Anuradhapura ancient city
- Duration
- Full day
- When
- All year
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Where to stay
Where to stay in Anuradhapura
The first capital: stupas the size of hills, a bo tree grown from a cutting carried here in the third century BC, and far fewer visitors than Sigiriya.
About 4 hrs from the airport
One or two nights
2 experiences nearby
Everything for Anuradhapura in one quoteHotel, driver and experiences together
Is Anuradhapura right for you?
Anuradhapura is spread out, which surprises people. The ancient city is not a site you walk around in an hour; it is a landscape of tanks, ruins and enormous brick stupas that takes most of a day by car or bicycle.
It is also a working pilgrimage site rather than a museum. Dress for temples, expect to take your shoes off, and go early before the heat.
Good for
Ancient history, pilgrims and stupas, and getting away from the Sigiriya crowds.
Not ideal for
A quick stop. It is too spread out to see properly in a morning.
Worth knowing
Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off at the sacred sites. The ground gets very hot by midday.
Which part of the area to stay in
| Base | Best for | To the ancient city |
|---|---|---|
| Near the ancient city | Getting to the stupas at first light. [Hotels to confirm] | [Drive time] |
| Towards the new town | A wider choice of hotels and places to eat. [Hotels to confirm] | [Drive time] |
Getting here, and getting around
Drive times are approximate and depend on the road and the hour. Every one of them is included when you travel with us.
From The airportIncludedabout 4 hrs
From SigiriyaIncluded[Drive time]
From ColomboIncluded[Drive time]
Your driver brings you here from your last hotel and takes you on to the next one. Stops along the way, for lunch or a temple, are fine. Just ask. How the driver works.
Map: Anuradhapura with partner hotels and sights pinned
Partner hotels
Sights and experiences
Things to do near Anuradhapura
Private experiences run by our own team, added to the same quote as your hotel.
Mihintale temple
- Duration
- Half day
- When
- All year
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Routes that stop in Anuradhapura
Prefer a whole trip? These routes include nights here, with the driving included throughout.
Suggested route 10 nights
Ancient cities and Kandy
Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Kandy
Anuradhapurasigiriyakandy
Planning Anuradhapura? Tell us your dates.
We will check our partner rates for the hotels here and build the rest of the trip around them.
WhatsApp us
Send your dates and who's travelling. We'll reply with a plan and real prices.
Start a chatUsually within the hour, 7am to 10pm
Email us
Prefer email? Tell us what you have in mind and we'll write back with a full plan.
travel@genuinesrilankans.comReplied to the same day
Book a video call
Plan it face to face with a planner, and see the hotels and routes on screen together.
Choose a timeNext-day slots usually available
The planning team at Genuine Sri Lankans, answering from Sri Lanka