Sri Lanka Sightseeing Tickets and Timing
Sri Lankan sightseeing is expensive at the gate and cheap everywhere else, so it pays to know the ticket structure before you plan the route. Here is the price ladder first and the sights second.
The ticket ladder
Heritage tickets are priced in US dollars and paid in rupees at the day’s rate (about 334 LKR to the dollar in autumn 2026).
| Site | Foreign adult price |
|---|---|
| Sigiriya | US$35 (SAARC US$20) |
| Polonnaruwa | US$30 |
| Anuradhapura | US$30, issued for the day |
| Temple of the Tooth, Kandy | LKR 3,000 (SAARC LKR 2,500) |
| Dambulla | roughly LKR 2,000 to 3,000, confirm at the gate |
| Pidurangala | about LKR 1,000 |
The Central Cultural Fund also sells a Cultural Triangle round ticket for Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and museums. It is valid for 2 months from first use and must be used within 3 months of purchase. Its price is set daily, so check before you buy. Work out which option is cheaper for your route.
The sights worth the money
Sigiriya. A 200 m granite monolith with iron staircases, 5th-century frescoes and a summit palace. Arrive at opening to beat the crowds. Look at Sigiriya tours on GetYourGuide if you want a guide.
Polonnaruwa’s Gal Vihara. Four granite Buddhas carved in the 12th century, including a reclining figure about 14 m long.
Dambulla. Five caves with 157 statues, and murals across the ceilings.
Galle Fort. A free walk on the ramparts, with a Dutch church and the 1939 lighthouse.
The free and cheap options
Pidurangala gives a better view of Sigiriya than Sigiriya itself, for about a tenth of the ticket price. The Nine Arches Bridge near Ella costs nothing to view.
Respect at religious sites
Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats. Never turn your back to a Buddha for a photo, and cover any Buddha tattoo. These acts can lead to arrest or deportation, as the 2014 deportation of a British visitor shows.
Weather
The northeast monsoon (October to January) soaks the Cultural Triangle. May to September is drier there.
For further ideas see the day trips page .
Building the route
Group Sigiriya, Dambulla and Pidurangala into one base near Sigiriya for two days. Keep Polonnaruwa for a separate day because the ruins are spread over a wide area and the heat builds quickly. Anuradhapura needs a full day of its own, and its ticket is valid for the day of issue only. Ask at the CCF counter whether the round ticket suits your route before you pay.
Verdict: buy single tickets for Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, and climb Pidurangala for sunrise instead of a second dollar-priced ticket.