Mirissa Hills

Top choice in Mirissa


One of southern Sri Lanka's most remarkable places to stay, this working cinnamon farm has a selection of fine accommodation, including a renovated estate house and a spectacular hilltop retreat. Meals are excellent, with dramatic coastal views from the dining terrace, while the contemporary art gallery contains many important sculptures. The entrance is 1.1km inland from the highway's 148km post.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mirissa attractions

1. Mirissa Beach

1.37 MILES

A vision of tropical bliss, Mirissa Beach boasts powdery pale sand, while its azure water is framed by an arc of coconut palms. The west side is the…

2. Taprobane

2.75 MILES

Just offshore – you can walk out to it at low tide – is this tiny island. It looks like an ideal artist’s or writer’s retreat, which indeed it once was:…

3. Bandrawatta Beach

3.64 MILES

This lovely natural cove beach is well away from the main highway, has sheltered swimming and also a surf break further offshore. Look out for stilt…

4. Polhena Beach

4.62 MILES

The best beach in the area is a small sandy cove that's sheltered by a reef offshore. There's good snorkelling in the bay, and though visibility is not…

5. Old Dutch Trade Centre

4.93 MILES

On the western side of town, this magnificent T-shaped building (once the town's market) will fascinate architectural buffs: it has an imposing, steeply…

6. Matara Fort

5.67 MILES

This historic, though run-down district, was once the heart of Dutch, and later British, Matara. There are no real sights, but it's an intriguing area…

7. Star Fort

5.8 MILES

This fort was built by the Dutch to compensate for deficiencies in the neighbouring rampart, but it’s so small it could only have protected a handful of…

8. Dutch Rampart

5.8 MILES

The smallish Dutch rampart occupies the promontory separating the Nilwala Ganga from the sea. Built in the 18th century to protect the VOC’s kachcheri …