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Galle Face Green's sea wall and promenade in evening light, with the Shangri-La and World Trade Center towers behind

Family Activities in Sri Lanka

Start with the best-known places: Galle Face Green, Ambuluwawa, Casuarina Beach and Hakgala Gardens.

18 guides1 itinerary passes throughChecked 11 Oct 2026

Plan your route

Where to find family activities

  • Central Province 8 guides
  • Sabaragamuwa Province 4 guides
  • Western Province 3 guides
  • Eastern Province 3 guides
  • Southern Province 2 guides
  • Uva Province 2 guides
  • North Central Province 1 guide
  • Northern Province 1 guide

Top places for family activities

Map of Family Activities

The 7 places with coordinates in their guides; numbers match the top places.

Map of 7 places
  1. 1Galle Face Green
  2. 2Ambuluwawa
  3. 3Hakgala Gardens
  4. 4Peradeniya Botanic Gardens
  5. 5Elephant Transit Home
  6. 6Pasikuda
  7. 7Udawalawe
Open in Google Maps© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Around Pasikuda, by distance

Straight-line distance from Pasikuda, from each guide's coordinates; the road is longer.

Family Activities in pictures

Photos from the guides, credited on each page.

  • Galle Face Green's sea wall and promenade in evening light, with the Shangri-La and World Trade Center towers behind
  • Aerial view of the white spiral Ambuluwawa Tower on a forested hilltop, with green hills and valleys stretching away under cloud
  • A small herd of elephants walking through green grassland beside a lake, with trees behind
  • A wide sandy beach with a fishing boat on the sand, people wading far out in calm shallow water and a casuarina branch in the foreground
  • Flower beds, trees and a green garden building in Hakgala Botanic Gardens, with the rock face of Hakgala Rock rising behind
  • Bathers silhouetted far out in the calm, shallow water of Pasikuda bay at sunset, with a tree-lined shore on the horizon
  • A path between curving ribbon borders of red and yellow coleus on a lawn, with tall palms and dark conifers behind
  • A small herd of elephants walking through green grassland beside a lake, with trees behind
  • Young elephants gathered in the sandy feeding yard of the Elephant Transit Home, with keepers and sheds behind

Beach in family activities

Viewpoint in family activities

Botanical garden in family activities

Where to go for family activities

Itineraries for family activities

What recent visitors report

Lines from the guides' 2025–26 visitor reports.

Frequently asked about Family Activities

Where is Galle Face Green?

On the seafront in central Colombo, along Galle Road, between the Old Parliament building and the Galle Face Hotel. It is about 2 km from Colombo Fort railway station. From the Galle Face Green guide

How much is the Ambuluwawa Tower ticket for foreigners?

LKR 2,750 per adult and LKR 1,500 per child, according to the complex's website. Pay in cash at the entrance gate. From the Ambuluwawa guide

Is Sri Lanka safe for children?

There is no malaria, but take care with three things: the sea, where rip currents can be dangerous; mosquitoes, because dengue is present all year; and dogs and monkeys, because of rabies. From the Sri Lanka with kids guide

Where is Casuarina Beach?

On the north coast of Karaitivu island, at Karainagar in Jaffna District. The island is joined to the Jaffna peninsula by a causeway, so you can drive there. From the Casuarina Beach guide

What are the opening hours of Hakgala Botanic Gardens?

Every day from 7.30 am to 6 pm, according to the Department of National Botanic Gardens. Ticket sales stop at 5 pm, though. From the Hakgala Gardens guide

Is Pasikuda good for swimming?

The bay is shallow and currents are weaker than on much of the coast, so bathers can wade far out. Still watch children closely; lifeguards rescued a child there in September 2025. From the Pasikuda guide

Before you go

Header photo: Thilina Alagiyawanna / Pexels.