Sri Lanka—once the fabled Ceylon—has lured travelers for millennia with cinnamon-scented breezes, gleaming stupas, and hills draped in tea. Empires from Anuradhapura to Kandy shaped the island’s artistry, while Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule added forts, railway lines, and a cosmopolitan coastal capital. Today, vibrant markets, sacred temples, and palm-fringed shores fit neatly into a focused 5-day itinerary.

This plan centers on two destinations sized perfectly for your timeframe: Colombo and Kandy. You’ll ride a classic Sri Lankan train into the hills, circle the serene Kandy Lake to the revered Temple of the Tooth, and day-trip into the Cultural Triangle to conquer Sigiriya and admire the painted caves of Dambulla. In Colombo, historic warehouses have become lively dining venues, and rooftop bars glow with sea breezes at sunset.

Practical notes: dress modestly at temples (shoulders and knees covered; remove shoes/hats), carry cash (LKR) for small vendors, and hydrate—it’s tropical. Trains are scenic and budget-friendly; private drivers are efficient for rural day trips. For international flights, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com; for trains within Sri Lanka, see Trip.com Trains.

Colombo

Colombo fuses colonial facades and modern towers with a surf-lapped promenade at Galle Face Green. Wander the Dutch Hospital precinct’s arcades, haggle for spices in the riotous Pettah Market, and visit serene Gangaramaya Temple to see gilded Buddha images and a quirky museum.

• Top sights: Gangaramaya Temple and Seema Malaka, Independence Memorial Hall, Old Parliament and Lighthouse Clock Tower, Lotus Tower viewpoints, Galle Face Green at sunset.
• Where to eat and drink: Ministry of Crab (destination seafood in the Dutch Hospital complex); Palmyrah (elegant Jaffna-style crab curry and dosai); Upali’s by Nawaloka (hoppers, black pork curry); Vistas Rooftop Bar at Mövenpick (city-and-sea views); Barefoot Café (casual salads and curry plates in a textile design store).
• Cafés: The Commons Coffee House (iced coffee, rotti wraps), Butter Boutique (cakes and cold brew), Barista (reliable Wi‑Fi and espresso).
• Sleep: Search stays on VRBO Colombo and Hotels.com Colombo. Areas to target: Fort for history, Kollupitiya for rooftops and ocean access, Cinnamon Gardens for leafy serenity.

Kandy

Ringed by emerald hills, Kandy is Sri Lanka’s spiritual soul. The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) protects a revered relic of the Buddha and anchors processions like the Kandy Esala Perahera. A lakeside promenade, royal gardens, and tea estates make this a restful base with deep cultural resonance.

• Top sights: Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake walk, Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, Ceylon Tea Museum in Hantana, Kandy View Point, Kandyan dance performances at the Kandy Lake Club.
• Where to eat: Slightly Chilled Lounge (pan-Asian dishes with sunset views); Royal Bar & Hotel (heritage bar and Sri Lankan curries); The Empire Café (short eats, lamprais, and espresso steps from the temple); Theva Cuisine (creative tasting menus with hill views).
• Cafés and sweets: Natural Coffee (espresso, cinnamon tea), Buono (healthy bowls, smoothies), Cool Corner (beloved ice cream).
• Sleep: Browse VRBO Kandy and Hotels.com Kandy. Look near the lake for walkability or on Hantana’s slopes for tea views.

Day 1: Arrive in Colombo, Sunset by the Sea

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, grab a restorative iced latte and Sri Lankan “short eats” (savoury pastries) at The Commons Coffee House.

Afternoon: Check into your Colombo stay. Stretch your legs at the Old Dutch Hospital precinct for colonial arcades and boutiques. Visit Gangaramaya Temple and its lake pavilion, Seema Malaka—photogenic timber platforms floating on Beira Lake.

Evening: Stroll Galle Face Green as kites dance in the sea breeze. Dinner at Ministry of Crab for pepper crab or lagoon prawn curry; reserve ahead. Nightcap at Vistas Rooftop Bar, watching the coastline glitter.

