Sigiriya Sri Lanka is a beautiful destination in the northern Matale District of the country, home to the historic Lion Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya is part of the Cultural Triangle, a popular tourist route highlighting the best things to do in Sri Lanka. Although the ancient fortress is one of the major attractions in the area, there are many more incredible things to see and do in Sigiriya.
This Sigiriya travel guide highlights everything you need to know before you go. And check out my 25 travel tips for Sri Lanka for even more helpful travel info!
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Where to Stay in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is a quiet little destination with only one main ‘city’ street. Here are a few of the best places to stay in Sigiriya for your visit!
Hangover Hostels are a growing chain in Sri Lanka and are a favorite amongst social backpackers looking to meet others and have a little fun. This location is all glamping vibes in the peaceful nature surrounding Sigiriya Rock. It includes breakfast too!
il Frangipane is a beautiful hotel about a mile from the Sigirya Rock Fortress that offers private rooms for two and family suites. The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and trees and has a community swimming pool, a restaurant, and free bikes for use. Your booking includes free continental breakfast that’s highly rated.
The Atha Resort is an amazing option if you’re interested in a romantic and beautiful getaway. Not only does it include an exceptional breakfast, but the resort features a pool and an onsite restaurant. This is the place to relax in Sigiriya.
When is the Best Time to Visit Sigiriya, Sri Lanka?
The best time to visit Sigiriya is usually considered January to April because the weather is moderate, dry, and not too hot. May to August is also a decent time to visit as it’s in the middle of the dry season, although it can be pretty hot. October to December are rainy season and should be avoided if possible – otherwise don’t forget your rain coat!
How to Get to Sigiriya
During my travels in Sri Lanka, I found that many places are well connected via trains and buses. And although routes may not be obviously listed somewhere, all you have to do is ask someone! So if you’re trying to figure out how to get to Sigiriya, here are a few of the most common ways.
From Colombo
Unfortunately there aren’t any direct trains from Colombo to Sigiriya, but you can take a direct train to the nearby Habarana Village. The train between Colombo and Habarana Village takes about an hour and a half, and costs about LKR 800-1200 ($4-$6). From Habarana, Sigiriya is about a 15km taxi ride away and can cost LKR 750-900 ($3.75-$4.50).
You can also organize for a driver to take you directly from Colombo to Sigirya. That’s what I personally did because I didn’t want to waste any time, or fuss with a transfer. I found a driver at the airport and negotiated about LKR 9500 ($50) for the 3.5 hour drive.
From Habarana Village
Some travelers opt to stay in Habarana Village and take a day trip to Sigiriya. Habarana offers an easy place to stay because of the direct train from Colombo and its central location near the things to do in Dambulla.
Like mentioned above, the best way to get between Habarana and Sigiriya is via taxi, which takes about 25 minutes. You could also rent a scooter if you’re comfortable driving.
From Dambulla
Getting from Sigiriya to Dambulla is pretty easy. There are buses that leave frequently between the two cities, every hour to 30 minutes, and the tickets don’t cost more than LKR 50 usually ($0.50). The bus ride can take about an hour.
You can also take a taxi (tuktuk), which shortens the ride to about 30 minutes. A taxi from Dambulla to Sigiriya can cost about LKR 1000-1500 ($5-$7.50).
From Kandy
Kandy is another popular tourist destination, and there are buses that connect Kandy and Sigiriya. I took a bus from Sigiriya to Kandy for only a few dollars, but there was only one bus that left each morning. Be sure to ask around to find out what the bus schedule is.
You can also take a taxi from Kandy to Sigiriya which will cost about LKR 7000 ($40) give or take, for the 2.5 hour drive.
7 Incredible Things to Do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
1. Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Entrance fee: 4,600 rupees / $30 USD
Arguably the most iconic views in all of Sri Lanka, hike to the top of the famous Lion Rock and see the impressive ancient ruins. The park opens at 7 am and long lines start forming shortly after.
Try to arrive right when they open to avoid the crowds and beat the heat! Be sure to pack a lot of water, dress fairly conservatively, wear good shoes, and prepare to climb 1,000+ steps to get to the top. The fortress is stationed about 350 meters (1,050 ft) high so it’s certainly a climb. The grounds surrounding the rock fortress are also interesting to see.
2. Pidurangala Rock
Entrance fee: 500 rupees / $3.25 USD
Pidurangala Rock is another popular hike that offers stunning views of Sigiriya. It’s also a much cheaper alternative to the Lion Rock hike for those looking to save money. I recommend waking up early to see the sunrise on top of Pidurangala (in January the sun rises around 6:15 am). The entrance to the hike is through a temple so you’ll need to rent a sarong if your shoulders and knees are exposed. After the short walk through the temple, you’ll climb rock stairs for about 10-20 minutes before reaching a reclining Buddha statue and a view-point.
