Cities of Sri Lanka Bucket List

Visit Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Explore the Gangaramaya Temple (a mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture with a museum of artifacts), stroll along Galle Face Green (a 5-hectare ocean-side urban park popular for kite flying and sunset views), and see the Colombo National Museum (founded in 1877, housing ancient regalia and historical collections).

Visit Galle, a historic city on Sri Lanka's southwest coast. Explore the Galle Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Dutch colonial architecture and ramparts overlooking the Indian Ocean), see the Galle Lighthouse (built in 1939 on the fort's southeast bastion), browse the Galle National Museum (housed in a 1656 Dutch building with artifacts from the colonial era), and stroll through the Old Town's streets lined with boutiques and cafes.

Visit Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. See the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (houses Buddha's tooth relic in a golden casket), stroll around Kandy Lake (artificial lake built in 1807 by the last king), and explore the Royal Botanical Gardens (one of the largest in Asia with over 4,000 plant species).

Nine Arch Bridge, the train through the tea country and the hike up Little Adam’s Peak.

The Tamil north, a Dutch fort, the Nallur Kandaswamy temple and the crab curry.

The 2,000-year-old sacred city: giant brick stupas and the oldest planted tree with a known date.

'Little England' at 1,900 metres: tea estates, a golf course and a post office from 1894.

One of the deepest natural harbours in the world, Nilaveli beach and blue whales offshore.