Day 2: Scenic Train to Kandy, Lake Walk and Temple of the Tooth

Morning: Board a morning Colombo Fort–Kandy train (approx. 2.5–3.5 hours). Second-class reserved is typically LKR 600–1,500 (~US$2–5); first class when available runs ~US$5–7. Pick seats on the right side for coastal-to-hill views. Check schedules at Trip.com Trains or buy at the station a day prior.

Afternoon: Check in, then loop Kandy Lake (about 3 km). Visit the Temple of the Tooth (allow 60–90 minutes; foreign visitor entry commonly around US$6–7). Dress modestly and time your visit to catch a puja offering, when drums echo through the halls.

Evening: Dinner at Slightly Chilled Lounge for stir-fries, curries, and a broad terrace pointed at the sunset. Craving something classic? Try Royal Bar & Hotel’s old-world dining room for rice-and-curry spreads. Gelato nightcap at Cool Corner.

Day 3: Day Trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple

This is a full-day excursion from Kandy into the Cultural Triangle. Depart at dawn with a private driver (about 2.5 hours each way; expect US$80–120 round-trip for a car with driver) or join a small-group tour (often US$40–60 per person, excluding entry fees). Climb Sigiriya (1,200 steps; plan 2–3 hours total). The mirror wall and lion’s paw staircase guard the summit’s palace ruins and 360° views; foreign entry is commonly about US$30. Break for rice and curry or fresh juice at a family-run spot like Wijesiri Family Restaurant or Rithu Restaurant. Continue to Dambulla Cave Temple (allow 60–90 minutes; foreign entry typically ~US$7–10) to admire 150+ Buddha images painted across five caves. Return to Kandy by evening; treat yourself to Theva Cuisine’s modern Sri Lankan tasting menu with city lights below.

Day 4: Back to Colombo, Contemporary Art and Rooftops

Morning: Take a morning train or car back to Colombo (train 2.5–3.5 hours; car via expressway ~3.5 hours, US$60–80). If you prefer more flexibility with luggage and stops, a private transfer works well. Search trains on Trip.com Trains.

Afternoon: Check in, then explore Independence Memorial Hall’s stone lions and shady colonnades. Pop into design-forward boutiques in Cinnamon Gardens or the Barefoot store for handloom souvenirs. Coffee and a slice of passionfruit cake at Butter Boutique.

Evening: For a quintessential feast, book Nuga Gama at Cinnamon Grand—an alfresco “village” serving clay-pot curries, ambul thiyal (tamarind-sour fish), and hoppers. Or try Palmyrah for northern specials like crab varai and prawn dosai. Post-dinner drinks: Sky Lounge at The Kingsbury for harbor lights.

Day 5: Morning Temples and Markets, Departure

Morning: Visit the Lotus Tower area for skyline photos, then dive into Pettah Market’s maze—spice stalls, saris, and street snacks like isso vadai (prawn fritters). If you prefer calm, spend longer at Gangaramaya’s museum or the seaside promenade.

Afternoon: Farewell lunch at Upali’s by Nawaloka—order egg hoppers with lunu miris and black pork curry. Transfer to the airport for your outbound flight. For flight options, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Evening: Departure day—if your flight is later, watch one last sunset at Galle Face Green with a paper cone of achcharu (tangy pickled fruit).

Accommodation tips by city:

• Colombo: For ocean views and rooftops, look in Kollupitiya/Bambalapitiya (great for sunsets). Heritage lovers gravitate to Fort for walkable history. Browse availability on VRBO Colombo or Hotels.com Colombo.
• Kandy: Stay by the lake for easy temple access, or in Hantana for green hills and tea-mist mornings. Compare options on VRBO Kandy and Hotels.com Kandy.

Getting around & costs: Colombo–Kandy trains are scenic and inexpensive (US$2–7 depending on class); reserve a day in advance at the station when possible. Private cars/drivers are efficient for day trips (budget US$80–120/day including fuel, excluding entry fees). Key site tickets: Temple of the Tooth ~US$6–7; Sigiriya ~US$30; Dambulla ~US$7–10; Peradeniya Gardens ~US$10—carry cash and passport or a photo for verification.

In five days, you’ll sample Colombo’s modern buzz, inhale cardamom and tea in Kandy, and stand atop Sigiriya’s royal rock surveying jungle and village tanks below. Expect soulful rituals, generous hospitality, and meals that make you plot your return before you’ve even left.