Nuwara Eliya is a unique place to visit in Sri Lanka. It is known as ‘Little England’ as this is where the British colonisers built their holiday homes in typical Victorian style.
This small town in the heart of the Hill Country is a beautiful place to spend a few days enjoying the unique landscape. In saying that, the cooler climate will also give you a break from the otherwise incessant heat of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has some of the best beaches in the world. However, the Hill Country is breathtaking and not not be missed.
Nuwara Eliya is also the best place to go and admire the gorgeous tea plantations and find some excellent teas.
In this post, I will highlight the best place to stay and best things to do in Nuwara Eliya. Read on for tips to help organise your trip too!
Things To Do In Nuwara Eliya
Where To Stay In Nuwara Eliya
If you’re planning a visit to Nuwara Eliya, Goatfell is a must-stay. This charming spot, a short drive out of town, offers stunning views of the tea country from its elevated position. The 100-year-old converted tea planter’s bungalow is cozy and full of character.
We stayed in a family suite with two interconnecting rooms, each with its own bathroom. The bungalow features a dining area, living space with an open fire, TV room, outdoor decking, swimming pool, and plenty of lawn space. There are lots of areas to enjoy, whatever the weather.
The views of the valley are breathtaking, and the veggie garden next to the kitchen supplies fresh herbs, salads, vegetables, and fruits. Complimentary afternoon tea is a lovely touch. The staff are absolutely incredible, making our stay amazing.
We loved our 5km hike through the tea plantations with the Goatfell’s very own naturalist. He was amazing at pointing out wildlife and showing us the natural flora and fauna of the area.
Despite the chilly, windy weather, the cozy vibes at Goatfell made it perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with the kids, drinking tea and hot chocolates. The food was fantastic, with a great menu.
Check out prices at Goatfell here.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is one of the best places to visit in Nuwara Eliya. This is the main city park and takes its name from Queen Victoria.
It’s a wonderful place to enjoy a walk away from the hustle and bustle of town. It is a sprawling park and you’ll find lots of foreign flowers and trees.
What I love about it, is that it is the kind of place where you’ll see local families hanging out. Children running around playing ball games, groups sitting down for a picnic and the like.
It costs 300 Rupees to get in and it is totally worth it. With your ticket, you also get access to Victoria Park Museum. Inside there is a small but interesting exhibition of photos from the last 100 years, showing what life used to be like in the region.
Gregory Lake
Gregory Lake is an artificial lake in the heart of Nuwara Eliya, built between 1872 and 1877 by Governor William Gregory. It was used to play watersports and it’s one of the best places to visit in Nuwara Eliya, don’t miss it!
It resides within an urban park with plenty of walking trails and you can hire a boat to go around the lake on. It’s another place where you will spot plenty of local families at the weekend, you can’t argue that the views are impressive.
Bale Bazaar
On the outskirts of Nuwara Eliya, there are numerous factories that manufacture clothes and outdoor gear for large, famous brand names. The faulty items, and often perfect items too, usually end up at the Bale Bazaar.
It is also called the Winter Market as most of the products on sale are winter clothes. You’ll be able to grab a bargain price for the best-known brand, though make sure to triple-check what you are buying, and barter!
If you forgot to pack cold-weather clothing and need something to wear in the cooler regions, shopping there is one of the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Post Office
One of the nicest buildings in Nuwara Eliya is the main Post Office. It is housed in Tudor Manor which was built in 1894 and is one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. Make sure to pass by, it’s a great photo opportunity.
Adma Agro Farm
Visiting Adma Agro Farm is one of the coolest things to do in Nuwara Eliya, especially if you are partial to strawberries! Did you know that Nuwara Eliya is famous for the production of strawberries?
Much like in England, strawberries find the chilly weather in this region of Sri Lanka ideal to grow. At Adma Agro Farm you’ll be able to taste them right off the plant.
Pedro Estate
The Hill Country of Sri Lanka is famous for its tea production and it’s only fair that you try tea there.
One of the best places to visit in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, is Pedro Estate. A tea plantation and tea factory, you’ll be able to see the tea-making process from start to finish.
The tea is grown in thick bushels, hand-picked, processed and then served as tea to its customers.
The journey to Pedro Estate is a pleasant short trip from the centre of town. You can take in the stunning views from the estate and then walk through its beautiful grounds.
You’ll likely encounter several women busy picking the tea leaves before eventually arriving at the café. There you can enjoy a fabulous cup of tea and also purchase some tea to take home.
You can book your guided tour of Pedro Estate here.
Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Thought to be the highest botanical garden in the world, the Hakgala Gardens, on the way to Badulla, are one of the loveliest things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
It’s somewhat surprising to see the huge variety of plants that grow here, despite the low temperatures. It’s even more surprising to find some very rare, precious plants, like orchids, flourishing.
Hortons Plains National Park And Worlds End
Hortons Plains National Park is a fantastic place you can visit from Nuwara Eliya, it’s approximately 30kms from town. It has an abundance of hiking trails, including the trail to the famous ‘Worlds End’, a massive cliff at the end of a plateau.
Check out this Horton Plains tour here.
Moon Plains
One of the least famous places to visit in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, but one that’s increasingly gaining attention, is Moon Plains. Moon Plains encompasses mountains, forests, fields and lots of walking trails where you can spend a day outdoors.
A shocking fact about Moon Plains is that it was once an enormous garbage dump for the waste of the city. The area was finally cleared of rubbish in 2010 and since then it’s been attracting huge amounts of visitors.
People are drawn to hiking, biking, or simply driving through the park, especially with the recent return of wildlife to the area.
- Tip: Try to visit Moon Plains in the morning before it starts raining as fog has a tendency to overtake the area and obscure the views.
Lovers Leap
Not far from Nuwara Eliya you’ll find some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, all of them worth visiting, in my opinion. The closest one is Lover’s Leap, which is only a short drive from the centre of town.
It is thought to be one of the nicest in the country, though I am partial to Ellewala, which is near Wellawaya, a more off-the-beaten-path location.
Bomburu Ella Waterfall
This is the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka, and so close to Nuwara Eliya, it’s obvious that you should visit. It’s in the same direction as Moon Plains which makes it a great addition to a day trip there.
St. Clair’s Falls
St. Clair’s is another of the widest waterfalls in the country and is often referred to as the Little Niagra of Sri Lanka.
St. Clair’s is comprised of two small waterfalls. The greater fall is Mala Ella while the smaller fall is Kuda Ella.A picturesque place to admire the falls is the restaurant of The Waterfall Villas.
Devon Falls
Visiting Devon Falls is one of the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya. Devon Falls is located around 30 minutes drive from town, a bit further from St. Clair’s waterfall. In fact, you can see them both on the same day.
The best view of the waterfall is from Mlesna Tea Castle, where you can also enjoy a refreshing cup of tea.
Practical Tips To Organise Your Trip
How to get to Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. It’s usually included in all Sri Lankan itineraries, for both locals and foreigners.
For this reason, it’s fairly well connected to the rest of the country via a web of buses and trains. Nuwara Eliya is well connected by train, though the station is located at Nanu Oya.
By Train
Travelling by train is one of the best things to do in Sri Lanka. Trains are slow, but the rides are very enjoyable. They travel through the countryside and tea plantations and you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views.
An area famous for its beautiful train ride through mountainous terrain with some of the most incredible views is Ella, so be sure to include it.
Though there is no train station at Nuwara Eliya, there is one at Nanu Oya, which is just 9km from the centre of town. Nanu Oya is connected by train to Ella and Kandy, so a train ride is one of the best things to do between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.
Something to keep in mind is, although train tickets are very cheap, good seats in first-class sell out quickly. The second class doesn’t have assigned seating so to secure first-class seats, buy tickets in advance.
By Private Transfer
Some people rent tuk-tuks and drive around Sri Lanka, mind you, the traffic can be pretty crazy at times! If you aren’t a fan of public transport, you can hire a private driver.
You can even hire one to take you around for your whole trip. If you need a recommendation feel free to reach out.
How to move around Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is easy to explore on foot, however, if you plan on visiting the surrounding areas, you have two options.
You can use the convenient and cheap, if slightly less comfortable, public buses, or go by tuk-tuk. Remember, it’s worthwhile to barter the prices for the tuk-tuks.
When to visit Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
According to one theory, Nuwara Eliya is called ‘Little England’ because of the Victorian-style buildings. Frankly, I believe it’s called so because it rains often.
If this sounds like bad news to you, never fear, the rain usually starts around 1 pm. This leaves plenty of time for you to get out and about in the morning.
Think of it this way, if you know it will rain every day throughout the year, at least you don’t have to worry about planning to avoid it!
Having said that, Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons
Though the temperatures in Sri Lanka tend to be hot, Nuwara Eliya is mostly cool. In fact, it can feel cold and windy at times, so I recommend packing a jacket and a sweater for your visit.
Wondering what to pack? Check out our Sri Lanka packing list.
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