Whether you’re considering Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, as a stop on your itinerary or you’re already here and wondering what to do, have no fear. There’s lots to explore beyond Lion Rock.
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What to do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
The town is more than just Sigiriya Rock. While most people spend a night or two here, you can easily keep yourself busy if you have more time to spare. Here are some things to do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.
Obviously, Sigiriya Rock
The main event! You can choose to admire Sigiriya Lion Rock from afar, but if you’re willing to conquer the 1,200+ steps to the top, you can explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 5th century.
Once a monastery, the ruins that sit at 350 metres above sea level are all that remain of the Sigiriya Fortress built “by” King Kasyapa. It has a sophisticated moat, swimming pools, gardens, and cave artworks all created hundreds of years ago.
I thought the hike was going to take two hours so I was mentally prepared for pain and anguish. But we made it to the top in under 30 minutes. Make sure you leave around 5 AM so you can arrive at the summit for sunrise. You’ll also avoid hiking in the unforgiving Sri Lankan sun.
Hit the ticket office at the museum and pay about 12,000 LKR (cash or card) before going to the entrance — you can’t do the walk without a ticket.
Pidurangala hike
Rather than climbing the actual Lion Rock, you can get an epic view of it from a neighboring hilltop. The Pidurangala hike is a bit further from town so you’ll need to catch a tuk tuk to get there. It takes about 45 minutes on uneven terrain to the top.
Entrance is 1,000 LKR. Bring good shoes and your best camera to capture the epic views of Sigiriya Rock.
Slow loris night safari
Follow a stranger into the dark jungle in the hopes of seeing a small, venomous creature. This was maybe my favourite activity in Sigiriya, so it’s not as weird as it sounds, I promise.
Slow loris are the cutest little guys on the planet, but they’re nocturnal and very hard to spot on your own. Fortunately, there are lots around Sigiriya, and lots of night safari guides willing to take you on a short jungle walk to spot a slow loris in the wild.
We found Pasindu through some Googling and just sent him a Whatsapp message to book a tour. It’s a very “unofficial” way to do it — he’s just a kid still in uni doing night safaris on the side. He took us into the jungle behind his house lol. But we had a great time and saw more than just lorises: hornbills, brown fish owls, frogs, and one elephant that was not part of the plan. For a more official tour, there’s always Get Your Guide.
Elephant safari
This is one of the main reasons tourists come to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, as the nearby Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks are home to hundreds of elephants.
It’s essential to choose an ethical operator. Unfortunately, you can’t always just assume it will be legit. There are still lots of tours that mistreat elephants. Whether it’s as extreme as letting you ride them (and keeping them chained up in between tours) or feeding them to lure them over to the safari jeep, there are lots of unethical elephant practices in Sri Lanka.
Jeep tours to Minneriya National Park or Kaudulla National Park are usually okay because they go to areas where the elephants roam free and the cars keep their distance. It’s almost always better to visit a national park than a “sanctuary” because that term doesn’t necessarily mean the animals are treated well.
DON’T engage with the tour providers that let you ride an elephant 100 metres down the paved main street in Sigiriya. So grim. Tbh I’m still shocked people do this. If we don’t pay to ride elephants, tour operators won’t confine and abuse them with metal prods to keep them in line and make a buck.
Village tour
Go with a guide through a local village for the “real” side of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is pretty touristy, so it’s refreshing to escape the tourist trail for a little while and explore beyond with a local who can show you around. This village tour on Get Your Guide includes a boat ride.
Cooking class
We did a cooking class at S.L.Kafe in Sigiriya and had lots of fun. I rarely cook, but I think I can make a pretty mean daal curry now. Our private lesson cost 2,000 LKR per person, and we cooked FIVE classic Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes then had a big feast.
But that wasn’t enough. We were tempted to do another cooking class for the outdoor clay rustic experience at the Village Kitchen. It was a completely different style of cooking class at someone’s home, and more expensive at 5,000 LKR per person, but definitely more personal — the whole family got involved!
There are tons of options in Sigiriya and around Sri Lanka, including Organic cooking class and Sajee’s place.
Batik artwork class
Like many other countries in Asia, Sri Lanka has its own unique batik art style. I love to pick up local artwork as my souvenirs, but making your own is an even more memorable experience. Batik is also done on fabric, so it’s incredibly easy to carry home. It weighs exactly nothing and you don’t have to worry about crushing it in your bag.
Day trip out to the Dambulla Cave Temple
Ok this is a bit of a side quest and not necessarily “in” Sigiriya, but it’s so close we’re going to count it. If you don’t drive, find a driver in town and haggle for a good price, or use PickMe to call a car or tuk tuk to take you there and back.
This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest and most well-preserved cave temple in all of Sri Lanka. It dates back to the 2nd century! Be sure to dress temple-appropriate (shoulders and knees covered).
Travel essentials for Sri Lanka
📶 eSIM
Stay connected with internet access from Colombo and Galle to Kandy and Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.
💸 TravelSpend
Track your budget easily (ft. a colourful doughnut chart with stats).
