of Colombo. This city in Sri Lanka has a rich colonial past and history, which is evident because of all the beautiful Churches, Buddhist Temples, and Mosques scattered across the area.