We decided to stop in Sri Lanka on our way back to Europe to visit family. We were living in New Zealand at the time so it made sense to break up the long journey. Both of us are big advocates of turning a stopover into a short vacation. But, this wasn’t just any stopover – we decided to spend over three weeks exploring the best sights in Sri Lanka.
We did extensive research as this was a bucket list trip for us. So many of our friends had spoken so highly of Sri Lanka. And we were so excited! When planning our itinerary we only wanted to include the places that appealed to us NOT the most popular spots. Which is why the itinerary you’ll read below is unique from others on the internet.
Based on the awesome time we had in Sri Lanka, I’ve put this incredibly detailed guide together on how to spend two weeks in Sri Lanka. It’s a very popular amount of time to spend in this stunning island nation as it will allow you to see its top sights – places like the Nine Arches Bridge in Ella and Galle Lighthouse. And, with 14 days you’ll also get to go off-the-beaten path and explore what I consider to be Sri Lanka’s most amazing hidden gems like Rekawa Beach and Udawalawe National Park.
So, here’s our ultimate two-week itinerary for Sri Lanka. In this blog post, I’ll share with you how long to spend in each destination, tell you why each spot below is worth visiting, and list the best things to do, hotels, and restaurants in each place.
Is two weeks enough time in Sri Lanka?
As I said, two weeks is a popular amount of time to spend in Sri Lanka. And with 14 days in Sri Lanka, you will get to see all of its top sights but it will be rushed. For example, you will only have around two nights in each spot. So, if you want to take it slow we recommend allowing three weeks or even a month exploring Sri Lanka.
Our two-week Sri Lanka itinerary:
- Day 1 – 2: Colombo
- Day 3 – 4: Kandy
- Day 5 – 7: Ella
- Day 8: Udawalawe National Park
- Day 9 – 11: Galle
- Day 12 – 13: Rekawa Beach
- Day 14: Negombo
Is Sri Lanka expensive?
No it’s not expensive, I would say that Sri Lanka is a cheap destination. Now, it’s not as cheap as places like Vietnam, but I’d say to budget around $75 – 100 USD per day here and you should be good. Now, that will include your accommodation in a mid-range hotel, eating two meals out a day, and guided tours in some spots.
You could survive on $50 USD a day in Sri Lanka if you’re careful with your money and stay at hostels and eat at local restaurants or street food stalls.
Getting to Sri Lanka
Most tourists arrive in to Sri Lanka by plane, as the airport here (Bandaranaike International Airport) is well-serviced by flights from Asia, Europe and Australia. The airport is just 35 km from Colombo and 15 minutes from Negombo.
We decided to start our trip in Colombo (the capital and biggest city) and so we booked a transfer from the airport to our hotel it cost around $20 USD. It was really convenient having it pre-booked seeing as we arrived late at night. A cab will cost around the same.
Two Week Sri Lanka Backpacking Route
This route is a little bit of a unique backpacking route as it doesn’t include popular attractions like Sigriya, Tangalle, and Mirissa. We purposely followed this route as we wanted to go off the beaten path and experience the less-crowded parts of Sri Lanka. As you’ll see it still includes tourist hotspots like Ella and Galle, but we think these are absolute must-visits despite their popularity.
I will also add that we stayed at mid-range accommodation along our route as it was a bucket list trip for us and we wanted to splurge a little. We also got private transfers a few times as to us, they were reasonably priced.
But, I’ve also included hostels where necessary and listed public transport options to get you from A to B for all the budget travelers reading!
If you’re wondering how we afford to travel long term? Then our detailed guide deals with the ins and outs of how we save for a trip. We’ve spent 3 months backpacking through Central America, 2 months in Southeast Asia, 3 months in Italy, and months traveling through Australia and New Zealand. So we’ve been traveling for a long time!
Colombo (Day 1 – 2)
We recommend allowing 2 days and 2 nights in Colombo, like we did. Here’s how we spent our two days in Colombo. After a long flight (from New Zealand) we decided that our day one would be a more chilled-out day as we wanted to fully recover from our flight and be full of energy for the next two weeks. This was a bucket list trip for us, after all.
We had a nice, casual morning at our hotel and then headed for the Old Dutch Hospital in the early afternoon. It’s said to be the oldest building in the city, as it dates back to 1681! And it’s very photogenic. There are lots of stores here and some great restaurants, too. We had lunch at Harpo’s Colombo Fort Cafe and enjoyed it. We also went for a stroll around Viharamahadevi Park which is located in Cinnamon Gardens.
