9 Amazing Things to Do in Sigiriya (After Lion Rock)
We based ourselves in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka for a few days and loved how easy it was to mix jungle adventures with culture and history. The town sits right in the heart of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, so you can wake up to jungle sounds, splash in the pool, and climb to the top of a UNESCO world heritage site before lunch. There is so much to do here even if you skip climbing Lion Rock.
We’re spent three years full-time traveling around the world with our kids and learning what works for traveling families. In this article we’re sharing our favorite things to do in and around Sigiriya other than Lion Rock, from sunrise on Pidurangala to day trips for ruins and wildlife.
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9 Amazing Things to Do in Sigirya, Sri Lanka
We really enjoyed our time in Sigiriya, it was a great stop on our Sri Lanka Itinerary. We loved climbing Lion Rock, and highly recommed visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site. We wrote a guide to visiting Lion Rock, and we hope you enjoy it as uch as we did! For many, this is the main reason to visit Sigirya in the first place.
However, there are many things to do when based in Sigirya, that many tourist miss! Here’s our list of some of the top sites in and around Sigirya.
1. Climb Pidurangala Rock
A lot of budget travelers opt to skip the expense of Lion Rock and climb nearby Pidurangala Rock instead. The climb is shorter than Lion Rock but still involves scrambling over rocks at the top. Once you reach the summit, you’ll have great views of Lion Rock rising out of the jungle. This viewpoint is especially stunning at sunrise or sunset.
You enter this hike through a temple, so make sure you dress appropriately to enter the temple- with your knees and shoulders covered.
Tickets for Pidurangala are much cheaper than Lion Rock- tickets for foreign adults are 3 USD, and children are 1.50 USD. It’s also generally less crowded, so you get a more peaceful experience.
If architectural ruins or ancient art inspire you, we recommend you head to Lion Rock, if you are mostly interested in hiking and views, choose Pidurangala Rock. If you are in town for long enough, do both!
2. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride over Lion Rock
For a truly unforgettable experience, you can take a hot air balloon ride over the Sigiriya area. Floating above the jungle as the sun rises gives you a bird’s-eye view of Lion Rock, the giant Golden Buddha at Dambulla Temple, and the villages and fields below. It’s a magical way to see Sri Lanka.
Flights usually start just before dawn, and it’s the kind of bucket-list experience you’ll never forget. Minimum age to participate is five years old.
Check Prices: Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sigiriya
3. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temples
About 30 minutes from Sigiriya are the Dambulla Cave Temples, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are five separate caves filled with Buddha statues and intricate paintings that cover the walls and ceilings. The climb up to the caves isn’t too tough, and the views back over the plains are beautiful.
Entrance fees are 10 USD for adults and 5 USD for children over 6.
We found the cave interiors peaceful and cool despite their popularity. Many of the paintings are vivid, and it’s easy to imagine how monks lived and worshiped here for centuries. It’s also a great stop to pair with Lion Rock on the same day.
Once you’ve finished with the caves, take a look at the giant Golden Buddha. At 110 feet high, it claims to be the world’s largest Buddha Statue in the dhamma chakka posture.
Day Trip that Combines Lion Rock with the Dambulla Cave Temples
This day trip combines Sigirya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temples. You’ll also stop at a spice garden, a woodcarver’s, and a silk showroom. Tickets to the sites are not included. This includes a professional guide to accompany you at both sites, so you’ll learn a lot more about them. We have also found that these guides always know the best places to take photos!
Check Prices: Guided Tour of Sigirya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temples
Day Trip that includes Lion Rock, Dambulla Caves, and Minneriya National Park
This full-day tour combines three highlights of the area: a guided tour of Lion Rock, a visit to the painted caves and the giant golden Buddha at Dambulla, and then visit to Minneriya National Park, which is famous for its wild elephant gatherings.
Check Prices: Tour of Lion Rock, Dambulla Caves, and Safari
4. Night Hike to See Wild Loris
One of the most unique things to do near Sigiriya is to take a night walk through the jungle to spot the elusive and endangered Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus). These small, nocturnal primates have huge eyes and are rarely seen without a guide.
Tours start at 7:00 with a presentation to teach you about the Loris. This tour is like a mini-safari through the back gardens of Pidurangala, with a maximum of 5 participants.
We didn’t get a chance to try this, but judging from the reviews, sightings do happen on most tours!
“For the purpose of the tour (loris viewing) this is 5-stars. We ended up seeing 7+. Views are often quick, but the naturalist and guide did well to ensure everyone in the group got to see them.” -Chris
Check Prices: Night Jungle Walk to Spot Loris
5. Wander The Ruins of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa was once the thriving capital of Sri Lanka, and today it’s an extensive archaeological park filled with temples, stupas, and statues. We hired a tuk-tuk driver who moved us between different parts of this large site.
Tickets to enter the site are 30 USD for adults, and 15 USD for children over 6.
Wandering among the ruins feels like walking through an outdoor museum, and you can easily spend a day exploring here. These really are ruins- stacks of bricks where a seven-story palace once stood, columns reaching up into nothing.
You’ll see the remains of what may have been an old library, a monastery, a citadel, and a royal bath. There are also intricate carvings, large buddhas, and even a stone book that may be the largest stone inscription discovered.
This is a great site for kids as it’s flat, and they can run between parts of the site, but they may also tire of so many ruins. Wear shoes that are easy to get on and off, as you’ll take them off as you enter each temple. It’s about an hour’s drive from Sigiriya, so it works well as a leisurely day trip.
This day tour includes transportation around the site, and a written guide to use while you explore. The driver will have a basic itinerary so that you see the most important parts of the site, and don’t have to do the research yourself. You can also upgrade the experience to include a professional guide to accompany you.
