Nuwara Eliya
Tea estates and cool hill air
Sri Lanka's highest town (about 1,870 m), surrounded by tea estates. The base for Horton Plains and World's End.
Photo Gallery
About Nuwara Eliya
Built by the British as a cool-climate retreat, Nuwara Eliya still has a colonial feel: a red-brick post office, a racecourse, Gregory Lake and Victoria Park. The surrounding hills are covered in tea, and several factories offer tours and tastings. Horton Plains National Park, about an hour away, has a 9 km loop walk to World's End, a sheer drop of about 870 m, and Baker's Falls.
Did you know?
Nuwara Eliya is often called 'Little England'. In April it fills up with Sri Lankan visitors for the New Year holiday season.
Location & Getting There
How to Get There
By road
About 2.5–3 hours from Kandy and 5–6 hours from Colombo.
By train
The nearest station is Nanu Oya, about 15 minutes away, on the Kandy–Ella line.
With us
Your driver-guide picks you up from the airport or your hotel, so you can add Nuwara Eliya to any private tour.
Travel Tips
- Best time to visit: January to April
- Recommended duration: 2-3 days
- Bring a warm layer: nights can drop to around 10°C.
- Reach Horton Plains by 6–7am; World's End is often covered in mist by 10am.
- January to April usually has the clearest weather.
Tours that include Nuwara Eliya
Hill Country Tour
Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains and Ella in 6 days
Complete Sri Lanka Tour
Culture, tea country, safari and beaches in 10 days
Ready to Visit Nuwara Eliya?
Tell us your dates and we'll suggest a route that includes Nuwara Eliya, with a price per day.