After that, the trail essentially turns into about 10-15 minutes of clambering over boulders to get to the top. It’s a lot of fun, but be sure to wear some good shoes! You can walk to Pidurangala from the entrance of Sigiriya and it’s about a 30-40 minute walk. Otherwise, there are many tuktuks in the area that will take you.
3. The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Entrance fee: 3,920 rupees or $25 USD
An ancient capital city near Sigiriya, Anuradhapura is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and another historical gem to visit in Sri Lanka. About 1.5 hours from Sigiriya, it’s a great day trip from Sigirya. Many people visit and rent bikes or tuktuks to drive around – much like Polonnaruwa.
4. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Entrance fee: 3,920 rupees or $25 USD
The second oldest of Sri Lanka’s ancient kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was the capital city hundreds of years ago and is home to some pretty impressive ruins. There are places to stay nearby, or if coming from Sigiriya, it’s about an hour and 15-minute drive. A driver for the day should cost you around 6,000 rupees / $40 from Sigiriya.
Tips for Visiting Polonnaruwa:
- Rent bikes to cover more ground more quickly. There are plenty of bikes available right in front of the entrance. They will initially say about 500 rupees, but don’t pay more than 300 for the day.
- The ticket counter and museum are actually a couple of blocks away from the main entrance. Don’t forget to pick up a map at the counter before heading out!
- You’ll need about 3 hours to see the city. More if you’re into the museum, which I just briefly walked through – I didn’t find it particularly interesting.
- At the entrance gate, start by going to the right to see the royal palace. It’s the only ruin in that direction, the rest is back to the left of the entrance and straight on.
- Be sure that you’ve finished seeing everything you want to see before passing the ancient quadrangle – you’ll pass a ticket checkpoint and you’re not allowed to return once you pass through.
- Keep your ticket handy. They’ll want to see it at the museum, the entrance to the city grounds, and to see the famous Buddha statues.
- The exit is not the same as the entrance. If you rented a bike, you’ll need to bike back down the main road for about 10 minutes to return to the entrance/bike rental area.
5. Dambulla Cave Temple
Entrance fee: 1,500 rupees / $10 USD
This beloved cave temple is one of the best-preserved in the country. It boasts intricate murals covering the surface of thousands of square meters and has five total cave complexes. You’ll need to take off and check your shoes in at the shoe counter for a few rupees before entering. The temple is a 5-10 minute bus ride from the Dambulla main bus stand.
6. Minnieriya National Park
Entrance fee: 2,300 rupees / $15 USD
A favorite national park in the north-central region of Sri Lanka, Minnieriya is a feeding ground for elephants in the Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee regions during the dry season and offers great opportunities to see these majestic herds. It’s not as large or popular as Yala National Park or Udawalawe but is a smaller alternative for those in the area interested in a safari.
You’ll need to hire a jeep for your half or full-day safari. Price is typically per hour for the jeep, so the more people you have on your safari, the cheaper the price per person. I’m not sure the cost of jeep hire for Minnieriya, but for Udawalawe it was about 4,000 rupees / $25 USD for the half-day (3-hour) safari and I imagine it can’t be more than that!
7. Kaudulla National Park
Entrance fee: 2,300 rupees / $15 USD
A very little known national park in the north, Kaudulla is one of the major places to see the major gathering of elephants – depending on the year (it’s usually at either Kaudulla or Minneriya). The gathering takes place in August, so if you happen to be visiting during that time you won’t want to miss it! It’s also identified as an important bird area and hosts many other species of animals.
If you have time to kill while visiting the region, consider an elephant safari in Kaudulla National Park. As with any safari in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to rent a jeep for the day.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
There you have it! My ultimate guide for Sigiriya Sri Lanka. Please leave any questions and comments below!
Awesome article and loved it, looking forward to more!
Thank you so much!! ☺️☺️
Your article is very informative and exceedingly helpful for planning our trip to Sri Lanka in June. Thank you.
I’m so happy it’s useful! Any other questions, please let me know! Enjoy your trip!
Would you recommend to stay in Dambulla or Sigiriya when visiting?
Dambulla is a bigger town with more to do, but requires maybe about a 30 ish min drive to get to the main sites like Pidurangala Rock and the lion rock. Dambulla does also have the cave temple which is popular. If you stay in Sigirya, you can actually walk to these places or take a very short tuk tuk ride. Sigirya is very small, but does have a mart and a few nice restaurants. It’s a rural place. I stayed in Sigirya and loved it but Dambulla also has a lot of pros!! So it depends on what kind of atmosphere you want, and if you want to drive or be able to walk to these main places 🙂
Can you rock climb there?
Hi Lexi! Unfortunately I don’t know. I didn’t see anyone rock climbing specifically on the Lion Rock or Pidurangala Rock while I was there. My inclination is to say no, it’s not allowed, as these are historic and spiritually important landmarks. But maybe there are other nearby places for rock climbing! I’m not totally sure. I hope you have a nice trip! ☺️