In a nutshell
- Ella is located in Sri Lanka’s hill country and is one of the places you absolutely shouldn’t miss when traveling through Sri Lanka’s interior.
- The town itself is small with no major sights of its own — the real highlights are in the nature surrounding Ella, making it the perfect base for exploring the area.
- What you’ll find in abundance right in the center: great hotels, restaurants, and cafés. We share our personal recommendations for all of them.
- Ella is also the starting point for the famous train ride through the hill country to Kandy — or the end point if you’re coming from Kandy.
Lies auch:
Highlights in Ella on a Map
To give you a good overview of where each highlight in Ella is located, we’ve marked them all on a map for you.
The yellow dots are the restaurants and the red dots are the hotels in Ella. This gives you a clear idea of where the town sits. The attractions (in teal) are almost all located a little outside the center.
The Best Things to Do in Ella
The nature around Ella is absolutely incredible and is home to some of the most stunning highlights Sri Lanka has to offer. Here are our 8 top picks for visiting Ella, Sri Lanka.
Nine Arches Bridge
What you need to know: The Nine Arches Bridge is not only the most famous photo spot in Ella — it’s one of the most iconic in all of Sri Lanka. The 90-meter-long bridge gets its name from its nine stone arches.
Several hiking trails lead there from Ella’s center, and they’re well signposted throughout town, so you’ll find them easily. Depending on your route, you’ll walk two to three kilometers and it’ll take about 30–40 minutes. Especially scenic is the path through the jungle starting from Passara Road.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The bridge itself is seriously impressive, and the nature surrounding it even more so. All around you’ll see nothing but jungle and tea plantations. The hike there alone makes it totally worth your time.
Watch out: If you want to step off to the side of the bridge into the bushes for a great shot, watch your legs or wear long pants — we quickly ended up with a lot of leeches on our shoes.
Our tip: The real highlight is watching the famous trains cross the bridge. But don’t stand in the crowd on the bridge itself — instead, head up to the Asanka Café above the Nine Arches Bridge. From there you can watch the train pass by in a much more relaxed way.
Half-day tour to Nine Arches Bridge + Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adam's Peak
What you need to know: There are three ways to hike up Little Adam’s Peak:
- If you’re already at the Nine Arches Bridge, continue from there — Little Adam’s Peak is only two kilometers away.
- Start from Ella’s center. From the main road it takes 30 minutes to reach the signposted trailhead, and another 30 minutes from there to the summit.
- Take a tuk-tuk to the trailhead and hike up from there.
All routes are very well marked and the ascent isn’t too strenuous. Only the final stretch with 450 steps is a bit steeper.
Is it worth it? For us, even the walk through the tea plantations was a highlight on its own. But the view from the very top takes it to another level — a breathtaking panorama over the mountains and across to Ella Rock!
Our tip: If you’ve rented your own tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka, you can simply park it at the trailhead on the roadside next to the other tuk-tuks. That’s exactly what we did.
Half-day tour to Nine Arches Bridge + Little Adam’s Peak
Ella Rock
What you need to know: Ella Rock is the other mountain you can hike in the area. The ascent is a bit more challenging — the trail is longer and gets steeper toward the end. You don’t need to be super fit, but a reasonable level of fitness is definitely an advantage.
You can start the hike right at Ella’s train station. From there it’s about a two-hour hike up to Ella Rock, first along the railway tracks and then through the forest — roughly nine kilometers in total.
Is it worth it? Yes! The path through the tea plantations and forests is beautiful, and at the top — at 900 meters elevation — a great vantage point awaits you. It’s also usually a little less crowded here than on Little Adam’s Peak.
Our tip: The route is poorly signposted, and there are frequent reports of locals deliberately pointing you in the wrong direction and then asking for money to guide you back. Download an offline map beforehand — Google Maps or Maps.me both work great. That way you’ll find the route without any trouble, even without a Sri Lankan SIM card.
Ravana Waterfall
What you need to know: There are several waterfalls around Ella. If you’re arriving from Sri Lanka’s south or east coast, you’ll pass right by Ravana Waterfall. It tumbles down over several tiers, dropping about 25 meters. From Ella’s center you can reach it in ten minutes by tuk-tuk.
Is it worth it? Honestly, we’ve seen far more impressive waterfalls in Asia — in Bali, for example. A quick photo stop is plenty here; you don’t need to linger.
Our tip: If you’re a serious waterfall fan and want to stay longer, pack your swimwear and water shoes and cool off in the natural pools. Plenty of locals do exactly that.
Ella Spice Garden
What you need to know: What is Sri Lanka famous for? Curry, curry, and more curry! Okay, and plenty of other delicious dishes too. If you don’t just want to taste them but also learn how they’re made, the Ella Spice Garden is perfect for you. Cooking classes run twice a day and you’ll also pick up a ton about the many exotic spices used in Sri Lankan cuisine.
Is it worth it? We didn’t visit the Spice Garden ourselves, but we’ve heard it’s genuinely exciting, entertaining, and above all incredibly delicious.
Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
What you need to know: Ella is surrounded by countless tea plantations producing the famous Ceylon tea. On a tour of the Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, you’ll learn how the harvest works in the fields and exactly how the tea is processed — with a small tasting session at the end.
Is it worth it? Definitely! Ceylon tea production is hugely important to Sri Lanka, and Uva Halpewatte is one of the largest producers. Seeing the whole process explained step by step gives you a real window into Sri Lankan culture — it’s genuinely fascinating.
