Sri Lanka—once known as Ceylon—has lured travelers for millennia with cinnamon-scented trade winds, luminous temples, and a coastline shaped by sailors and storytellers. In a country the size of West Virginia, landscapes pivot quickly: misty tea hills give way to ancient citadels rising from the plains, and then to coral-blue seas.

This 7-day itinerary stitches together two essential regions: the cultural highlands around Kandy (with a day trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla) and the storied southern coast anchored by Galle Fort. You’ll savor Kandyan ritual, climb the Lion Rock at sunrise, and walk centuries-old ramparts as the Indian Ocean turns copper at dusk.

Practical notes: most travelers fly into Colombo (CMB). Apply online for the Sri Lanka ETA before arrival, carry some Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) for small purchases, and use metered tuk-tuks or the PickMe app in cities. Monsoon patterns vary—Dec–Mar favors the south and west; May–Sep is better for the east—so pack light layers and a rain shell year-round.

Kandy

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s spiritual heartbeat—a lake-ringed city where the Temple of the Tooth safeguards a relic of the Buddha and where drummers and dancers keep age-old rhythms alive. Morning mists tuck into nearby tea estates, while the Royal Botanical Gardens sway with giant palms and bat colonies.

• Top sights: Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Kandy Lake promenade, Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha statue, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, Royal Botanical Gardens (Peradeniya), Ceylon Tea Museum.
• Local flavor: Taste a proper Sri Lankan rice-and-curry, fiery kottu roti chopped on a steel griddle, and mellow highland teas.
• Fun fact: Kandy remained the island’s last Sinhalese kingdom until 1815—its ceremonies and craftsmanship still shape the city’s identity.

Recommended stays (search and compare): VRBO Kandy | Hotels.com Kandy

Getting to Kandy: Fly into Colombo (CMB) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Colombo Fort to Kandy, the scenic train takes ~2.5–3 hours (from ~$2–6, 2nd/1st class; reserve early), or hire a private car (~3–4 hours, ~$80–110). For trains, check regional options via Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival in Sri Lanka, Transfer to Kandy

Morning: In-flight or en route.

Afternoon: Land at CMB and transfer to Kandy. Check in and stretch your legs along Kandy Lake—locals stroll at golden hour as egrets skim the water. Drop into Buono for specialty coffee, smoothie bowls, and toasted sandwiches—perfect after travel.

Evening: Dine at The Empire Café (in the Queen’s Hotel arcade) for lamprais, sambols, and creative salads; its tiled floors and colonial archways set the tone. Nightcap at the historic Royal Bar & Hotel (RBH)—a 19th‑century inn turned lively courtyard bar with local arrack cocktails.

Day 2: Temples, Gardens, and Hilltop Views

Morning: Visit the Temple of the Tooth during a morning puja (ceremonial offering); drums and conches echo through fragrant halls. Afterwards, tuk‑tuk up to the Bahirawakanda Vihara for panoramic city views.

Afternoon: Head to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya—orchid houses, royal palms, and giant Java figs. For lunch, try Kandyan Muslim Hotel (a no‑frills institution) for kottu roti and chicken curry, or Cafe Secret Alley for iced lattes and vibrant rice bowls.

Evening: Catch a Kandyan dance show near the Kandy Lake Club (early evening performances). Dinner at Slightly Chilled Lounge—a hillside terrace with sunset views and Sri Lankan‑Chinese plates; order hot butter cuttlefish and lime‑chili fried rice.

Day 3: Day Trip—Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Dambulla Cave Temples

Morning: Depart 6:00–6:30 am (about 2.5 hours by car). Climb Sigiriya (Lion Rock), a 5th‑century sky palace with mirror‑wall frescoes and throne‑top vistas. Aim to be on the rock by 8:00 am to beat heat and crowds. Entrance ~US$30.

Afternoon: Continue 30 minutes to Dambulla Cave Temple (UNESCO)—a complex of gilded Buddha statues and celestial murals; entrance ~US$10. If traveling June–September, optional late‑afternoon elephant safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla (from ~US$35–50 pp in a shared jeep). Lunch picks near Sigiriya: Wijesiri Family Restaurant (homestyle curries, mango lassi) or Rithu Restaurant for a generous rice‑and‑curry spread.

Evening: Return to Kandy (~2.5 hours). Treat yourself to Mlesna Tea Center for highland tea and cake, then a relaxed dinner at Vito Wood Fired Pizza if you’re craving something simple after a big day.

Galle (Fort & Southern Beaches)

Galle is a walled time capsule—Portuguese, Dutch, and British layers stitched into coral‑stone bastions, verandas, and cinnamon‑scented warehouses. Inside the fort, boutiques and cafes live inside heritage homes; outside, bays and reefs curve toward Unawatuna, Dalawella, and Mirissa.

