Ten Top Travel Tips for Travelling In Sri Lanka

I travelled through Sri Lanka in 2016 for two weeks visiting Colombo, Kandy and Galle. My best friend and I made it up as we went along. It is a very easy country to get around without having to be on a tour. Below are some tips that may help you along the way.

When you arrive into Colombo airport you can buy a SIM card at any mobile service provider counter. There are cheap data packs to get you started. Also take the opportunity to use the ATM to take out money in Sri Lankan rupee.
For your stay in Colombo, download the app called ‘PickMe’. This is Sri Lanka's version of Uber. You can choose from a variety of transport including a tuk-tuk, car, or van. By using the app, you save your money significantly as well as there is less risk of getting scammed by the drivers. You will find that if you use a tuk-tuk without the app and without a meter, they will usually charge double the price.
As you walk around Colombo you are sure to have men approach you and mention that there is a festival on at a Temple, today only, and that they can show you where it is. It’s not true, there is no festival. Don’t fall for it. You are not missing out on anything. They will arrange a tuk-tuk, take you out of town and then ask for an extravagant amount of money. Do find the Red Mosque on the back roads though, it's a red and white candy coloured building. Bit different from your usual Mosque.
In Colombo, make sure to spend some time at the Old Dutch Hospital in the Colombo Fort area. There are great places to eat and always live music. It has a great atmosphere. At night, check out the rooftop bars. We went to Re.pub.lk which has a classy outdoor deck and great tunes. There's a lighthouse too, only a short walk away.
For lunch, I highly recommend Barefoot Cafe. The cafe is out the back in the garden, then spend time looking through the shop. So much to see and buy at good prices. If buying at the markets, be sure to barter on the prices. Get a feel for prices first from a few shops before you bargain and know what you are prepared to pay. Cafe on the 5th, had great food. Butter Boutique is a super cute dessert shop where you buy cake by the slice. Worth a visit.
The sunsets are the best in Colombo as it's on the west side of the country. Try out Galle Face Hotel and/or Mount Lavinia Hotel. Both are incredible looking hotels and offer a spectacular sunset view and great cocktails. You can also pay a small fee to swim in the pool at Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Catching the train from Colombo to Kandy is easy enough. Buy your tickets from the train station a couple of days in advance. Make sure to ask for a window seat. The scenery is beautiful. Stand at the train door for taking photos of outside.
You will notice the traffic is hectic and chaotic in Kandy. There's Kandy Lake with turtles and tea plantations to visit. We did visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The tooth is only shown at certain times of the day, so if your wanting to see it, double check times. Your shoulders and knees need to be covered, and shoes left outside. You line up and parade past it for all of two seconds. Is it worth it? Mmm, maybe not seeing the tooth but going inside the grounds is a nice experience.
It is worth organising with a taxi to take you on a day trip from Kandy to see Dambulla Rock Temple, with so many Buddhas in the caves, then for lunch and then to Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock. We climbed it late afternoon with time to see the sunset. It is a steep climb, with 1200 steps. The hard work is worth it though for the view. It is definitely one of my life's 'wow' moments. It's amazing. Watch out for the monkeys at the top. They will take anything hanging out of your bag. Use your torch on your phone going back down, to see your way in the dark.
We then caught the train to Galle. Second class means you will have a reserved seat, third class, stand. Men will offer to carry your bag onto the train for you, however, they do expect a tip. You can spend time walking around the fort, and visiting the Lighthouse. The fort has a funky vibe and great places to eat. I remember this area being eerily quiet at night. The Galle area is good to visit a turtle sanctuary, elephant orphanage or go for a surf. Get up early to see the fisherman on their poles nearby. There are many so it's worth doing your research.