6 Best things to do in Nuwara Eliya
Hey everyone, in this article we will share with you the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya. In April 2024, we spent 2 weeks travelling in Sri Lanka. Out of which we spent 1 night in Nuwara Eliya which gave us enough time to visit the main things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Our adventure in Sri Lanka was continuing and we were now in one of the most famous part, the journey from Kandy to Ella. There are multiple options for that, but the one we opted for was to drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and then take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
This allowed us to have the best experience ever as from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya we stopped at the Ambuluwawa Mountain Hill, the Poonaella viewpoint and the Labookellie Tea factory while still having one of the most famous train journeys in the world until Ella for the best part of the tracks.
We opted to stop overnight in Nuwara Eliya, but you could easily do the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and the train to Nuwara Eliya to Ella in one day.
And that’s actually something we would recommend doing.
In this article, we will tell our story going around all the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya. So, if you too are planning a trip to Sri Lanka and to Nuwara Eliya, then let ‘s dive in these best things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Here is our complete video from this trip :
Table of Contents
Get our full map
Why pin one by one when you can get them all at once? With this map, you get all our pins, destinations, things to see, where to eat and sleep, and so much more in one time.
Getting there
There are mostly 2 ways that we know and could recommend. The first one is to hire a driver and go there by car. That’s what we did, we left Kandy around 9am and arrive around 1pm in Nuwara Eliya. Along the way, we stopped at a tea factory, a viewpoint and a super cool mountain tower.
The final option is by bus. Although neither as comfortable nor as scenic as taking the train, taking a bus is a cheap way to travel like a local from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.
Intercity buses operate daily, with buses leaving every 30 minutes. Tickets cost 250 LKR ($0.80) for an air-conditioned bus and 180 LKR ($0.60) for an ordinary bus.
Buses depart from Goods Shed Bus Stop, a short tuk-tuk ride from Kandy city centre. They arrive at Nuwara Eliya Bus Station in the city centre.
Moving Around
The best way to move around Nuwara Eliya is by tuktuk. Always ask your accommodation to organize it for us as you will be able to know the rate before taking it and won’t need to negotiate.
Also, the tuktuk that drives your somewhere, will always come and pick you up to drive you back at the same rate.
But you can also walk everywhere, that’s what we did for most of our time there. It is quite small and there isn’t much to do around.
When to Visit
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination thanks to its combination of weather systems ensuring that one or several regions has a good weather. Meaning that each side of the island has its own best time to visit.
The dry seasons by month and destination are:
- North – May to September
- Center – January to April
- South – December – March
If like us you plan a trip around the country, the best time to visit to Sri Lanka will be between January and mid-April.
Temperatures are constant year-round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average.
We visited it beginning of April and got quite a good weather with only some rain on our final days there. However, it was hot and humid.
Where to Stay
Â
Our favourite accommodation in Kandy
- (€): Heidis Home
- (€€): La Grande Villa
- ($$$): W15 Lake Gregory
What to Eat
The best things to try in Sri Lanka are:
- Dhal curries
- Vegetable curry
- Vegetable Kotu
- Egg Hoppers
- Coconut Sambals
Â
Regarding alcohol, the Lion beer is quite nice, and you can also try the coconut spirit.
Â
Good places to eat ate are:
- Café Nosher
- Themparadu
Best things to do in Nuwara Eliya
Little England
The name little England come from the lush mountains, gushing waterfalls, wide-open plains and cool climate of Nuwara Eliya closely resembling the environment of England. Naturally, the area presented itself as a perfect alternative to the English countryside for homesick British officials sweating in the tropical heat of coastal towns.
In the city center of Nuwara Eliya, you can see the post office which is a cool and original place. Most probably the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Queen Victoria Park
Victoria Park is a public park (with an entrance fee) located next to the Nuwara Eliya Post Office. Originally the park was the research field of Hakgala Botanical Garden. It was formally named in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Lover's Leap Waterfall
Lovers leap is an impressive water fall which is known for its romantic folklore. To reach this place one has to go through a tea factory and reach the tea manager’s bungalow along a dirt road. Finnaly to reach a rock face and a Shiva shrine. Legend has it that lovers have leapt to their deaths from this water fall and hence the name Lovers Leap.
Gregory Park
Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873, the park is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational activities. There we walked around the area which is quite nice however quite touristy.
Interesting fact: The lake can be reached by sea plane which takes only 30 minutes from Colombo.
Horton Plains
Horton Plains National Park located at an elevation of 2,100–2,300 m and encompasses montane grassland and cloud forest. It is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This is most probably the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Train to Ella
And finally, the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya without even need to stay overnight is to catch the most famous train ride in Sri Lanka and head to Ella.
More things to do in Nuwara Eliya
If you want more things to do in Nuwara Eliya, you can consider:
- Nautical attractions on the lake
- Horse ridding
It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way
Get our full map
Why pin one by one when you can get them all at once? With this map, you get all our pins, destinations, things to see, where to eat and sleep, and so much more in one time.