• Top sights: Galle Fort ramparts, Lighthouse, Dutch Reformed Church, National Museum, Unawatuna & Dalawella beaches, Jungle Beach, day trip to Mirissa for whales (in season).
• Local flavor: Order hoppers with lunu miris for breakfast, then seafood grilled under palm fronds by afternoon.
• Fun fact: Arab seafarers once traded here for cinnamon; today, vintage map shops and design studios echo that maritime past.

Recommended stays (search and compare): VRBO Galle | Hotels.com Galle

Travel from Kandy to Galle: Private car via the Southern Expressway (E01) is the smoothest (~4.5–5 hours, ~$120–160). Rail is scenic but slower: Kandy → Colombo → Galle ~6–7 hours total (from ~$3–7 in 2nd/1st class). Browse rail options via Trip.com Trains.

Day 4: Transfer to Galle, Sunset on the Ramparts

Morning: Depart Kandy after an early breakfast. Stop for tea at the Ceylon Tea Museum entrance café if you missed it yesterday, then continue south.

Afternoon: Check in inside Galle Fort if possible to enjoy the atmosphere. Wander to the Lighthouse, the ramparts by Flag Rock, and the Dutch Hospital precinct. Lunch at A Minute by Tuk Tuk (sea views; tuna steak, crab curry, or jackfruit salad).

Evening: Walk the walls at sunset—locals fly kites as waves break on the bastions. Dinner at Lucky Fort Restaurant, famed for its “10 curries” set (rotates daily; great vegetarian options). For dessert, grab a scoop at Isle of Gelato (try the Ceylon cinnamon or tropical fruit sorbets).

Day 5: Beach Day—Unawatuna, Dalawella, and Jungle Beach

Morning: Coffee and pastries at The Heritage Cafe by Raux Brothers on Pedlar Street. Head to Unawatuna Beach (10–15 minutes by tuk‑tuk) for an easy swim and a beginner‑friendly surf lesson if you’d like.

Afternoon: Move to Dalawella for the lagoon‑calm swim near Wijaya Beach (watch for sea turtles grazing on the reef; keep a respectful distance). Lunch at Wijaya Beach Restaurant—wood‑fired pizzas, grilled prawns, and lime sodas with toes in the sand. Hike the short headland to Jungle Beach for a quieter cove.

Evening: Return to the fort. Browse boutiques like Barefoot Galle (handloom textiles) and design shops on Church and Pedlar Streets. Dinner in the candlelit courtyard of Fortaleza—order black pork curry, grilled fish, and curd with treacle.

Day 6: Mirissa Whales (Nov–Apr) or Southern Coast Day

Morning: If in season (roughly Nov–Apr), depart 5:30–6:00 am for Mirissa (1–1.25 hours by car). Choose a reputable operator with marine‑biologist guides; boats leave ~6:30 am, and trips last 3–5 hours (from ~US$35–60). You might spot blue whales, spinner dolphins, and flying fish. Off‑season, consider a cooking class in Galle or a surf session in Ahangama.

Afternoon: Brunch at Salt Mirissa (smoothie bowls, eggs, seafood) or back in Galle at Church Street Social (at Fort Bazaar; turmeric‑ginger mocktails, slow‑cooked curries). Cool off with coconut water on the ramparts.

Evening: Fancy a splurge? Book The Tuna & The Crab (Dutch Hospital) for crab curry linguine, sashimi, and local seafood prepared with Japanese precision. Otherwise, try Mama’s Roof Top for homey rice‑and‑curry with ocean breezes.

Day 7: Fort Mornings & Departure

Morning: Sunrise amble past the Lighthouse before the streets wake. Breakfast at Barista Galle Fort (solid espresso, egg hoppers if available) or Coco Fort Café for light bites. Pick up last‑minute souvenirs—hand‑loomed tableware at Barefoot or spice mixes from small grocers.

Afternoon: Transfer to Colombo Airport. By expressway, Galle → CMB takes ~2.5–3 hours by car (budget ~$100–130). Alternatively, train to Colombo Fort (~2–2.5 hours) then taxi (~45–60 minutes). For flights, compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: In-flight or onward travel.

Additional tips: Dress modestly for temples (shoulders and knees covered), carry small bills for tips and tuk‑tuks, and refill a reusable bottle—many cafés will top you up. If you have extra time, add the Kandy–Ella train (8–9 hours of tea‑carpeted scenery) as an extension.

In one well-paced week, you’ll experience Sri Lanka’s sacred heart in Kandy, climb the fabled sky palace of Sigiriya, and unwind among the stories and surf of Galle Fort. Come for the headline sights; stay for the cinnamon air, the drums at dusk, and the warmth that lingers long after you leave.