Ella, a small town perched in the mountains, is probably one of the most touristy towns in Sri Lanka. And it’s easy to see why: the area offers beautiful hikes, impressive waterfalls, the famous Nine Arch Bridge and tea plantations as far as the eye can see.
Ella is also very popular because its station is on the route of the legendary blue train from Kandy. Nestled in the south-central hill country, Ella is a must-stop on any trip to Sri Lanka!
What is there to see and do in Ella? We tell you everything you need to know in this article!
1. Climb Little Adam’s Peak at sunset
Ella sits in Sri Lanka’s mountainous region, which makes it a great place to fit a few hikes into your trip. We recommend the Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock hikes, which both offer stunning panoramic views. They’re both very popular because they’re easy to reach and doable for walkers of all levels.
Little Adam’s Peak is probably the best-known hike in Sri Lanka, though it’s more of a mountain walk than a real hike. The peak is named Little Adam after Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), the famous sacred mountain located farther west in the hill country.
The full walk from Ella town to the top of Little Adam’s Peak takes 40 minutes and goes through lovely tea plantations. We easily found the way thanks to Google Maps and the signs pointing to the peak around town. It’s a very easy walk, but you can also take a tuk-tuk part of the way if needed.
After a short climb, you’ll overlook the valley where Ella is nestled. A really great view!
We went up in the late afternoon to watch the sunset, but unfortunately it was playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds (which isn’t unusual, according to the locals). We still recommend heading up at the end of the day, as golden hour bathes the valley in gorgeous colors!
On the way, you’ll pass the Flying Ravana zipline, which takes you across a small part of the valley at up to 50 mph (80 km/h). We skipped it because we’d already done ziplines in other countries (like Montenegro), but it’s always a fun thing to do! Flying Ravana also offers other activities, like a climbing wall, ATV rides, mountain biking and even bungee jumping.
You’ll also see the Ravana Pool Club, where lots of backpackers come to chill in the sun and splash around in the infinity pool. It’s also home to the Ella Swing, where you can swing with your feet dangling over Ella’s valleys. If you like to party and meet other travelers, this place might be for you.
2. Hike up Ella Rock
After Little Adam’s Peak, we recommend heading to Ella Rock for another view of the valley. This hike is a bit more demanding, but anyone can do it in about 4 hours round trip, or 2 hours 15 minutes with a shortcut.
At the top of Ella Rock, you’ll need to pay about $2.80 per person to access two different viewpoints. From there, you can see Little Adam’s Peak, catch a glimpse of Ravana Falls and take in the valley. Both spots are great for photos and videos.
How to hike up Ella Rock
The classic route (4 hours round trip):
This route starts at Ella station. Walk along the tracks toward Bandarawela (watch out for passing trains). After about 1.2 miles (2 km) on the tracks, you’ll find a trail leading to the top, marked by an “Ella Rock” sign. From there, the path takes you through tea plantations and forest.
The shortcut (2 hours 15 minutes round trip):
This route starts right at the foot of the mountain, so you don’t have to walk along the railway. Click this link to find the trailhead, which you can reach by tuk-tuk or scooter.
Since this hike is one of the most touristy spots in Ella, self-proclaimed “guides” may try to tag along for the whole climb in exchange for a few rupees. Feel free to turn them down.
3. Admire the Nine Arch Bridge
Another Sri Lanka must-see! This majestic colonial-era stone bridge, which seems anchored in the surrounding jungle, feels like a place out of time.
We recommend walking across the bridge when no train is coming, but also heading up to Café Soul Ella for a view over the Nine Arch Bridge and the jungle. You can grab a drink or a bite in the shade while you wait for the blue train to roll by.
In theory, the train crosses the bridge 5 times a day, at around 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Times can change, especially since the line reopened after the 2025 cyclone, so check the timetable before you go.
You have several options for getting to the Nine Arch Bridge:
- Take the path leading straight to the bridge
- Follow the railway tracks from Ella station
- Go by tuk-tuk or scooter to Café Soul for a panoramic view
Of course, the bridge is hugely popular and draws lots of tourists. For a quieter moment, go at sunrise, but keep in mind that the first train only comes by at around 9:30 a.m.