The next day after breakfast, we made a beeline for the National Museum, the biggest in the country and the perfect spot to learn about the country’s culture and history. After all, you will be spending two weeks here so it’s a good idea to learn about the country’s history (if you haven’t already researched it).
In the afternoon we headed for the very photogenic Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil. This is the biggest and oldest Hindu temple in the city. It’s dedicated to the Gods Shiva and Ganesh. We also stopped by the Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque) which is equally as eye-catching as you can tell from the photos above.
In the evening we enjoyed some great street food in the Galle Face Green area.
My tour recommendation for Colombo:
If you love the hassle-free nature of a guided tour then this Tuk It Easy Colombo tour will be right up your street. It’s a 3-4 hour tour, during which you’ll get to taste delicious Sri Lankan food and get to see ‘true’ Colombo through the eyes of a local. Lunch, and drinks (including alcoholic drinks) are included in the price of $45 USD per person.
Where to stay in Colombo:
We stayed at the Colombo Court Hotel & Spa for two nights and would stay again. The staff were really friendly and helpful. Our room was comfortable and spacious and the next morning we loved swimming in their outdoor pool. And conveniently it’s located close to the Dutch Hospital. A double room here costs around $50 USD per night.
If you’re on a budget – then we’ve heard great things about Hostel Republic at Galle Face. It looks stylish and social and the reviews are great!
Kandy (Day 3 – 4)
On day three, we took the train to Kandy from Colombo, which took around 4 hours. It departs from Maradana Railway Station and is quite a scenic journey (although not as wow-worthy as the journey from Kandy to Ella which we recommend later).
We recommend spending two nights in Kandy.
Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and it’s known as one of the most beautiful urban areas in the country. I didn’t get a city vibe from it, to me it felt more like a large town in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Colombo.
During our two full days here we strolled around Kandy Lake also known as the Sea of Milk. It’s located a short walk from the city center and is one of the best spots in the city to watch the sunrise or sunset. The walk around the lake is 3.4 kilometers long. We also visited the famed Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
What to do in Kandy
1. Temple of the Tooth Relic
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where the tooth of Buddha is enshrined. It’s one of the most popular tourist sites in Sri Lanka with an estimated 3,000 visitors every day!
The temple is very important to Buddhists and it’s adorned with intricate carvings. You can find it close to the Royal Palace.
2. Bahirawakanda Temple
This huge white Buddha statue on the hill of Bahirawakanda can be seen from pretty much everywhere in Kandy. It’s called the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya and it’s a whopping 25 meters tall. Behind the statue, you can climb a steep flight of stairs to an awesome viewpoint of Kandy.
3. Royal Botanical Gardens
Around 5 km outside the city you’ll find the Royal Botanical Gardens which house over 4,000 plant species. But, it’s most famous for its collection of orchids. We spent around 3 hours here as it was such a relaxing and beautiful place to visit.
4. Get the train from Kandy to Ella
Regularly dubbed as the ‘most beautiful train journey in the world’ by the media. The Kandy to Ella train is certainly a train ride that is not to be missed. As a result, of its famed status this train is typically packed to the rafters. The best spots on board are the public areas between carriages. Here you can hang out of the doorways (be cautious though) to get that all-important Instagram photo!
My only advice is to book first-class or second-class tickets to avoid the sweaty jam-packed journey in third class like we did.
BOOK your reserved seats on the train from Kandy to Ella here (we highly advise advance booking this)!
Where to stay in Kandy:
We stayed at the Hotel Suisse, a historic hotel located right on Kandy Lake. It boasts over 2.5 acres of landscaped gardens and has a gorgeous outdoor pool. Our room was spacious and very regal looking and the breakfast was exceptional.
For budget travelers, consider Bunkalow a villa-style hostel that’s nestled along the banks of a river. It’s 3 km outside of town but if it’s peace and quiet you’re after this is the spot for you!
Ella (Day 5 – 7)
After hopping off one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world you’ll get to Ella, a picturesque small town with a chilled-out vibe. It’s nestled among lush green tea plantations and was easily the most beautiful place we visited in Sri Lanka.
Three days in Ella is the perfect amount of time as it will allow you to relax and tick off the area’s top things to do. We spent our time here hiking up to Adam’s Peak, visiting the super-fanous Nine Arches Bridge, and doing a tour of a tea factory.
