17 Best Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya (a Local’s Guide)

Nuwara Eliya was the very first town I visited in Sri Lanka after landing in Colombo over a decade ago. Since then, I have traveled here on multiple occasions: with my friends visiting from all over the world, with my Sri Lankan boyfriend for a romantic weekend, with my husband (same person as the boyfriend, in case you are wondering) and my parents-in-law for a family getaway. After years of travel, I would like to share my favorite things to do in Nuwara Eliya with you.

Sri Lankan hill country is stunning. You’ll see gorgeous views of lush green mountains, waterfalls, and tiny houses scattered over the hills at every turn. The best thing to do in Nuwara Eliya is really to just drive around and stop every two minutes or so with your mouth wide open to take pictures. But it doesn’t hurt to have a plan, right? I hope my suggestions below help you to have a wonderful trip!

A word of warning: I try to be honest when I write my guides. Some things to do in Nuwara Eliya are amazing and some are frankly underwhelming. I include my remarks on each attraction, but my opinions are simply my opinions, of course. Yours might differ.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.

The Best Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya

Admire the World’s End at Horton Plains National Park

While not located in the city itself, Horton Plains National Park is often the reason why people head to Nuwara Eliya. It will take you a bit over an hour by car to reach the entrance point to the park.

As you hike through Horton Plains, you’ll get to witness its gorgeous diverse landscape: from thick forest to flatlands, from roaring waterfalls to quiet lakes. About halfway through the hike, you reach the World’s End, a cliff from which, if you are lucky enough, stunning views of the villages in the valley below open up. And by “lucky” I mean you need to wake up before dawn and start the hike at 6 am to reach this point before the mist covers the views.

The World’s End is why most people come to the park, but the hike itself is enjoyable and rewarding even if you come on a cloudy day and don’t witness the famous view. Sri Lanka’s second and third-highest mountains, Kirigalpotta and Totapola respectively, can be seen from the park.

The whole route is 9.5 km and takes about 3 hours to accomplish. Comparatively, it’s an easy hike that doesn’t require much skill or preparation. There are almost no steep climbs, but you do need a pair of good walking shoes, as the landscape changes constantly and it gets slippery near the waterfalls.

Enjoy Afternoon Tea at The Grand Hotel

Afternoon tea at The Grand Hotel is one of my favorite things to do in Nuwara Eliya. Described on their website as “a symphony of elegant opulence”, “the perfect blend of charm and exuberance” and “a world of epicurean delight” — the copywriter went all out — the hotel is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture you’ll see in Sri Lanka.

The construction of the hotel started in 1828, although back then it was supposed to serve as a holiday home for Sir Edward Barnes, the fifth Governor of Ceylon. In 1843 it was turned into a guest house and half a century later purchased by the Nuwara Eliya Hotels Company which operates it to this day.

Afternoon tea is served every day from 3.30 pm until 6 pm. It’s best to reserve a table, especially during high season, especially if you’d like a table outside on the lawn. Nuwara Eliya is all about nature, parks, mountains, and hiking, so it’s nice to take a break, dress up a bit, and act all fancy while sipping Ceylon tea and eating dainty sandwiches.

Tip: if high tea is not something you like to do, then stop by the hotel to admire the interiors and the beautiful gardens outside.

By the way if you are looking for a hotel to stay at while traveling in Sri Lanka, check out this guide with all of my favorite hotels.

Send a Postcard from the Nuwara Eliya Post Office

Located right in the city center, Nuwara Eliya Post Office is one of the most awe-inspiring post offices I’ve ever seen. The two-story red brick building was constructed in 1894 and is considered one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. It gets a bit crowded inside, but is still worth a stop to buy a postcard (or five) and send them to your loved ones.

Try Traditional Sri Lankan Food at Hela Bojun Hala (and Support Local Women)

Hela Bojun Hala (loosely translated as Sinhala Food Shop) is a chain of food courts offering a range of traditional Sri Lankan treats at affordable prices.

You won’t find rice and curry at Hela Bojun, but you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to other traditional Sri Lankan foods: roti, string hoppers, pittu, tosai, ulundu wade and even festive specialties like konde kewum.

The food is cooked fresh right in front of you by local women. The project was created and is supported by the Department of Agriculture to empower women in rural areas. They receive training in food hygiene, customer service, and financial management before starting their business.

Tip: if you find jackfruit cutlets, get as many as you can possibly carry in your hands — those are the best!

