Sigiriya is located along Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle and there are actually a lot of places that you can visit in and around this historic town. Most people will visit Sigiriya for half a day and then move on to do something else. However, if you are visiting Sigiriya, then I think it’s well worth your time to spend a few days in this area. From rich history to animal sighting, from hiking to experiencing life in a traditional Sri Lankan village, there is a wide variety of things you can do in and around Sigiriya! This post covers all these places and activities.
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Key Callout About Things to Do in and Around Sigiriya
Most of the things to do in and around Sigiriya don’t take a full day. So you can easily combine 2 things on the same day. Try to pick things that are closer together or that are varied in interest so that you don’t have history fatigue for example. I will publish a blog post with the best combinations of things to do soon!
How to Get to Sigiriya
By Car
Regardless from where in the country you are coming from, traveling by car is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Sigiriya. You can either hire a taxi for the day or book a private transfer.
We used Prime Taxi and had a good experience overall.
By Tuk-Tuk
You could potentially hire a tuk-tuk to bring you to Sigiriya as well. If you are doing this, you may have to arrange for it the day prior with a tuk-tuk driver. Don’t depend on finding a tuk-tuk via an app or from the street the day of. If you are coming from Colombo, the journey may take 4-5 hours (tuks can’t go as fast as cars). Alternatively, you can also hire a tuk-tuk and drive it yourself. This mode is fast becoming popular with tourists, however, unless you are used to driving in chaos, I personally would not do it.
By Bus
There is no direct bus to Sigiriya. If you are coming from Colombo, you will have to take a bus going to either Anuradhapura (bus 15), Polonnaruwa (bus 48) or Trincomalee (bus 49) and get off at Dambulla. From Dambulla you will have to catch a bus to Sigiriya. It will be the same if you are coming from Kandy as well.
You can also find air conditioned buses that go from Colombo to Dambulla. Check them out HERE. They are more expensive but maybe worth it given the heat in Sri Lanka. This bus is a little faster (around 3-4 hours) than the regular bus which can take 4-5 hours.
By Train
Coming by train is the slowest option. It will take around 5-6 hours and there is only 1 train that runs daily from Colombo to Habarana which is located 15 KM away. You will still have to find your way to Sigiriya from Habarana. I don’t recommend this option.
By Air
If you want to splurge, there is also an option to take a domestic flight from Colombo to Sigiriya. This private flight is offered by Cinnamon Air. You can check out more HERE.
How to Get Around Sigiriya
Having your own vehicle either via a private driver or a pre-arranged vehicle hire makes it easier to do some of the things on the list, especially if you are looking to combine things on the same day. You can also get tuk-tuks to take you around but you will probably have to negotiate quite a bit. That’s why I recommend having a private driver because you pay a pre-paid amount and the excess mileage is also a fixed rate.
Unless you have a lot of time on your hands, I would say try to avoid public transport like buses because they are generally slow.
Another way to do some of the things I’ve listed for in and around Sigiriya would be via pre-arranged or organized tours. I will suggest well rated tours below so you have that option as well.
Things to Do in and Around Sigiriya
Climb Sigiriya Rock
You can’t visit Sigiriya and not climb the town’s most iconic monument. Sigiriya was once the capital of Sri Lanka. 1500 years ago, an illegitimate prince killed his father and usurped his brother (the legal heir) for the throne. He then moved the capital of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya and built his castle upon this massive rock. Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and one that is definitely worth your time.
You should aim to visit Sigiriya either early morning or closer to the evening to avoid mid-day crowds and the heat.
I cover everything you need to know about visiting Sigiriya in this POST!
Visit a Traditional Village
About 80% of Sri Lankans live in rural areas and villages. To get the authentic Sri Lankan experience, you can visit and tour a traditional village and see how a majority of Sri Lankans live. The village of Hiriwadunna between Habarana and Sigiriya offer a glimpse into this life.
The experience ranges from boat tours (in traditional boats), cooking, a tour of the village, using local transport and having a home cooked village style meal.
Even for someone like me who was born and raised in Sri Lanka, I found this to be a really unique experience as I am from Colombo and hadn’t really experienced rural living before.
Call Chandrasena +94779396835 to book.