What to do in Ella
Hike to Adams Peak
It’s a steep 7 km climb to Adam’s Peak that involves no less than 1,500 steps but the views from the top are so worth it. It’s one of the most popular hikes in the country because there’s a rock that looks like a footprint at the summit which is very important to many religions. Buddhists believe the footprint belongs to Buddha while Hindus believe it is from the god Shiva. And many Christians say the footprint is that of Adam, hence the name.
This hike is best climbed early in the morning when you can see the first light of the day catching the surrounding mountain ranges from the top.
Nine Arches Bridge
The Nine Arches Bridge just outside of Ella is one of the most famous things to do in Sri Lanka. It’s on this glorious colonial-era viaduct bridge that the train from Kandy to Ella chugs across a couple of times a day and most people come here to the viewpoint which overlooks the bridge – to snap a photo!
There are two options for you to get to Nine Arches Bridge – you can walk or get a tuk-tuk. A tuk-tuk from Ella town costs approx. 300 LKR, ask them to drop you at the tunnel and walk a little way to the bridge itself. Luckily, there are a few walking routes from Ella town to the bridge. But the quickest way is to walk the main ‘Nine Arches track’ towards the tunnel. Note – this is the busiest walking route.
Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
This was a unique highlight of our Sri Lanka itinerary. We visited the Uva Halpewatte factory hidden high in the hills surrounding Ella. A tuk-tuk here from Ella town costs just $7 USD one-way. You can also pay your driver a little extra for him to wait for you & bring you back to Ella. We learned so much about the tea-making process. The views from the balcony are crazy-beautiful.
Where to stay in Ella:
We spent 4 nights at Villa Nature Hights on the outskirts of town, it was around a 10-minute walk into the town but we loved its hillside location because the views (as you can see from the photo above are epic). Our room was cozy and traditional in style, the staff were helpful and friendly and it was great value for money at around $35 USD per night.
Udawalawe National Park (Day 8)
At the top of my list of things to do when in Sri Lanka was seeing elephants in the wild at Udawalawe National Park. As elephants are my favorite animals.
This is one of the smallest national parks in the country – it’s around 119 square miles and because it’s quite small your chances of seeing elephants is higher. As I said, there are over 500 elephants in Udawalawe. It’s also less crowded than the more famous Yala or Minneriya national parks.
To get here, we had to get two local buses, the first from Ella to Wellawaya and the second from Wellawaya to Udawalawe from here we caught a tuk-tuk to our hotel. It cost us around $15 each.
The only way to see Udawalawe is on a guided tour. We did this 3 hour tour and really rate it. It’s 3 hours long and you can choose an early morning departure time (around 7 am) or an afternoon slot (around 3 pm) as those are the best times to see the elephants. It costs from $61 USD.
BOOK the same Udawalawe tour that we did here!
We stayed at the lovely Elephant Trail on the outskirts of the park. And we loved it. Our room was light-filled and spacious and looked out into the lush countryside. There’s also a lovely wraparound outdoor pool and we ate in the restaurant for breakfast and dinner as there’s no town within walking distance. The food was great, though – so we didn’t mind at all.
Galle (Day 9 – 11)
On day 9, we took a taxi from Udawalawe to Galle, this was arranged through our hotel. The journey took under 3 hours and cost us $60. If you want to save, you can ask your accommodation to arrange a shared taxi, for a cheaper price.
Galle is a fortified city that is very historic and beautiful. It looks very different from other Sri Lankan cities like Colombo and Kandy because it was built by the Portuguese. Many of its buildings are built in a Portuguese architectural style.
The length of Galle town is 36 hectares of fort walls, and it is along these walls that the famed Galle lighthouse stands proud. This is definitely one of the top sights to see in Galle.
Did you know the original lighthouse was burned down in 1936 and had to be rebuilt?! Be sure to get here for sunrise (and avoid the crowds) or sunset for the best photos.
Some of the other best things to do in Galle can also be found along the fort which runs the length of the town on the coast – here, be sure to check out the Galle Fort Clock Tower and Flag Point. Not too far from the Galle Lighthouse, you’ll find the Dutch Hospital an old hospital that now houses some of the best restaurants and boutique stores in Galle.
