Discover Sri Lanka | A Budget Friendly 5-day Itinerary

Explore Colombo city, the southern coast, and central province of Sri Lanka through this 5-day itinerary

Sri Lanka is a tropical gem in the Indian Ocean. The island’s diversity of beautiful places promises exhilarating explorations that will fascinate your heart and soul. The country offers it all – stretches of sandy beaches, verdant tea plantations, cool highlands and scenic mountains, impressive UNESCO heritage sites and wild animals like elephants, dolphins and whales. English is widely spoken, and the Sinhalese locals are warm and welcoming.

A 5-day trip to Sri Lanka can be both enjoyable and affordable. You will find a wide range of accommodation options starting from LKR 1000 (USD 6.5) for a decent hostel to LKR 6000 (USD 38) for a 3-star hotel. Transportation options include the iconic Sri Lankan Railways, public and private buses, and ride hailing options such as Uber and the local service PickMe for commutation in the city. Local food options are super cheap especially if you are a vegetarian with a plate costing not more than LKR 150-250 (USD 0.95-1.6).

Here’s a comprehensive itinerary that can help you plan your visit to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean 💎🇱🇰

🚀 Day 1: Explore Colombo City

Colombo city offers an interesting blend of sightseeing opportunities. Hop around and explore some of the prominent landmarks listed below:

Independence Square: An ornate open-sided Memorial Hall that was built to commemorate independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule. There is a lovely park located opposite the square where you can have a stroll or just roll on the grass under the trees.

Arcade Independence Square: Just a 5 minute walk from Independence Square, the Arcade’s architecture is impressive surrounded by green lawns, and hosts a brilliant complex of eateries and shopping outlets.

Fort district: Explore the colonial buildings in the Fort District, where the President’s House is located.

Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct: A historic location with plenty of dining options where you can enjoy a local beer and some fresh ocean produce. Not to mention it’s a nice place to shop for some souvenirs such as clothing, jewelry, artworks and handicrafts. You could also get your money changed here! This place is buzzing in the evenings and there’s often live music to take delight in.

World Trade Center: A 3 minute walk from the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct, the World Trade Center building of Sri Lanka is located right beside the newly built Lotus Tower.

Main Street and Sea Street: Head to Main street for some roadside market shopping, and then make your way to the Old Kathiresan Kovil temple on Sea Street where you’ll find a few vegetarian Indian restaurants nearby.

Galle Face Green: Being a promenade stretching out for half a kilometer along the coast, this place is a great sunset point. Do stop by the Old Parliament Building opposite the promenade.

Diyatha Uyana: Head to this park for dinner as the food court has plenty of local food options, aquariums, a lit-up water fountain, and a walking track that brings you to the lakeside view of the city’s skyline. See if you can spot some of the cool 3D graffiti artworks in front of the Lake Batturumullam.

🚀 Day 2: Head to the South Coast

Escape the city and head south where the stunning beaches, waves, and palm trees await!

Journey to Galle: Head to Colombo Fort Railway Station and purchase a ticket to Galle from counter number 13 and 14. The ticket will cost LKR 100 (USD 65) for third class and LKR 180 (USD 1.15) for second class. The train chugs alongside the majestic Indian Ocean and passes by several rivers and beaches – so it definitely makes for a fun ride!

Galle: Located on the southwest corner of the island, Galle houses the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Galle Fort. If you’re a fan of cobbled streets and historic buildings then you’ll find Galle interesting. The area also has plenty of shops and eateries. On a good evening, a stunning sunset may await you at the viewpoint near the lighthouse.

Journey to Mirissa: After exploring Galle, catch a bus to Mirissa from Galle Central Bus Station. Buses run every 30 minutes and cost LKR 60 for a 1-hour ride. The bus stops just before Big Belly Restaurant, which by the way is a fantastic place that serves Kottu. There are plenty of guesthouses on Udupila road to find accommodation for the night.

🚀 Day 3: Mirissa Beach and Bus to Ella

Mirissa Beach: Spend the morning at Mirissa beach known for surfing and whale watching. If you’re not into surfing or it’s not whale watching season (late November to mid-April), Mirissa is still great to curl your toes in the sand and get a glorious tan on the sun-drenched palm caressed beach. There’s also the Parrot Rock to climb and oversee the crystal clear water that is home to some amazing sea creatures.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to stop by at for lunch, near the beach and on the main road.