🛺 PickMe App
Like Uber, you can call cars, scooters, and tuktuks at a good price and skip the hassle of haggling.
💳 Wise or Revolut
Compare the best multicurrency cards for spending in LKR like a local.
How many days do you need in Sigiriya?
How many days you should spend in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, depends on what you want to achieve there and how much time you’re spending in Sri Lanka overall.
- 1 night is enough if you only want to climb Sigiriya Rock. You can arrive, check out the small town, then get up early for the hike and head off to your next destination when you’re done.
- 2-4 days gives you more time to explore the surrounding area. Use Sigiriya as a base to see Dambulla Cave Temple, take a cooking class, or go searching for slow lorises or wild elephants on a safari.
- 5-7 days works if you’re a slow traveller. If you want to do it all, you can comfortably spend a week here doing the hikes, wildlife safaris, cultural classes and tours, and day trip to Dambulla. I stayed 10 days and loved it, but wouldn’t need to spend much more.
FAQs about Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Here are some quick answers to common questions you might have about visiting the historic natural wonder of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.
How far is Sigiriya from Colombo?
How far from Colombo to Sigiriya depends a little on how you plan to get there.
- As the crow flies: 130 kms
- By car: 180 kms/4 hours via Kurunegala
- By train: 4 hours to Habarana station + 30 minutes’ tuk tuk to town. (Go for the first class train!)
- By bus: About 6 hours with at least one transfer — there are no direct buses.
The train is the most practical option in my opinion. (It’s what we did!) It costs about 2,600 LKR per person from Colombo to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.
The bus is cheapest at around 1,000 LKR, but it will just be exhausting because it’s so long and you’ll have to navigate transfering. A private car will cost a lot, about 20,000 LKR, which is probably steep if you’re on any kind of budget.
Can you climb Sigiriya Rock?
Heck yes you can. While it’s lovely to look at from town, climbing to the top to see the ruins of the royal 5th century palace is a must if you’re able. The 1,200+ steps are challenging, but entirely worth it.
Drag yourself out of bed at 4:30 AM to start the hike right at 5 AM when the ticket office opens. You’ll be able to reach the top for sunrise and will beat most of the crowds.
What type of rock is Sigiriya Rock made of?
Sigiriya Lion Rock is made of syenite, which is a type of granite. The volcanic landscape has mostly eroded away over billions of years, but this epic towering rock has withstood the test of time.
Sigiriya Rock vs. Pidurangala
If you only have time for one hike, you’ll have to consider what you really want out of the experience.
Sigiriya Rock is the best option if you’re interested in the area’s history. It will take you about 30 minutes to an hour to climb the 1,200+ steps to the top. But once you’re up there, it’s a whole UNESCO site where you can see the site of an old Buddhist monastery that later became a royal fortress.
But if you’re on a budget and just want some nice Sigiriya pictures, Pidurangala is the one. It’s not exactly a better option if you’re not a hiker because the trail to the top is more rugged and requires some scrambling. But it’s still short and takes under an hour to summit. From the top, you get a clear view of Sigiriya.
It’s also worth noting one is literally one tenth of the price of the other. Entry costs 12,000 LKR for Sigiriya Rock and just 1,000 LKR for Pidurangala. It is possible to do them both in one day, but it’s a lot of walking. And you want to leave time for the small museum at the bottom of Lion Rock.
Is going to Sigiriya worth it?
Depends on your itinerary and interests, but IMO it’s almost always yes. It’s historic, beautiful, and so rural that you can’t really walk alone at night or in the morning due to the risk of running into a wild elephant.
The one downside to Sigiriya is that it’s pretty far out of the way from other popular places to visit like Kandy, Ella, Hiriketiya Beach, Ahangama, Arugam Bay, and Colombo. If you’re looking for a relaxing beachside trip, it might not be so practical to travel inland to Sirigirya, before going to the beach. If you’re renting and driving your own tuk tuk around Sri Lanka for three weeks, you can totally fit it into your itinerary.
When is the best time to visit Sigiriya, Sri Lanka?
The best time to visit Sigiriya is between December and March or June and August. During these months you’ll get the clearest skies for photos from the top and less slippery footing on the rock’s steps and metal staircases.
It was windy when we did the Lion Rock hike and I thought I was going to get swept off the mountain. So I can’t imagine how treacherous it would be in the rain! According to WeatherSpark data, Sigiriya gets the most rain in October/November.
We went for 10 days in July and it was sunny and 28 degrees every day.
Is Sigiriya, Sri Lanka a good place for digital nomads?
We stayed in Sigiriya for a week and there was enough to keep us busy. But there aren’t any coworking spaces or air-conditioned cafes designed for laptop use. If you can find a good accommodation with reliable wifi and a desk, you could definitely work from “home” in Sigiriya.
I also recommend getting an eSIM or local SIM for Sri Lanka so you’re backed up if the power cuts out. For digital nomad-friendly places in Sri Lanka, consider Hiriketiya Beach, Ahangama, or Arugam Bay. Sigiriya is mostly a tourist town where people pass through for a couple of days and move on. There’s more of a slow traveller/digital nomad community vibe in the coastal towns.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
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