Check Prices: Polonnaruwa Ruins Day Tour
6. Cycle Tour of Sigirya Village
One of the best ways to experience Sigiriya is by joining a guided cycle tour that takes you through the village of Sigiriya and the surrounding farms and fields. Guided by a local expert who knows the area well, this tour lets you see how people live in Sri Lanka today, while supporting the local economy.
You’ll pedal along quiet roads, paths, and with views of a large lake and even Sigiriya Rock in the distance. Along the way, you’ll stop at a village home to get a firsthand look at daily life. The tour ends with a delicious home-cooked village lunch prepared by locals.
There are no animals used in this experience. Bikes and helmets are provided, and you can request hotel pickup if needed.
Check Prices: Cycle Tour of Sigirya
7. See Elephants at Minneriya National Park
Minneriya is one of the most popular national parks in Sri Lanka, just 30 minutes from Sigiriya. It’s especially famous for “The Gathering,” when hundreds of wild elephants come to drink at the famous Minneriya Tank (best seen from July to October). When visiting this park at any time of year, you’re likely to see elephants, as well as deer, buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles and many different birds.
You may see people offering elephant rides in the town of Sigiriya. These are not ethical experiences, and we encourage you to skip them. Elephants should not be ridden, bathed, or touched by tourists. Instead, book a safari to watch wild elephants in their natural habitat, and support their health and conservation.
Sri Lanka does not have many animal welfare laws to protect elephants from use in tourism or in traditional processions. By contrast, Cambodia has much stricter laws. We visited an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia and had a great experience.
This half-day jeep safari includes pickup from Sigiriya and is a family-friendly way to see herds of wild elephants and other fascinationg animals up close.
Check Prices: Minneriya Park Half Day Jeep Safari
8. Explore the Ruins of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is another of Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals, and it’s known for its massive stupas and sacred Bodhi tree. Visiting gives you a real sense of the scale and power of Sri Lanka’s early kingdoms. Many of the monuments are still active religious sites, so you’ll see pilgrims worshiping alongside tourists.
The ruins are spread out, so having a driver is necessary to move around the site. This is a full-day trip from Sigiriya, but well worth it if you’re interested in the history and culture of Sri Lanka. We skipped this one as we had just spent a full day at Polonnaruwa.
This tour guide gets great reviews. You’ll need to arrange transport from Sigiriya (or wherever you decide to stay) to start this half-day tour. This tour includes transportation in a tuk-tuk around the area and a guide for all the sites.
Check Prices: Tour of Anuradhapura
9. Look for Leopards at Wilpattu National Park
If you’re interested in wildlife, head to Wilpattu National Park, one of the largest and oldest parks in Sri Lanka. It’s famous for its leopard population, but you can also expect to see elephants, crocodiles, and possibly sloth bears. The park’s name means “land of lakes,” and its natural scenery is beautiful.
Wilpattu is about 3 to 3.5 hours from Sigiriya, which makes for a long day. We recommend staying overnight near the park so you can join an early morning safari, which is the best time for wildlife viewing, but it you only have time for a day trip, you can still enjoy this park.
We have spoken with several families who loved their safaris in Wilpattu. We chose to visit Yala National Park instead, which is closer to the south coast of Sri Lanka. Visitors to Yala have a higher chance of seeing leopards, but it is also a more popular, and thus crowded, park. Wilpattu is quieter, with less traffic, and a great choice if you are staying in this region of Sri Lanka.
This 8-hour tour includes pick up, drop off, and a half-day tour in the park. It gets great reviews and includes a picnic lunch inside the park.
Check Prices: Safari in Wilpattu National Park
FAQ
Yes! Sigiriya is a great stop for families. There’s a good mix of cultural sites, outdoor adventures, and wildlife. Kids can scramble up rocks, spot monkeys, and swim at the hotel pool between activities, all while learning about Sri Lankan history and culture.
We recommend at least two full days in Sigiriya. That gives you time to climb Lion Rock or Pidurangala, explore the Dambulla Cave Temples, and take a safari at Minneriya. If you add day trips to Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura, you’ll want three or four days.
Yes, but the best place to see them is in a nearby national park like Minneriya or Kaudulla, where they gather in large numbers. You might spot a wild elephant on the roadside like we did on our way to the ruins of Polonnaruwa, but a safari gives you a much better chance of seeing them.
Lion Rock is more about history and ruins, with ancient frescoes, gardens, and a palace at the top. Pidurangala Rock is cheaper, less crowded, and all about the views.
If you’re here long enough, do both. If you only have time for one, choose based on whether you prefer cultural history (Lion Rock) or a hiking viewpoint (Pidurangala). If you’re considering Lion Rock, check out our guide to this UNESCO World Heritage site!
There You Have It
Sigiriya was a fun, relaxing stop for us, and we loved how many different things there were to do in the area. Some days were all about climbing rocks for the views, other days we were wandering through ancient temples or spotted a wild elephant along the road.
If you only have a short time here, we’d suggest pairing Lion Rock with the Dambulla Cave Temples. It’s a great balance of history, art, and scenery, and going with a guide makes it even more engaging.
Whether you love ancient ruins or wildlife hikes, Sigiriya is worth more than just a quick stop. Take your time, explore a bit beyond Lion Rock, and you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this part of Sri Lanka.
Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? Check out our 2-week itinerary for families, or head to the south coast for some beach time in Hiriketiya Beach (famous for surfing) or Hikkaduwa Beach (famous for sea turtles).
Starting with Lion Rock? We’ve got a guide to why you should climb and what to expect!
