City or town
Things to see in Nuwara Eliya (Sri Lanka): 13 places and when to go
Nuwara Eliya is a town in Sri Lanka, and this site lists 13 places in and around it, mainly Nature (7), Mountains (6), Hiking (6). The best known are Pidurutalagala, Conical Hill and Galway's Land National Park. The best time to come is January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. There are about 12 h 24 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Sri Lanka · 6.9659, 80.7775
- Places
- 13 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- Best time
- January to March and July to August.
- Also possible
- April to June, September and December.
- Nearest airport
- HRI Mattala, 85 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Pidurutalagala, at 2,524 m.
What to see in Nuwara Eliya
The places in and around Nuwara Eliya, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- PidurutalagalaMountain in Sri Lanka3.9 km
- Conical HillMountain in Sri Lanka6.0 km
- Galway's Land National ParkNational park in Sri Lanka6 m
- HakgalaMountain in Sri Lanka6.7 km
- KikilimanaMountain in Sri Lanka4.0 km
- One Tree HillMountain in Sri Lanka2.0 km
- Great Western MountainMountain in Sri Lanka9.2 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 04 - Tawalanthenne to PundaloyaHiking14 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 05 - Pundaloya To WatagodaHiking14 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 19 - Ettampitiya To LunuwatteHiking14 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 20 - Lunuwatte To Uda PussellawaHiking15 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 21 - Uda Pussellawa to KandapolaHiking9.8 km
- Pekoe Trail - Stage 22 - Kandapola To Pedro EstateHiking4.1 km
When to go to Nuwara Eliya
The best time to visit Nuwara Eliya is January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:38
- FebBest time11:47
- MarBest time11:57
- AprPossible12:09
- MayPossible12:19
- JunPossible12:24
- JulBest time12:22
- AugBest time12:14
- SepPossible12:02
- OctBetter not11:51
- NovBetter not11:41
- DecPossible11:36
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 24 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In January, 13 of the 13 places are at their best.
When to go to Sri Lanka in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Nuwara Eliya
The nearest main airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI, Mattala), 85 km as the crow flies. How to get around Sri Lanka (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Haputale11 places27 km
- Badulla9 places30 km
- Kandy18 places37 km
- Colombo30 places102 km
- Manampitiya6 places111 km
- Galle8 places120 km
And all of Sri Lanka, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Nuwara Eliya?
The best known: Pidurutalagala, Conical Hill, Galway's Land National Park, Hakgala, Kikilimana. In all, 13 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya?
January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. There are about 12 h 24 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Nuwara Eliya?
The nearest main airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), 85 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Nuwara Eliya as the destination and these 13 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- Sri LankaBefore travelling to Sri Lanka: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. You need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for before you fly on the…
- Nature55 places for nature in Sri Lanka, from Adam's Peak to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: January to March and July to August. Each with its own season by altitude a
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.