Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in Sri Lanka as a Family
Sri Lanka is geographically blessed. With a length spanning 432 km and a width of 224 km, the island offers a range of landscapes, climates and activities within a few hours of road travel. In fact, given the island’s extensive inland road network, you could easily do a quick Sri Lanka round-trip within a week. However, we recommend a longer stay to take in the sights and sounds at each stop along the way. There’s something for everyone – young and old, laidback and adventurous.
Family is at the heart of everything in Sri Lanka. Children are nurtured to respect and value familial relationships, and to extend the same warmth to those around them. It is perhaps for this reason that those who visit Sri Lanka speak so highly of its hospitality – and for the same reasons that a Sri Lanka family vacation is at the top of many-a-traveler’s bucket list. Tourists are embraced with the trademark Sri Lankan warmth and are made to feel safe and comfortable.
Places to Visit in Sri Lanka with Family
Let’s begin in the north. While Jaffna was hardest hit by the country’s decades-long civil war, it is now making its mark as a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The ornate, gilded Nallu Kandaswamy temple leaves visitors in awe, while the Jaffna Fort, Archaelogical Museum and iconic Public Library offer glimpses into the region’s history.
Moving down the western coast, December-March is the peak of flamingo migration season in Mannar, allowing for breathtaking views of the fluttery beauties. The Donkey Clinic and Education Center is a fun stop for families with young children, too, as visitors get to interact with the adorable furry friends while learning about the rehabilitation and care that the center provides for them.
Further down, November-March is the season for dolphin- and whale-watching around the Kalpitiya peninsula. If you’re lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of a blue whale – the largest creatures on the planet – while you’re out at sea!
Negombo is a tourist haven, with its bustling beaches and hip streets lined with restaurants and shops. It is also popular for boat safaris on the Negombo Lagoon, bird watching tours through the Muthurajawela Marshes, its vibrant fish market with lagoon-fresh seafood, and the many colonial-era Catholic churches that have earned the city its ‘Little Rome’ moniker.
If you’re looking for a bit of luxe or retail therapy, the capital Colombo is ever-ready to spoil you with everything from high-quality local hand-made gifts and souvenirs to international brands. Gangaramaya Temple – a museum as much as it is a place of worship, Galle Face Green with its colourful kites and ‘bites’, the National Museum and the Dutch Hospital complex are popular stops, while the attractive Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque is a favourite among Instagrammers. There are numerous hotel rooftop restaurants and bars to chill at in the evenings.
The southern coast is known for some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, dotted with restaurants, cafés, hotels and hangout spots. A drive of under two hours via the Southern Expressway, Galle is a very popular stop. The bustling Galle Fort is embellished with colonial history, a variety of cuisines, museums and boutique shops that offer local products and souvenirs. The iconic Galle International Cricket Stadium sits right next to Galle Fort.
If you opt for the coastal route instead of the expressway, a stop in Ambalangoda is a great opportunity to witness and appreciate traditional Sri Lankan mask artistry and puppetry. Despite becoming a waning practice, artisanal families in the area have dedicated their lives to keeping the intriguing eye-catching tradition alive.
Nuwara Eliya offers picturesque views, tea plantations and a cooler climate due to which it is fondly referred to as ‘Little England’. Visitors to the region often enjoy tea factory tours where they get to witness how the world gets the best Ceylon tea.
A couple of hours’ drive from Nuwara Eliya is Ella, where one of Sri Lanka’s most-photographed architectural highlights is located – the Nine Arches Bridge. Definitely Gram-worthy!
Towards the island’s center is the hill-capital of Kandy, steeped in history and heritage and the home to the much-revered Temple of the Tooth Relic. The Royal Botanical Gardens are popular among nature-lovers. A stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a top-pick among families travelling from Colombo to Kandy as visitors get to learn about and interact with elephants at bath and feeding times.
A little further up in the North Central province are two cities that are known for their rich historical significance – Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, which are under a three-hour drive away from each other. Particularly noteworthy are the stunning centuries-old ruins from ancient civilisations, kingdoms and Buddhism.
Things to Do in Sri Lanka with Family
For the more adrenaline-driven families, there’s plenty in terms of outdoor adventures in Sri Lanka.
If you’re into water sports, Kalpitiya offers summer (May-October) and winter (December-March) kitesurfing, while Arugambay on the east coast and Weligama and Hikkaduwa on the south-west coast are firm favourites among surfers. Kitulgala, on the way to Kandy/Nuwara Eliya from Colombo, is an excellent spot to partake in some exhilarating white water rafting between May-December.
There are plenty of options for hikes in Sri Lanka, too, starting with the highly-sought Pekoe Trail which spans over 300km through Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. The Knuckles and Hanthana Mountain Ranges in Kandy are perfect options for mountain hikes, while Horton Plains in Nuwara Eliya is a less mountainous choice that also offers a glimpse of local wildlife including friendly sambar deer. Mid-December to early-May is ideal to summit Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), usually climbed in the early morning hours so as to peak in time to witness the breathtaking sunrise.
On to man-made wonders, Ambuluwawa Tower in the Kandy region is perched atop a 3,567-foot hill. A slightly precarious climb along its narrow, open spiral staircase gives a spectacular 360o view of Kandy District. Another phenomenal structure is the Sigiriya lion rock, where a somewhat steep climb leads to the ruins of an ancient fortress, palace and gardens built atop a 180 meter-high natural rock. It is also famous for the stunning frescoes preserved on the walls within the rock and observable during the climb.
If you’re keen on a Sri Lanka wildlife tour, Yala National Park is a popular pick to catch a glimpse of local wildlife including the Sri Lankan leopard, deer, elephants and large birds. Wilpattu, Udawalawe and Minneriya National Parks are also known to leave visitors in awe.
For families looking to wind down, rejuvenate and recuperate from the daily buzz, there are several highly-acclaimed meditation and wellness retreat centers around the island which cater to different budgets, requirements and environment preferences.
Finding Your Way Around Sri Lanka
Given Sri Lanka’s impressive road density, the best way to travel around Sri Lanka is by road. With 40 years of experience, Kings Rent-a-Car offers renting options both with and without a chauffeur. Our fleet includes a wide selection from saloon cars to medium-sized SUVs and 4WDs, to match family size, destination and budget. Our rates are competitive and our service consistently draws in five-star ratings. Our chauffeurs are professionally trained to ensure a safe and comfortable ride for you and your family. Should you opt to self-drive, we provide 24-hour island-wide roadside assistance to match the reliability of our fleet. Add-on options of child/infant car seats, jumper cables, first aid kits and GPS-enabled tablets are also available.
Visit Kings Rent-a-Car online to see all available options and rates, or chat with us on WhatsApp via +94 77 773 9492 for more information and inquiries.