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Sri Lanka.
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Travelling to Sri Lanka: what to know before you go

Sri Lanka fits ancient royal cities, misty tea country, leopard-filled national parks and long palm-lined beaches onto an island smaller than Ireland. It suits travellers who like variety within short distances, from wildlife and culture to surfing, and its two monsoon seasons mean one side of the island is usually dry.

Where to go

• Sigiriya. A fifth-century fortress built on top of a sheer rock column, reached by stairs past painted frescoes and a pair of giant stone lion's paws.
• Kandy. The last capital of the Sinhalese kings, set around a lake.
• Hill country and the Kandy to Ella train. The railway climbs through tea estates, waterfalls and cloud forest to Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
• Galle Fort. A walled town on the south coast, built by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch, with ramparts, a lighthouse and lanes of colonial houses.

Best time to visit

Sri Lanka has two monsoons. From roughly December to April, the west and south coasts, Colombo and the hill country are at their driest, which is the main season for most visitors.

Staying online in Sri Lanka

Mobile coverage is good in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and the main tourist towns, with 4G widely available along the coast and main roads. It becomes patchy in national parks, deep in the hill country and in rural parts of the north and east. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and guesthouses, although speeds vary. Power cuts are occasional. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so you have data for maps and ride-hailing from the airport.