Six Days in Sri Lanka

What is the best 6-day Sri Lanka itinerary?

Quick answer: For a first visit, spend three nights near Sigiriya and two in Kandy. Climb Sigiriya on day 2, visit Polonnaruwa on day 3, and see the Dambulla cave temple on the drive to Kandy. Total driving is about 453 km. In December, when the inland areas are wet, swap to three nights in Galle and three in Mirissa.

Six days is the 5-day route with room to breathe. The extra day goes to Polonnaruwa, the old royal city, without moving hotel. It also gives you a spare day if rain spoils the Sigiriya climb. You see three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Sigiriya, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the Dambulla cave temple), plus the sacred city of Kandy.

What does the day-by-day plan look like?

These times come from routing software with no traffic. Real drives in Sri Lanka are slower, especially through towns, so add time on day 6 if you have a flight.

Day 1. After a morning landing, drive straight to the Sigiriya area and rest. If you land late, sleep in Negombo, close to the airport, and drive north early on day 2. Then do the climb on day 3 and Polonnaruwa on day 4 morning, and drop the Dambulla stop.

Day 2. The Central Cultural Fund lists its sites as open from 7 am to 5 pm (CCF tickets). Be at Sigiriya for opening, before the heat. Spend the afternoon at your hotel. Our Sigiriya or Dambulla guide helps you pick where to sleep for the three nights.

Day 3. Drive about 53 km to Polonnaruwa and spend the day among the ruins. Head back to the same room in the late afternoon. Because you do not move hotel, this is also your rain day: if day 2 is wet, swap the two.

Day 4. Check out, visit the Dambulla cave temple, 17 km from Sigiriya, and continue to Kandy. Arrive in time for a walk around the lake.

Day 5. The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is open from 5.30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Sunday, according to its official website, read on 3 November 2026 (Sri Dalada Maligawa). Cover your shoulders and knees. Our sacred sites guide has the rules.

Day 6. Drive to the airport. Leave early and keep a wide margin.

How much do the sights cost?

These are Central Cultural Fund prices for foreign adults. The CCF page we read on 3 November 2026 still showed its 14 October 2026 update (CCF tickets).

The CCF charges in rupees at its listed rate, 336 rupees to the US dollar. SAARC citizens pay 50 per cent. The Temple of the Tooth is not on the CCF list, so check its own ticket details at the entrance. We give no hotel, driver or meal prices here. For those, see the trip cost guide.

Which month suits which 6-day version?

The inland route and the beach route have opposite seasons, so pick the version by month. The rain figures below are the Department of Meteorology's 1991 to 2020 district averages (forecast issued 30 October 2026, Annex 1). Matale is the district for Sigiriya and Dambulla.

Sri Lanka Tourism calls December to February the peak season on the south-west coast, which the Met Department's district averages (forecast issued 30 October 2026, Annex 1) show as the drier coast in December, and May to September the best time for the east (Sri Lanka Tourism weather page). For December 2026, the Met Department's 30 October forecast gives a higher chance of slightly above-normal rain across most of the country, so keep one flexible day whichever version you choose.

What is a good 6-day beach version?

From December to April, stay on the south coast and change base once.

Galle Fort to Mirissa is about 34 km by road, or 38 minutes with no traffic, on the route on our Galle page. Mirissa is about 175 km from the airport by road. If you land late, sleep the first night in Negombo and lose half a Galle day. Staying in December? Our where to stay in December guide compares every south coast base.

Can you use the train on this route?

Not for the airport run on day 6. On 25 October 2026 the Railways Department suspended all trains between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola until further notice, after a landslide near Kadigamuwa, and gave no restart date (Newswire, 25 October 2026). As of 3 November 2026, no restart had been announced for that section. Drive to the airport, and check the current status on the Colombo to Kandy train guide before you plan any train ride.

How does 6 days compare with 5 or 7?

Coming from India? The 5-day itinerary from India and the 7-day itinerary from India are built for that trip. Still deciding on a trip length? Read how many days in Sri Lanka.