Tour with tasting at the Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
Flying Ravana Mega Zipline
What you need to know: On the way to Little Adam’s Peak you’ll pass the Ravana Zipline — it’s located right below the mountain. You zip across a hillside slope on a 550-meter-long line, which takes about 30 seconds and gives you a great view over Ella’s green landscape. It costs around 30 euros.
Is it worth it? There are certainly more spectacular ziplines out there — like in Costa Rica — but if you’re already up at Little Adam’s Peak, this is an easy way to get a little adrenaline rush. We wouldn’t make the trip out there just for this though.
Train Ride Between Kandy and Ella
What you need to know: A train ride as an attraction? Oh yes, absolutely — the entire route on the famous journey between Kandy and Ella is one big experience in itself. You pass through lush green tea plantations and tiny, authentic villages that feel completely off the tourist trail.
Is it worth it? 100%! The route is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world. The scenery is simply breathtaking and there are incredible photo opportunities at every turn. Just keep in mind that the full route takes about seven hours — the train moves at a wonderfully leisurely pace.
Our tip: Tickets sell out fast, and most people take the train from Kandy to Ella. We’d recommend doing it the other way around — from Ella to Kandy. Tickets are easier to get and the train is noticeably less crowded.
Reserved 2nd class ticket from Ella to Kandy
All the info about the train ride and the various ticket options can be found here:
The Best Day Trips from Ella
There’s plenty to see not just in Ella itself, but in the surrounding area too. Here are our favorites for great day trips from Ella:
Day trip to Diyaluma Falls: This tour takes you to Sri Lanka’s second-highest waterfall. You’ll hike to the Upper Diyaluma Falls, where stunning views and natural pools await — perfect for a swim.
Safari in Udawalawe National Park: A safari here is a must-do in Sri Lanka. Udawalawe is our favorite — it’s home to the largest elephant population on the island.
Day tour through Horton Plains National Park: First you take the train to Nuwara Eliya, then a guided hike leads you through the park’s best spots.
More info and tips on the most beautiful national parks in Sri Lanka can be found here:
Our Hotel Recommendations for Ella
Still looking for the perfect place to stay in Ella? We’ll make it easy for you — here are the accommodations in Ella we love most. All three are centrally located yet nice and quiet:
Lavendra Paradise: This is where we stayed in Ella. The breakfast was hands down the best of our entire trip, the view from the terrace was stunning, and the value for money is unbeatable.
Zion View Ella Green Retreat: The standout here is the infinity pool right on the hillside. You can unwind perfectly at the spa or in a hammock on your balcony.
Ravana Heights: Ravana Heights has its own hotel garden where you can watch monkeys and squirrels run around while you have breakfast. So cool!
Our bonus tip: If your hotel in Ella doesn’t have a pool, some other hotels will let you use theirs for a small fee. We did exactly that at Mountain Heavens, where we spent two very relaxing hours in the infinity pool.
Restaurants and Cafés in Ella
In Ella, you really don’t have to search long for a great meal. Along the main street you’ll find quite a few spots that really deliver. Still, here are our three favorites:
Café Chill: The number one go-to spot in Ella. The menu is super varied and whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner — the food here is consistently great.
Rainbow Inn: Located right across from Café Chill. A fantastic spot for breakfast, whether you’re in the mood for a smoothie bowl or avocado toast.
The Barn by Starbeans: This might not be the most obvious choice, but The Barn is our under-the-radar pick in Ella for delicious Neapolitan pizza. We especially loved the Margherita — and normally we find it pretty boring.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ella in Sri Lanka
Ready to head to Ella but still have a few questions? You’ll find the answers right here.
Is Ella in Sri Lanka worth visiting?
Absolutely! On our road trip through Sri Lanka, Ella was one of our favorite stops.
It’s a pretty touristy little town, but the pure, lush green nature all around … it’s just incredible. You can tell — we’re a little bit smitten with Ella.
When is the best time to visit Ella?
You can visit Ella any time of year, but the best weather is during the dry season from December to March.
We were there in September and it worked out fine, though it often started pouring heavily in the afternoons. Plan your activities for the morning to be safe.
We’d avoid October and November — that’s when the monsoon transitions, and heavy rainfall can hit anywhere on the island at any time. It’s generally not the best time to visit Sri Lanka.
How do you get to Ella?
Ella is usually a stop on a full round trip through Sri Lanka. Most travelers arrive by train from Kandy to Ella.
Ella is also well connected to the bus network, both from the south and from the east. Buses run constantly and everywhere, but it’s best to ask at your hotel in Sri Lanka for exact times — bus schedules aren’t always easy to find online.
We traveled in our own tuk-tuk. From Arugam Bay on the east coast, where we’d been enjoying a beach stay in Sri Lanka, we drove over to Ella in about three and a half hours.
You can also hire a private driver, which is certainly the most comfortable option — just also the most expensive.
How many days should you spend in Ella?
We spent three full days in Ella and found that to be just right. We used the arrival day to browse the many shops along the main street and enjoy a good meal.
On day two, we tackled our hikes to the Nine Arches Bridge and Little Adam’s Peak. On day three, we explored the waterfalls and chilled out by the pool. Three days gives you plenty of time for activities as well as some relaxation in between.
What is the weather like in Ella?
Ella has a tropical climate, with average temperatures between 68 and 86°F. Evenings can cool down a few degrees, but a light jacket is all you’ll need.
February and March are the driest months, while October and November see the most rain. In general, though, you should expect at least a little rain on most days regardless of when you visit.