Explore the Central Market

Right next to Hela Bojun Hala you will find the central market. It’s a small covered market that will require a maximum of twenty minutes of your time, possibly less. The produce stalls inside offer fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, and fish. Since everything in Nuwara Eliya city is close by, it only makes sense to stop here if you are in the area. The market is a few minutes away from the post office and Victoria Park.

Stroll at Victoria Park

Victoria Park is often listed as one of the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya. Let me just be frank for a minute. It’s beautiful (as you can see on the pictures above), but also… it’s a park. If you have limited time in Nuwara Eliya, I’d rather hike to the World’s End or see one of the waterfalls. If you have plenty of time, then a stroll here is worth it.

Walk around Gregory Lake

On various lists of the best things to do in Nuwara Eliya, Gregory Lake is right up there with Victoria Park. I promise I have nothing against lakes (or parks), but it’s just a lake, all right? You can take a stroll, rent a boat or a swan pedal boat, and even ride a pony for a small fee. If any of those sound exciting, make a stop here. If not, you are not going to miss out much if you skip it. You will pass by the lake anyways on the way to other attractions.

Take a Jeep Through Moon Plains

Moon Plains park was opened to the public in 2014. It’s a valley located about 6 km away from Nuwara Eliya with amazing panoramic views of mountains. The main attraction of the park is the Mini World’s End (named after the World’s End at Horton Plains National Park, as you might have guessed), a cliff from which gorgeous views open up — on a clear day that is. Try to come early in the morning, before the mist settles and covers the landscape below.

You can only explore the park on a hired safari jeep. Once you reach the viewing point, you’ll be given some time to look around and take photos, otherwise there’s not much walking involved. The park is home to many species of wild animals and birds, but that’s not the main purpose of the trip, the breathtaking mountain views are.

Visit Seetha Amman Temple

This gorgeous brightly colored Hindu temple is located just outside of Nuwara Eliya, close to Hagkala Botanical Garden. It plays an important role in one of the most important epics of Hinduism called the Ramayana. The Ramayana depicts the life of Rama, a prince of ancient India. His wife Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, the king of Lanka, and held captive at this temple.

You don’t need to know much about ancient Indian epics to enjoy the beauty of this temple. With its bright red and golden colors and intricate figurines, it’s quite mind-blowing even if you are oblivious to folklore.

Enjoy Quiet Time at Hakgala Botanical Garden

While we are on the topic of Indian epics, Hakgala Botanical Garden is also mentioned in the Ramayana. As Sita was held captive at Seetha Amman temple, King Ravana built the garden for her. It is the second-largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka (out of 5). It is also the one thing to do in Nuwara Eliya that I haven’t covered yet. If you are visiting the Seetha Amman temple, it only makes sense to see the garden too (it’s 3 minutes away by tuk-tuk or car).

Stop by Ramboda Falls (and Take a Hike Up)

Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka, is located right by the main road that leads into the hill country. The easiest way to see it is to make a quick stop on your way from Colombo or Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. If you are already in Nuwara Eliya, it will take you about an hour to get to Ramboda Falls from the city.

You can snap a photo right from the side of the road — the waterfall is that close. But I recommend you hike up: it costs only a hundred rupees and takes about twenty minutes to walk up the stairs and enjoy a much better view from the top.

Hike to Bomburu Ella Waterfall

Bomburu Ella is the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka that consists of several smaller waterfalls. The hike up is more strenuous than that to Ramboda Falls but is well worth the effort. It is, hands down, one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve seen on the island (the only one more awe-inspiring is Diyaluma Falls).

It will take you about 40 minutes to go all the way up. The path often gets muddy and rocky, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. You can always make a stop at the little cafe on the way up to rest, buy a few snacks and have a cup of tea.

Visit a Tea Plantation

Speaking of a cup of tea, Nuwara Eliya is a perfect place to see how Ceylon tea is grown and processed. Hilly tea plantations are the signature look of Nuwara Eliya and visiting one of them is an absolute must.

One of the closest to the city and most popular plantation is Pedro Tea Estate, built back in 1885. From the city center, it takes about 10 minutes to get there by tuk-tuk. At the estate, you can watch women pluck the leaves and witness how the tea is withered, rolled, sorted, and graded before being packed into pretty boxes and sent to faraway countries. Then you have a cup of pure Ceylon tea, of course, preferably on the balcony overlooking the plantation.