Besides Mirissa, plenty of other beaches dot the southern coast such as Weligama, Unawatuna, Matara, Dickwella, and Tangalle. However, if you are keen on making your way to the highlands you may have to forego beach hopping.

Journey to Ella: Catch the bus to Matara Bus Station from the main road of Mirissa outside Udupila road. For the 30 minutes journey the ticket will cost LKR 30 (USD 0.2). From Matara bus station, hop on the bus to Ella that will take 5 hours to reach and cost LKR 250 (USD 1.5). The bus will drop you at the Wellawaya-Ella-Kumbalwela Highway, a street with a line of restaurants on both sides. There are plenty of guesthouses in this vicinity, which is in close proximity to the start of Little Adam’s peak trek and the Ella train station.

🚀 Day 4: Little Adam’s Peak Hike and Train Ride to Nuwara Eliya

Rise early and walk into Ella-Passara road from the town. The hike to Little Adam’s Peak starts at 98 Acres Resort (spot the White Buddha statue). An alternative start can be from Ella Flower Garden Resort. From Ella Town to the foot of the mountain, it’s a 45-minute walk through the local neighbourhood and some stunning tea plantations. To get to the top of Little Adam’s peak, it takes just about 15 minutes, and the gentle 5km ascent offers impressive views of the hillside surroundings. The mountain is 1141m high and the hike is easy yet offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Ella Rock (which is another hike of its own).

Do not confuse Little Adam’s Peak to Adam’s peak which is located further west, closer to Nuwara Eliya, and is 2243m high – so definitely a more challenging climb!

Journey to Nanu Oya: After the hike, head to Ella Railway station and hop on the train to Nanu Oya. The scenic train ride is 2 hours long and tickets for second class cost only LKR 110 (USD 0.7). Read more about the beautiful train ride here.

Journey to Nuwara Eliya: Once out of Nanu Oya train station, there will be cab drivers offering you a ride for around LKR 300 (USD 2) to take you to Nuwara Eliya. However, there is a cheaper option and that is to simply walk out of the station and head towards the left where the bus stop is located. Buses to Nuwara Eliya will bring you for only LKR 25 (USD 0.16). Score!!!
Spend the afternoon here enjoying some delicious meals and shopping (best place to pick up some local tea).

Journey back to Colombo City: Catch the evening bus at 6:30pm that heads to Colombo city from the local bus stand opposite the red brick post office. The journey will take around 4 hours and cost LKR 300 (USD 1.9) which is a tad cheaper than the private bus services that cost around LKR 500 (USD 3.2).

🚀 Day 5: A bit more of Colombo city and some shopping

Temple Visit: On the last day, stick around Colombo city and visit the Gangaramaya and Seema Malaka Buddhist temples. There is an official difference in pricing for locals and tourists to enter the temples. Entrance fees for tourists cost LKR 300 (USD 1.9), while it’s free for locals.

  

Indulge in Retail Therapy: If you’re up for some shopping to grab some souvenirs for your loved ones, head to ODEL or Majestic City. The shops in ODEL are chic, and you’ll find organic coconut flour for just LKR 200 (USD 1.25) at the supermarket! Isn’t that nuts? 😮

Sunset at Mount Lavinia Beach: Finally, head to Mount Lavinia, a suburb that has been famous since the colonial times. Catch a train from Colombo Fort Station (LKR 40/20/15 for 1st/2nd/3rd Class) or a bus from Pettah route no. 101 (LKR 25). Just 12km south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia Beach is a delight and the sunset there will wrap up your final day like a charm.

Sri Lanka is a fantastic holiday destination for everyone – fancy holiday travellers or budget backpackers. While the soft sand beaches are the most renowned, the highlands in the center are every bit as stunning as the coast. The country’s tourism sector is on the cusp of accelerated growth phase! When are you visiting the Wonder of Asia? 🇱🇰

Read More: Check out our Travel Tips for first time travellers to Sri Lanka