Where to stay in Galle:
We stayed at Mango House Boutique Hotel by the fort in Galle (the best area to stay in Galle, in my opinion). It’s excellently rated and has a gorgeous light-filled courtyard where you can eat your meals or enjoy a drink from the bar. And I loved our room – it was very chic. It had a 4 poster bed!
While if you’re on a budget a good place to spend your nights in Galle is Tanty’s Hostel which is really well-rated and known for being very social.
Rekawa Beach (Day 12 – 13)
On day 12, we got a tuk-tuk from Galle to Rekawa Beach for approx. $20 USD. It took 1.5 hours.
We opted for Rekawa beach instead of the more popular (and crowded) beaches of Tangalle or Mirissa. The 4 km golden sand beach here is pretty much deserted save for a few local fishermen and through the months of October to April you may be lucky enough to witness baby turtles hatching.
It’s heaven for wildlife lovers – during our time here we saw turtles, monkeys, kingfishers, peacocks, and more.
Where to stay in Rekawa:
We stayed at the gorgeous Seven Turtles Resort and every morning and evening walked the length of the beach out front. It is here we spotted the colorful fishing boats and the colorful characters who own them.
Negombo (Day 14)
Your final stop on your 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary should be the coastal city of Negombo, which is in fact the closest city to Bandaranaike International Airport (at just a 15-minute drive away!)
Negombo is renowned for its epic beach sunsets and large beachfront hotels. So, it really is the perfect spot to chill out before your flight home.
Some of our favorite things to do in Negombo include –
- Visiting Angurukaramulla Temple – the city’s largest temple that houses a huge and colorful painting of Buddha
- Walking through the small fishing villages on the outskirts of Negombo
- Going shopping on Beach Road – We picked up lots of unique souvenirs in the stores along Beach Road. The jewelry is especially beautiful.
Where to stay in Negombo:
We spent the last day of our two weeks in Sri Lanka at the Goldi Sands Hotel right on Negombo Beach. It’s a huge hotel with two swimming pools, a spa and, two restaurants. Our room had a big balcony and we loved watching the sunrise and sunset from it.
The hotel is also within walking distance of many stores and restaurants along Beach Road. FYI, we loved Greek Grill – one of the best Greek restaurants outside of Greece, in my opinion!
What to know before visiting Sri Lanka:
- Sri Lanka has a diverse climate, that varies from region to region. The southwest monsoon affects the west and south coasts from May to September, while the northeast monsoon impacts the east coast from November to March. Understanding these patterns can help you plan your itinerary effectively.
- Sri Lankans value respect and modesty, so dress conservatively, especially when visiting religious sites, where covering shoulders and knees is expected. Additionally, it’s customary to remove shoes when entering temples.
- The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), and while credit cards are accepted in urban areas, it’s wise to carry cash for transactions in rural regions. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory.
What is the best time of year to visit Sri Lanka?
The best time of year to visit Sri Lanka depends on which part of the country you plan to explore, as the country experiences two distinct monsoon seasons.
If you’re looking to enjoy the southwestern coasts and hills (Colombo, Galle, Rekawa Beach), the ideal time is from December to March, when the weather is generally dry and sunny. So, if you’re to follow the above itinerary visiting between December and March will be perfect!
On the other hand, if you’re heading to the eastern and northern regions, the months from April to September are the most favorable, offering pleasant weather conditions for exploring places like Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Jaffna.
What to pack for two weeks in Sri Lanka
- A decent pair of walking shoes. I wore my Teva Hurricane Sandals most of the time, they are so comfortable and have sturdy soles.
- A cute shawl (in a lot of museums and temples, you have to cover your shoulders so this will come in handy). I have this one and love it.
- An eSIM, if you’re coming to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks then I recommend getting an eSIM as that way you won’t need to change your number or remove the physical SIM from your phone. They are so handy and cheap, too. Obviously make sure your phone is compatible with an eSIM first.
- Comfortable, loose pants for the long bus and train journeys – I wore my Sweaty Betty modal wide leg pants so much. They’re so comfortable and made of a unique breathable material.
Thanks for Reading!
If you didn’t already guess I absolutely loved our Sri Lanka itinerary. It had everything we wanted – quiet beaches, bustling cities, and a safari. Visiting Sri Lanka is a bucket list ticket for most people so planning the right itinerary is absolutely essential!
I’d love to hear what you thought of my guide to two weeks in Sri Lanka in the comment section below! Did I miss anything really cool?
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Last Updated on January 23, 2025 by snaphappytravel