Train on the Nine Arches Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

Complete guide to Ella, Sri Lanka. How to get here, where to stay, what to see and where to eat

Ella is a small town located at a higher altitude in central Sri Lanka and is therefore known for its cooler climate and beautiful nature. In this area, you will find many beautiful hiking trails, waterfalls, and tea plantations.

Among other things, you will also find many great restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels offering beautiful views. That is why this town has become one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka.

Two to three nights are more than enough to explore the beauty of this area. However, we liked it so much that we extended our stay and spent a total of 5 days in this area.

1 How to get to Ella

2 Where to stay in Ella

3 How to get around Ella and its surroundings

4 What to see in and around Ella

4.1 9 Arches Bridge

4.2 Little Adam’s Peak

4.3 Flying Ravana

4.4 Ella Rock

4.5 Tea plantations around Ella

4.6 Ravanna Falls

4.7 Gastronomy in Ella

How to get to Ella

The most popular way to travel to Ella is by the iconic Kandy–Ella train. You can read more about this experience in our article Train journey in Sri Lanka from Kandy to Ella.

Domi and Thomas in the doorway of the Kandy to Ella train, Sri Lanka

The most beautiful scenery in all of Sri Lanka awaits you during your train journey.

However, if you decide to skip the iconic train ride, you can book a private driver to bring you here. You can book one at getyourguide, viator, or directly at the tourist centres or your accommodation.

Where to stay in Ella

The best part to stay in is definitely Kithal Ella Road. It is located just 1 km from the city center, and since it is a hilly area, the hotels offer magnificent views.

A great place to stay is, for example, Homestay – Nest of Peak, where we stayed. The accommodation also includes a private terrace with a magnificent view, where you will be served the most delicious local breakfast every morning. Nest of Peak was definitely one of the best accommodations we had the opportunity to try in Sri Lanka.

Mountain view from the terrace of Nest of Peak hotel in Ella, Sri Lanka

Breakfast on this terrace is priceless.

How to get around Ella and its surroundings

To explore the beauty of this city and its surroundings, you definitely need a means of transport that will give you flexibility throughout the day. We would not rely on public transport in this area. Although it is one option that can save you money, it will certainly not save you time.

We got around on a scooter, which we consider to be the best option. We rented the scooter directly from the owner of our accommodation for €5.50 per day.

Another alternative is to rent a tuk-tuk, which is very popular in Sri Lanka. Since the weather in this area is very unpredictable, this form of transport can often save you from getting soaked to the skin. However, it should be noted that this is a slower mode of transport than a scooter.

The classic tuk tuk in Sri Lanka.

Another alternative is to hire a driver with a tuktuk, who will take you to places that you agree on in advance. Getting in touch with such a driver is very easy. On our first trip from the train station to our accommodation, the driver who took us there offered us his services.

The last option is to rent a car. This is the most comfortable and also the most expensive option. It is also important to remember that some places are simply not accessible by car (such as the parking lot at 9 Arches Bridge or the starting point for Little Adam’s Peak).

What to see in and around Ella

9 Arches Bridge

The 9 Arches Bridge is one of the most famous places not only in Ella, but in all of Sri Lanka. That is why it welcomes hundreds of tourists every day. It is a unique part of the train route from Ella to Demodara.

Nine Arches Bridge in the jungle near Ella, Sri Lanka

If you go here in the morning, you can have the whole bridge to yourself.

If you want to enjoy this place to the fullest, we recommend arriving early in the morning to see the first train crossing the bridge at 6:30 a.m. Interestingly, there is no admission fee to visit this place. Trains cross the bridge several times a day at 6:30, 9:30, 11:30, 15:30, 16:30, and 17:30. You can park your motorcycle about 10 meters from the bridge, free of charge.

However, one thing you definitely need to be careful about is flying a drone. Even though it is not prohibited in this place, you need to be very careful. There are huge beehives under the bridge. If you irritate the bees, they may attack you.

Domi and Thomas in the tea plantation below the Nine Arches Bridge, Sri Lanka

There are tea plantations under the bridge. You can see the bee hives under the bridge.

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Little Adam’s Peak

A relatively easy hike in the Ella area is the climb to Little Adam’s Peak, which rises to a height of 1,141 meters. You don’t need a guide to complete this route, and it’s easy enough to do with children. The route is very well marked and you will mostly walk on stairs and concrete sidewalks.

