Tourist Attractions & Monuments Sri Lanka

Timetable

Temples are generally open from dawn to dusk. Museums are mostly open between 9am and 4pm with one day a week closed, sometimes two. Some places of visit have extended hours on weekends and during school vacations. The full moon days (poya) are holidays and dedicated to the respect of Buddha's teachings, so the temples will be much more frequented.

To be booked

It is not necessary to reserve your tickets in advance for the visits of sites, museums...

Budget & Tips

Guided tours

Guided tours are mandatory in National Parks, where a guide is required. Some museums and historical parks offer guided tours, usually in English. The rest of the time, you can visit the cities or sites at your leisure, but the explanations of a qualified guide will often help you understand the culture and subtleties of a place (temple, city, museum or monument).

Smokers

Smoking is strictly prohibited in religious places, museums and national parks.

Tourist traps

Many temples will ask you to pay an additional entrance fee to the main entrance, be aware that these are actually "donations" so it's up to you if you want to give a contribution.

What's very local

Very often Sri Lankans go to Buddhist temples dressed entirely or partially in white. Although you do not have to follow this tradition, it is still advisable to avoid wearing dark colors when visiting Buddhist sites.