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Complete guide to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
If you’re exploring the cultural heart of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is one of the spots than cannot be missed. The rock in this tiny village has been one of Sri Lanka’s most famous landmarks and after visiting I can see what makes it so special. A rich history, unforgettable hikes, and a chance to see herds of elephants on safari—are among the reasons the visit. Sigiriya is very likely to become one of your favorite stops on your Sri Lanka travel route. In this article I’ll share my favorite things to do, where to eat and the best places to stay.
Find my full travel route around Sri Lanka here
Best things to do in Sigiriya
Lions rock
At the center of Sigiriya lies its crown jewel: Lion’s Rock, a towering 200-meter-high ancient fortress carved out of sheer rock. Once a royal palace and later a Buddhist monastery, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic landmarks in the country.
When you enters the site you’ll first pass through the beautiful gardens. It’s one of the most well maintained sites in Sri Lanka. As you climb the narrow stairs, you’ll pass by some well preserved ancient frescoes. At the summit, the panoramic views and the ruins of the ancient palace complex make every drop of sweat worth it.
Tip: Arrive early in the morning (right at opening) to avoid the heat and the crowds.
Entrance fee: Foreign Adult: $35
Opening hours: Sigiriya is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with the last entrance allowed at 5:00 PM.
Pidurangula Rock
If you like to see a different view of Lion Rock and save a lot of money, then climb up Pidurangala Rock. The entrance is just 5 USD instead of 30 USD for the big Lion Rock. Both rocks are very impressive, so try to climb both if you have the time. From the top of Pidurangula you’ll get an incredible vie of Lion rock. It’s a relatively easy hike that takes 30 to 40-minutes. Only the final part is a bit tricky as you have to climb up some boulders. Halfway into the hike you’ll reach a reclining Buddha and some murals.
We went for sunset and it was pretty busy on the way up. I’d advice going up extra early to avoid the crowds. Once you’re at the top, people spread out and there is enough space for everyone, but at certain spots the path is narrow and we had to wait to get through. Luckily we still made it up in time. There’s lots of monkeys around this area, so be careful if you have any food! The monkeys are not shy and will grab it if they get a chance.
Be aware: If you drive your own motorbike or tuktuk, make sure to leave before dark. There are wild elephants around the area and they become more active at night.
Safari in Hurulu Forest reserve
If you’ve ever dreamed of locking eyes with a wild elephant (from a safe distance, of course), Hurulu Forest Reserve is your spot. We had planned to go to Minneriya, but that area was flooded and Hurulu was the alternative. Just a quick bounce from Sigiriya in a 4×4, this place feels like a real-life jungle book. As you rumble through the dusty tracks, keep your camera ready—elephants casually cross the road like they own it (they kind of do), and you may also see some peacocks strut around. Prepare for an adventure on bumpy roads, that will leave your hair full of dust, but your heart and camera very full!
Price:We booked through our hostel and paid 6000 rupees/€18 per person.
Drink a fresh coconut cappuccino at ‘espresso Italiano’
Okay, this one’s a game-changer. Imagine a creamy cappuccino made with fresh king coconut water instead of regular milk—yep, it’s a tropical creamy coffee dream come true. I don’t know if they’ll be to happy with me recommending it, as this is a pretty labour intensive drink. They scrape the fresh coconut, because otherwise they can’t make the froth. If you’d rather have one with normal milk, they do that as well and their espresso is the best we’ve had in Sri Lanka.
Visit Dambulla Cave temple
A visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple is like stepping into a spiritual time capsule carved into stone. Just 30 minutes from Sigiriya, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features a series of five caves adorned with stunning Buddhist murals and over 150 statues, some dating back more than 2,000 years. Once inside, we were greeted by a large courtyard. On the left the cliff’s edge with an Bodhi tree and shrine, on the right the face of the rock and the cave temples underneath. The caves are colorfully painted and adorned.
Make sure to cover your shoulders and knees.
Best restaurants in Sigiriya
Soul Food- Lovely vegetarian spot, with a view of the rock.
Espresso Italiano – We were so happy to find real Italian coffee. Sri Lanka is more of a tea country and good coffee is hard to find. This place knows what they are doing.
Sigiri Rock View Point – the Restaurant – The curry here is super fresh! It took a while before we got our food, but only because everything is freshly made and you can taste the difference! The veggies were perfectly cooked.
Sigiriya Wew Thawulla Restaurant: Very popular spot in town. They serve simple local dishes and outside seating. It’s always packed here.
How to get to Sigiriya
Since we rented our own Tuktuk, we just hopped in and drove down from Anuradhapura. If you’re not renting your own vehicle you can take public transport.
From Colombo to Sigiriya
By train: It 5-6 hours journey to Sigiriya from Colombo by train. The closest railway station to Sigiriya is Habarana Station. This is 15km away. There’s only one train that runs back and forth daily. Note that taking the train is the slowest way to get there.
According to Fort Railway Station, a reserved 3rd class ticket costs 480 LKR while a reserved seat in 2nd class costs 600 LKR.
By Taxi/Pick Me: This will take 3-4 hours and cost 7,000-9,000LKR/$38-50USD.
by bus: This will take around 4 hours and cost 190LKR/$1USD. Keep in mind that the busses often get uncomfortably overcrowded. This is the most budget friendly. From Colombo Fort’s Pettah Station, Sri Lanka’s main bus hub, there are three main options. I would recommend asking the local bus coordinator of your destination to make sure you are on the right bus.
- #15 towards Anuradhapura, get off at Cultural Triangle
- #48 towards Kuduruwela, get off in Dambulla or Habarana
- #49 towards Trincomalee, get off in Dambulla or Habarana
Once you arrive in Dambulla, you can take a tuktuk to Sigiriya. It might be possible to get a buss, but there’s no schedule and it might be difficult to figure out. If you do get the bus, the ride will take 45mins and only costs 45LKR/$0.25USD. A tuk tuk from Dambulla will cost 600-1,000LKR/$3.30-5.50USD.
From Anuradhapura to Sigiriya
There are regular buses from Anuradhapura to Dambulla. The trip should take about 2 hours and cost 300 LKR (it’s usually #15 bus heading to Colombo). From Dambulla, hop on a bus to Sigiriya as described above.