Visit the Dambulla Golden Cave Temple
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 3rd century BC cave temple is the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The temple has 5 caves that are full of beautiful murals and 100+ Buddha statues. The murals depict stories from the Buddha’s life. You do have to climb a reasonable numbers of stairs to get to the top where the caves are but it’s not as bad as Sigiriya.
You don’t need more than 3 hours to visit Dambulla making it an ideal site to combine with either Sigiriya, Pidurangala or the traditional village.
Hike Pidurangala Rock
If you love to hike, then I highly recommend doing a sunrise or sunset hike up Pidurangala. From this rock, you can see panoramic views of the surrounding plains including Sigiriya. In fact, it’s one of the best views you will find of Sigiriya.
I wrote a very detailed blog post about hiking Pidurangala that you can check out HERE!
If you prefer to join an organized tour, you can check out some options below!
Visit the Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
The second kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka is one of my favorite historic sites in the entire country. Polonnaruwa is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is almost a 1000 years old. What I love most about Polonnaruwa is that you can see so many religious and secular structures in a small concentrated area.
You need about 3-4 hours to explore Polonnaruwa, making it an ideal half day trip from in and around Sigiriya.
Check out my detailed guide to Polonnaruwa HERE! I cover what to see and all important things to know!
If you prefer a guided tour, then check out these options below.
Go on an Elephant Safari
Elephants roam freely in nature parks located close to Sigiriya. Kaudulla and Minneriya nature parks are only 50 minutes from Sigiriya while Habarana Echo Park is just a mere 25 minutes away. We visited Habarana Echo Park and saw at least 40 elephants including tiny babies. It was such an incredible experience! What I loved most about it was that the elephants were in their natural habitat and not in captivity.
Learn to Cook Sri Lankan Food
If you are interested in learning how to cook Sri Lankan food, these highly rated tours will teach you how to prepare a full Sri Lankan meal. Most Sri Lankan dishes are vegan as they are made out of coconut milk, so these tours are ideal even if you are vegan or vegetarian.
If you are wondering what to eat in Sri Lanka, check out my detailed blog post HERE!
Where to Stay
My recommendation is to stay at the center point of all the activities and things to do in and around Sigiriya. While Sigiriya itself is a very good option, I recommend Habarana as it’s slightly more central to the things to do above. Also, it’s a little more quieter than busy Sigiriya.
I always book accommodation on booking.com because they have great cancellation policies and the ability to search for properties with the amenities and facilities that I am looking for. Furthermore, you are rewarded for loyalty on booking.com and get discounts and other perks like free breakfasts etc.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Habarana, I cannot recommend Habarana Lodge enough! This is where I stayed during my 3 days in this area and I loved every bit of it. The property sits at the edge of the Habarana Lake and has a jungle type feel to it. This large property is so peaceful and serene. It’s the perfect getaway! Next to Habarana Lodge is Habarana Village, their sister property. While Lodge is a 5 star hotel, Village is 4 star but more or less has the same feel and also sits at the edge of Habarana Lake.
Where to Go From Sigiriya
Sri Lanka is a relatively small country so you could go anywhere in the island from Sigiriya but as a Sri Lankan I recommend the places below as they are a more natural next destination that does not take too much time to get to.
Kandy
The last kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy is where the British took over the country in 1815. Kandy also is home to Sri Lanka’s most prominent and important Buddhist temple, The Temple of the Tooth Relic. As the name states, this temple houses a tooth relic of the Buddha that was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. This relic was guarded over the years and now sits at this temple.
In addition to the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy is also home to a beautiful botanical garden and several other prominent temples. Kandy is considered the start of the mountains in Sri Lanka and is ideal if you are looking to get away from the heat a bit.
See HERE for a more detailed post!
Anuradhapura
The first ancient Kingdom of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura is only one and a half hours from Sigiriya. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s ideal if you love history and are looking to explore more of Sri Lanka’s historic sites.
Trincomalee
A 2 hours drive from Sigiriya, brings you to the coastal town of Trincomalee. Known for its turquoise waters and light colored beaches, Trincomalee is ideal for those looking for sun and sand. One thing to note is that the best time to visit Trincomalee will be from April to October. The sea maybe rough during the other times. There’s still more to do in Trincomalee that does not involve the beach but I just wanted to let you know about the timing!
Sri Lanka Do’s and Don’ts
Wondering about the do’s and don’ts for Sri Lanka. Check out this detailed blog post where I share my tips and must-knows for an enjoyable holiday!
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