Must-see hotels in The Ancient Cities

  • Rice Villa Retreat

    The Ancient Cities

    A memorable place to stay, this beautifully located guesthouse enjoys an idyllic position overlooking an expanse of rice paddies, replete with the sounds…

  • Jim's Farm Villas

    The Ancient Cities

    In the misty, verdant hills north of Matale, at an elevation of 450m, this working organic farm (harvesting coconuts, mangoes, bananas and papaya) is…

  • Ulagalla

    Anuradhapura

    Exclusive and stylish, the 20 villas in this remote rural retreat, 40km from Anuradhapura, are top of the line, with private plunge pools and relaxing…

  • Sigiri Lion Lodge

    Sigiriya

    An outstanding place to stay, thanks to the genuine welcome and attention paid to guests by Ajith and Ramya, the owners. Rooms are divided between the…

  • Milano Tourist Rest

    Anuradhapura

    Hidden in a quiet residential street, Milano is a professionally run place in an elegant late-1950s house. The eight rooms are somewhat old-fashioned, but…

  • Lakeside at Nuwarawewa

    Anuradhapura

    Renovated from top to tail, this modern hotel has a fine location near the lovely Nuwara Wewa tank. Rooms are stylish and fresh and come with a balcony or…

  • Hideout Sigiriya

    Sigiriya

    The aptly named Hideout is indeed a real escape, tucked away at the end of a dirt road surrounded by paddy fields and with viewing platforms for spotting…

  • Kalundewa Retreat

    Dambulla

    The attention to detail at Kalundewa Retreat is impressive, with six suites that feature polished-concrete floors, modern art and stylish wooden furniture…

  • Fresco Lion Villa

    Sigiriya

    This well-run place 9km outside Sigiriya (12km from Dambulla) has five stylish rooms in a leafy, rural compound south of the Kimbissa junction. Rooms vary…

  • EKHO Lake House

    Polonnaruwa

    With 14 luxurious rooms, this former government guesthouse has a superb location on a peninsula beside the Topa Wewa, right next to the Heritage ruins …

  • Leesha Tourist Home

    Polonnaruwa

    Good vibes are guaranteed at this fine guesthouse thanks to the efforts of genial owner Upali and his family. Rooms are well-priced and sparkling clean,…

  • Jetwing Vil Uyana

    Sigiriya

    For natural-world immersion – crocodiles in the pond, monitor lizards in the grass and occasional visiting elephants – the Jetwing is a great choice. The…

  • Sanctuary at Tissawewa

    Anuradhapura

    For sheer colonial class this Raj-era relic (formerly a British governor's residence) can't be matched. It's been beautifully and respectfully restored –…

  • Elephant Corridor

    Sigiriya

    Set in over 80 hectares of unfenced grasslands, this high-end hotel is a terrific place to spot wildlife. Iguanas, monitor lizards and mongooses are all…

  • Amaya Lake

    Dambulla

    The Amaya Lake complex has 100 stylish villas set in magnificent landscaped grounds on the north shore of Kandalama lake. The scale of the place will suit…

  • Lake Lodge

    Dambulla

    The 12-roomed Lake Lodge lacks the scale of the big Kandalama resorts, but makes up for it with personalised service. Rooms are fresh and modern, with the…

  • London Palace

    Anuradhapura

    Impressive two-storey place ('palace' is a little ambitious!) with 10 lovely, clean, bright and airy rooms with TV, fridge, neutral-colour schemes and…

  • Balcony Rest

    Anuradhapura

    There are just two rooms at this stylish family home, so two couples could have the entire upper floor to themselves. Rooms are excellent value, with a…

  • Devi Tourist Home

    Polonnaruwa

    Down a quiet, leafy suburban lane, this well-run, inviting and orderly homestay owned by a Malay-Muslim couple is a good choice, with five rooms (the…

