Quick answer
A Sri Lanka cricket stadium road trip covering all seven international grounds takes about eight to ten days by car with a driver: Colombo's Premadasa, SSC and P Sara Oval, then Galle, Hambantota near Yala, the hill country to Pallekele near Kandy, and Rangiri Dambulla near Sigiriya, before returning to Colombo or the airport. Each ground pairs with a major sight: Galle Fort, Yala, Kandy, Ella and Sigiriya.
Key takeaways
- All seven international grounds fit in about eight to ten days.
- Start with Colombo's three grounds in a single day.
- Galle and Hambantota pair with the fort, beaches and Yala.
- Pallekele and Dambulla pair with Kandy and Sigiriya.
- A private driver makes the route simple.
The route at a glance
The route runs in a loop: Colombo, south down the expressway to Galle, east along the coast to Hambantota and Yala, north through the hill country via Ella and Nuwara Eliya to Kandy and Pallekele, then north to Dambulla and Sigiriya, and back to Colombo or the airport.
In eight to ten days, the route covers every international ground and many of the island's best sights. With more time, add beach days on the south coast or a few nights in the tea country.
Matches are a bonus rather than the aim; check Sri Lanka Cricket's schedule to see if any coincide with your dates, and shift the route to fit them.
- →Colombo: day 1 to 2.
- →Galle: days 2 to 3.
- →Hambantota and Yala: days 4 to 5.
- →Hill country and Kandy: days 6 to 8.
- →Dambulla and Sigiriya: days 8 to 10.
Colombo: three grounds in a day
Start in Colombo with the R Premadasa Stadium in Maligawatte, the largest ground, and Pettah's markets nearby. Then head to Cinnamon Gardens for the SSC, with the NCC, the Colombo Cricket Club and Bloomfield close by, and finish at the P Sara Oval in Borella, where Sri Lanka's first Test was played.
Add the National Museum, Viharamahadevi Park or the Racecourse's restored grandstand, and an evening at Galle Face Green.
The companion page on Colombo's cricket grounds in one day covers the route in detail.
Galle and Hambantota
Drive south on the Southern Expressway to Galle, about two hours, and spend a day or two in the fort. Walk the ramparts above Galle International Stadium, explore the fort's streets and spend an afternoon on the beach at Unawatuna.
Continue east along the coast, stopping at Matara's Uyanwatte Stadium if you like, to the Hambantota stadium at Sooriyawewa. Stay in Tissamaharama and take a morning safari in Yala.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange the driver, the safari and accommodation all along the route.
- →Galle: one or two nights in the fort.
- →Matara: an optional stop.
- →Tissamaharama: a base for Yala.
Through the hill country to Pallekele
From Tissamaharama, drive up into the hill country to Ella, about two and a half to three hours, and spend a night among the tea, with Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak. Continue through Nuwara Eliya, with a stop at the tea-country cricket ground at Radella, and down to Kandy.
Pallekele is 30 to 40 minutes east of Kandy, set in a valley ringed by hills. Visit the stadium, then spend the evening at the Temple of the Tooth and the lake. Asgiriya, the former Test ground in the city, is worth a look too.
The scenic train from Ella to Kandy is an alternative for part of this leg, with the driver meeting you at the other end.
- →Ella: a night among the tea.
- →Radella: a tea-country ground.
- →Kandy: Pallekele and Asgiriya.
Dambulla and Sigiriya
From Kandy, drive north about two to two and a half hours to Dambulla, passing the spice gardens of Matale. Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium sits beside the reservoir, with the cave temple rock in view.
Stay in Sigiriya or Habarana, climb Sigiriya or Pidurangala at sunrise, visit the Dambulla cave temple and take an evening safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla.
From Dambulla, Colombo and the airport are about four hours away, with a stop at Kurunegala's Welagedara Stadium on the way if you want an eighth ground.
- →Dambulla: the stadium and cave temple.
- →Sigiriya: sunrise climb.
- →Minneriya: an evening safari.
Tips for the road trip
A private car and driver is the easiest way to follow the route, with flexibility for detours and matches. Allow extra time on match days, when traffic around the grounds builds.
Most grounds can be seen from outside on non-match days, and Galle from the ramparts. Entry inside is at the discretion of staff, so ask politely at the gate.
Check Sri Lanka Cricket's schedule before you finalise dates; even one match on the route adds a great deal.
- →Hire a driver for the whole route.
- →Ask at the gate on non-match days.
- →Fit in a match if you can.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit all of Sri Lanka's cricket stadiums in one trip?
Yes. All seven international grounds, Colombo's three, Galle, Hambantota, Pallekele and Dambulla, fit in a road trip of about eight to ten days with a driver. The route also takes in many of the island's best sights, including Galle Fort, Yala, Ella, Kandy and Sigiriya.
How long does a cricket stadium road trip take?
About eight to ten days for all seven international grounds, with sightseeing at each stop. With beach days or extra nights in the tea country, two weeks is comfortable. A shorter version covering Colombo, Galle and Kandy takes four to five days.
What is the best order to visit the grounds?
A loop from Colombo south to Galle and Hambantota, up through the hill country to Pallekele, north to Dambulla and back to Colombo works well. It can be run in either direction, and shifted to fit any matches on the schedule.
Can I see the grounds without a match?
Most grounds can be seen from outside on non-match days, and Galle from the fort ramparts at any time. Entry inside is at the discretion of staff, so ask politely at the gate. A match on the route adds a great deal, so check the schedule.
Do I need a driver for the road trip?
A private car and driver is the easiest and most flexible way to follow the route, especially for Hambantota and the hill country, where public transport to the grounds is limited. Trains can replace some legs, such as Ella to Kandy.
Which other grounds can I add?
Matara's Uyanwatte Stadium, Radella in the tea country, Asgiriya in Kandy and Kurunegala's Welagedara Stadium are all on or near the route. The Colombo club grounds, the NCC, the CCC and Bloomfield, fit into the first day.
When is the best time for a stadium road trip?
Any time of year works, as there is always a dry region. The southwest is driest roughly December to April, which suits Galle and Colombo. Fitting a match into the route depends on the schedule, so check Sri Lanka Cricket's fixtures first.