Sip on Kiri Kahata by the Side of the Road

I’ll admit, this one is tricky. I can’t give you the address or any detailed instructions, but if you are lucky (or persistent) enough, this could be one of the most amazing experiences of your trip. It was for me, anyways.

Kiri kahata is like a reversed version of milk tea. Confusing? Ok, you know how normally you pour a cup of black tea and then add a little bit of milk on top? For kiri kahata, you pour a whole cup of fresh hot milk and then add a tiny bit of strong black tea to it. You find it in little shops by the side of the road.

Ideally, you need some great views too, which are not too hard to come by in this region. While driving to or from Nuwara Eliya stop at one of the little tea shops and ask if they can make kiri kahata for you.

Try Strawberry Anything and Everything at Simply Strawberries by Jagro

When you think of Sri Lankan fruits, mango, pineapple, and papaya probably come to mind. But Nuwara Eliya, with its year-round cool climate, is actually perfect for growing strawberries. You’ll see them everywhere: sold at the markets, by the side of the road, in the menus of restaurants.

Jagro is one of the main producers of strawberries in Sri Lanka. They are a “field-to-fork supplier,” as stated on their website. That means they grow their own strawberries which are then supplied to local supermarkets. On top of that, they have a chain of cafes across the island with an extensive menu focused on strawberries. There’s one such cafe in Nuwara Eliya (Ambawela, to be precise).

Having grown up in Russia, where big plump deep-red strawberries are all too common, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed by the smaller, light-pink strawberries at Jagro. Still, it’s a fun thing to do in Nuwara Eliya, especially if you have enough time on your hands.

Take a Scenic Train Route from Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Taking the train through Sri Lankan hill country is always a breathtaking experience, but the stretch from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is considered the most beautiful part of it. It’s best to get tickets in advance, because they sell out quickly, especially first-class tickets that get you a designated seat.

Second and third-class tickets allow you to board the train but do not guarantee a seat, which is not as bad as it sounds. You can sit on the floor and enjoy the view out of the open doors, rather than through a window. But I implore you to be careful and not attempt that Instagram-perfect shot, hanging out of the moving train.

Experience Real Luxury at Ceylon Tea Trails

This is not a place to see in Nuwara Eliya, but rather a place to stay. It is impossible to drop by for tea or dinner, as it is in some other hotels, mainly because Ceylon Tea Trails is way too exclusive.

To be completely transparent: I haven’t stayed here yet, but it’s on my wish list. Ceylon Tea Trails costs about a thousand dollars a night, depending on the season. My husband is still not convinced it’s worth it, but I disagree.

For one, it’s not just any hotel, it’s one of the best hotels in Sri Lanka, the kind where celebrities stay. It consists of five bungalows, located at an altitude of 1250 meters, and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains. The rooms are styled with period furniture, all the food and drinks are included and cooked by the most talented chefs in the country, and each room comes with a butler. A personal butler!

The hotel is situated one and a half hours from the city. Once again, this is not an ad, I am just sharing some of the most fascinating things that I myself am eager to do! But if you decide to book it, do use this link (it’s an affiliate link). I get a commission at absolutely no extra cost to you which helps me run this blog and share guides like this one for free.

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This list is far from being complete. I hope to cover even more great things to do in Nuwara Eliya next time I travel to the Hill Country. Which ones have you done and which did you love the most? Did you manage to find kiri kahata? I’d love it if you shared your recommendations in the comments!

Where to Stay in Nuwara Eliya

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is THE hotel in Nuwara Eliya. It’s a tourist attraction on its own, so you have to come and see it even if you are not staying the night. I have been here multiple times for a coffee, a meal, an afternoon tea, but am yet to experience the luxury of their rooms.

The building was initially a one-story bungalow built as a holiday residence of Sir Edward Barnes, the fifth governor of Ceylon. It was named Barnes Hall, after him. The residence had seen several owners before in 1892 it was acquired by the Nuwara Eliya Hotels Company Limited. Several wings and two more stories were added over time. Currently there are 154 rooms at The Grand Hotel (including several suites). The gardens around the hotel are a beautiful space for a walk.

Check the Price

If you are looking for more hotels in other Sri Lankan cities, I have a post with all of my favorites: from hotels designed by Geoffrey Bawa himself (including his holiday home) to tree houses to British-style bungalows and beyond! Check it out here!