  • Thisara Guest House

    Polonnaruwa

    About 100m off the main road south of the Old Town, this place has clean, spacious rooms with terrace eating in two blocks; those at the rear with rice…

  • Lal Homestay

    Sigiriya

    For that living-with-a-family experience, Lal's is perfect. Your host family could not be more welcoming or friendly, offering home-cooked meals (try the…

  • Fresco Water Villa

    Sigiriya

    Groups like the villa-style rooms, fine balconies and stylish design at this well-tended place. The 25m pool is heaven after a hard day tackling the rock,…

  • Palm Garden Village Hotel

    Anuradhapura

    Set in 38 hectares of forest and gardens with a lovely pool area, this resort hotel has spacious rooms with fine terrace seating. Some bathrooms are…

  • Sunset Tourist Home

    Polonnaruwa

    This rural villa has high ceilings, pleasant balcony sitting areas and a quiet location amid the rice paddies, making it a peaceful choice. It's a bit far…

  • Melbourne Tourist Rest

    Anuradhapura

    This fresh and modern property run by Milano Tourist Rest has 10 tiled rooms, a large restaurant, garden seating and a quiet central location. Milano is…

  • Heritance Kandalama Hotel

    Dambulla

    Designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, this is one of Sri Lanka's signature hotels. With 124 rooms, the hulking edifice emerges from the forest…

  • Gamodh Citadel Resort

    Anuradhapura

    A terrific rural hotel, offering comfortable and excellent-value rooms in two new blocks, with slightly dated and smaller rooms in the old building. The…

  • Sesatha Hotel

    The Ancient Cities

    An elegant, modern place with rice-field views from the balconies of the five rooms, Sesatha has delightful gardens, dotted with palm trees and overlooked…

  • Littlemore Estate Bungalows

    The Ancient Cities

    An intriguing accommodation option, Littlemore Estate is a 50-hectare coconut plantation bordered by paddy fields and woodland with a healthy local…

  • Hotel Sigiriya

    Sigiriya

    There are truly remarkable views of the rock from the pool area at this hotel. The 40-year-old breeze block exteriors are dated, but the rooms have been…

  • Deer Park

    The Ancient Cities

    A large resort-style property made up of 85 rooms in dozens of cottages. The pool, bar area and restaurant are all excellent. Some rooms have outdoor…

  • Dambulla Heritage Resthouse

    Dambulla

    This former government rest house has been given the full Heritage treatment, and the four rooms now boast very classy interiors – the dark-wood furniture…

  • Jayaru Guest House

    Polonnaruwa

    If you're looking for a really inexpensive room, this simple guesthouse is located in a quiet area and has a pleasant sitting area for chilling. Rooms are…

  • Manel Guest House

    Polonnaruwa

    There are two blocks at this friendly place. The old block rooms have a fan, but can be hot, while the new block has much more modern, spacious air-con…

  • River Retreat Homestay

    Sigiriya

    This bungalow set back off the road has three spacious, quiet rooms next to a creek, with air-con and solar-heated hot water. It was just starting up at…

  • Sundaras

    Dambulla

    This smart midrange resort is within a short stroll of the caves and museum. The grounds aren't exactly spacious, but staff (some Swedish) are attentive…

  • Hotel Randiya

    Anuradhapura

    There are two distinct options at this hotel. The stylish, modern new building is all sleek lines and white walls, with a swimming pool and modern…

  • Andorra Tourist Rest

    Anuradhapura

    This neat little guesthouse enjoys a near-rural location with peacocks strolling the surroundings in the mornings (and fireflies lighting them up at night…

  • Hotel Viveka

    The Ancient Cities

    An elegant, if somewhat threadbare, colonial villa with a veranda overlooking the lake in a leafy part of town. Its four rooms have been renovated and…

  • Nilmini Lodge

    Sigiriya

    An old-school guesthouse owned by a family who have been hosting travellers for years and can provide lots of useful tips about the region. Rooms are…