The starting point of the route is 98 Acres Resort & Spa, from where the climb itself will take you about 20 minutes. This place offers magnificent views, and many people decide to visit it at sunrise, when you can enjoy truly beautiful scenery at the top without crowds of people.

Domi and Thomas at the top of Little Adam's Peak near Ella, Sri Lanka

Views of the whole area from Little Adam's Peak.

Flying Ravana

During your visit to Little Adam’s Peak, you can also stop by for an adventure called Flying Ravana. It is a zipline that is more than half a kilometer long and travels at speeds of up to 80 km/h over beautiful natural surroundings. You will pay approximately €30 for a ticket. You can buy your ticket on site or at this link.

Ella Rock

A very popular tourist route in the Ella area is the climb up Ella Rock. This is a more demanding hike than Little Adam’s Peak, as the entire route is around 10 km long. The round trip will take you about 4 hours, and you will definitely need suitable footwear and plenty of water.

The starting point of the hiking trail is at Kithahella railway station. Many people decide to climb this peak at sunrise. In this case, however, we recommend choosing the guided option, as elephants may be present on the route at night.

View of the valley and mountains from Ella Rock, Sri Lanka

Also from Ella Rock you will have a view of the whole landscape.

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Tea plantations around Ella

There are also many tea plantations in the vicinity of Ella that are definitely worth visiting. One of the most famous is Halpewatte Tea Factory, which is only 6 km from Ella. You can choose between a factory tour or a tea plantation tour, which costs around €10.

Lipton’s Seat, where the famous Lipton tea is produced, is also very popular. From Elly, you can get here in 1 hour by car, 1.5 hours by motorbike, or 2 hours by train. If you also want to visit the Lipton tea factory, keep in mind that it is closed on Mondays.

Tea shop at the Halpewatte tea factory near Ella, Sri Lanka

After touring the tea plantations and factories, you can buy tea or even taste them on the spot.

Ravanna Falls

In addition to beautiful views and tea plantations, you will also find magnificent waterfalls in the vicinity of Ella. Our favorite was Ravanna Falls, located just 10 minutes from Ella.

These waterfalls reach a height of 25 meters and are considered the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The waterfall is located right on the main road and there is no entrance fee. There are small shops nearby where you can buy souvenirs or snacks.

Ravana Waterfalls.

There are other waterfalls in the vicinity of Ella, which you can read more about in our E-Book.

Gastronomy in Ella

Another great thing about Ella is that there are many local as well as international restaurants and cafés. So it’s up to you what you choose.

One of the most famous restaurants is Caffe Chill, where you can find a wide range of local and international dishes. In the evening you can enjoy a drink with live music.

Chill Café restaurant in Ella in the evening, Sri Lanka

Definitely the most famous establishment in the whole of Ella with international cuisine.

If you are just in the mood for something quick, we definitely recommend ROTTI HUT. These are snack stalls where they will prepare wraps with meat or vegetables on the spot.

Rotti Hut fast food stall in Ella, Sri Lanka

If you're in a hurry, stop for a meal at a fast food joint like this.

Filled rotti from Rotti Hut in Ella, Sri Lanka

If you want to enjoy home cooking and atmosphere, we definitely recommend Bees Honey Cookery and Restaurant. It is a tiny local restaurant with a beautiful view, where you will enjoy the right atmosphere. Among other things, they also offer cooking classes, for which they have the best reviews.

Entrance to Bee's Honey Cookery restaurant in Ella, Sri Lanka

Local restaurant in beautiful natural surroundings.

For a great coffee or breakfast, we recommend visiting Rainbow Cafe, Barista Cafe or The Barn by Starbeans.

If you are going to Sri Lanka and are looking for reliable information in one place, our E-book “Sri Lanka – 84 must see places” will give you all the answers!

187 pages full of practical information, 13 unique locations and 4 perfect itineraries for different lengths of stay.

Among other things, you will also find tips on restaurants, cafés, hotels and excursions.

Cover of the Travel Guide Sri Lanka ebook with Sigiriya Rock

You can find more information in the “e-books” section or on this page.

* All links in this article, including accommodation via booking, are affiliate links. All in one place. It won’t cost you any extra money or effort, it will make your planning easier and save you time. We would be delighted if you booked your dream holiday through them 🙂

1 Comment. Leave new

Aruchchikan
6. July 2025 15:51

thank you for the info those are really really useful and I’m thinking you can see nice and calm view at evening in little adams peak.

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