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Train crossing the stone arches of the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, Sri Lanka

Scenic Train Journeys in Sri Lanka

Start with the best-known places: Nine Arch Bridge, Ella, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya.

17 guides9 itineraries pass throughChecked 5 Oct 2026

Plan your route

Where to find scenic train journeys

  • Uva Province 15 guides
  • Central Province 10 guides
  • Southern Province 6 guides
  • North Central Province 3 guides
  • Western Province 3 guides
  • Sabaragamuwa Province 1 guide
  • Eastern Province 1 guide
  • Northern Province 1 guide

Top places for scenic train journeys

Map of Scenic Train Journeys

The 4 places with coordinates in their guides; numbers match the top places.

Map of 4 places
  1. 1Nine Arch Bridge
  2. 2Ella
  3. 3Haputale
  4. 4Nuwara Eliya
Open in Google Maps© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Around Ella, by distance

Road distance from Ella to each guide's map point. Places without a road route show the straight-line distance.

© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Scenic Train Journeys in pictures

Photos from the guides, credited on each page.

  • Train crossing the stone arches of the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, Sri Lanka
  • View over Ella's green valley and wooded hills from the top of Ella Rock
  • Blue train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, Sri Lanka
  • Morning mist in the valleys below Haputale, with tea estates and small villages on the green slopes
  • Sigiriya rock rising above the forest, seen from Pidurangala, with mountains on the horizon
  • A small herd of elephants walking through green grassland beside a lake, with trees behind
  • Morning mist in the valleys below Haputale, with tea estates and small villages on the green slopes
  • Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya, with houses and tea-covered hills on the far shore and trees in the foreground
  • Sigiriya rock rising above a misty forest, seen from the top of Pidurangala with dry grass in the foreground

Where to go for scenic train journeys

Experiences: scenic train journeys

Itineraries for scenic train journeys

What recent visitors report

Lines from the guides' 2025–26 visitor reports.

Planning guides for scenic train journeys

Frequently asked about Scenic Train Journeys

Is there an entrance fee for Nine Arch Bridge?

No. There is no ticket or entrance fee: the bridge is part of the working railway, not a ticketed site. From the Nine Arch Bridge guide

Can I take the train to Ella?

Yes: trains between Nanu Oya and Badulla, which stop at Ella, restarted on 20 June 2026 after Cyclone Ditwah. For trains from Colombo or Kandy, see the travel update at the top of this page. From the Ella guide

Is two days enough in Ella?

Yes, for most people. Two mornings let you climb both Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock early, when the views are clearest, with time left for Nine Arch Bridge, tea and Ravana Falls. From the 2 days in Ella guide

Can I get to Haputale by train?

Yes, from the Badulla side: trains between Nanu Oya and Badulla, through Haputale, have run again since 20 June 2026. For the line west of Nanu Oya, see the travel update at the top of this page. From the Haputale guide

Is seven days enough for Sri Lanka?

It's enough for the ancient cities, Kandy and the hill country if you keep to two nights in each place and accept three long travel days. It isn't enough to add a beach as well. From the 7 days in Sri Lanka 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

Before you go

Header photo: Hendrik Cornelissen / Unsplash.