4. Swim under a waterfall
Ella’s nature has plenty more surprises in store! Impressive waterfalls pour down right in the middle of the jungle.
We weren’t sure about this one at first, but we ended up really enjoying a dip in the cool water of Ravana Falls. The waterfall is easy to reach from Ella, just 10 minutes away by tuk-tuk or scooter, and it’s right by the road.
If you’re more adventurous and have the time, you can also head to Diyaluma Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It drops about 720 feet (220 meters), and the view is incredible!
After taking a tuk-tuk from Ella, there are two ways to reach the falls: 1) from the top, starting from the village of Poonagala, a much shorter and easier trail, or 2) from the bottom, near the village of Koslanda, which is tougher and harder to follow.
5. Visit a tea plantation and factory
Tea is one of the legacies of British colonial rule, and just like in England, it’s a real institution in Sri Lanka. You can’t travel around Sri Lanka without visiting a plantation!
Tea plantations and factories are concentrated in the center of the island. If you take the blue train from Kandy to Ella, you’ll notice how the Ella area is carpeted with tea bushes.
About 15 minutes by car or tuk-tuk from the center of Ella, you’ll find the Uva Halpewatte tea factory, which seems frozen in time! The tour teaches you about how tea is made and lets you taste several kinds of tea, before a stop at the factory shop to bring home a few packs for yourself or your loved ones.
We recommend booking your tour in advance, as opening hours vary quite a bit.
About an hour’s drive from Ella, you can also visit the Dambatenne tea factory and stop by the famous Lipton’s Seat near Haputale. This is where you’ll find a statue of Sir Thomas Lipton and a breathtaking panoramic view over valleys covered in tea. You can easily do this trip from Ella with this tour you can book on GetYourGuide.
If your main goal is to stroll through tea plantations, we’d rather recommend staying in Nuwara Eliya, which sits high up in the middle of the tea estates (bring warm clothes).
6. Ride the blue train
2026 update: after Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025, trains between Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya), Ella and Badulla resumed in June 2026, but the Kandy–Nanu Oya section was still closed for repairs in fall 2026. Check the official timetable before you go.
We wrote a whole blog post about the famous blue train, which we took to get to Ella from Kandy, but you can also ride it from Ella to Kandy! The train is said to be less crowded in that direction.
If you’d rather travel on your own but still want to ride the blue train, the ride toward Badulla, the other end of the line, is a good alternative. The train is less crowded in that direction, and you’ll cross the Nine Arch Bridge. Otherwise, you can take the train toward Haputale or Nuwara Eliya to discover other beautiful towns in the center of the island.
Either way, we highly recommend it. This train ride was one of our favorite experiences of the whole trip!
You can book your tickets online (you’ll still need to pick them up at the ticket counter), on 12Go or directly at the station. As for seats, we recommend second or third class, as that’s where you can sit near the doors, which stay open for the whole ride.
Where to stay in Ella
In Ella, we wanted to stay in a hostel, as the town is known for its lively nightlife.
So we stayed at Hangover Hostels Ella, a few minutes’ walk from the town center, in a private air-conditioned room. Friendly staff, breakfast included, scooter rental and an open view of Ella Rock. We recommend it!
If you’d rather stay in a more classic guesthouse or hotel, we recommend Blooming Rose Ella or V@Ella Guesthouse, both with a superb view over the valley and lovely staff. Overall, Ella is quite small and stretches along one main road, where you’ll find most of the town’s hotels.
Where to eat in Ella
Since Ella is one of the most touristy towns in Sri Lanka, you’ll find a wide range of local and Western restaurants (though we recommend sticking to local food).
For a 100% local meal, head to Little Restaurant. This tiny place serves traditional dishes at very affordable prices, and the owner is really friendly and accommodating. We tried lamprais there for the first time: rice and curries baked together in a banana leaf. Delicious!
For a mix of local and Western food, go to Café Chill. It’s a very spacious restaurant, nicely decorated with wooden furniture. Prices are higher than in local restaurants, but the food is good. It’s a lively spot where you can also have a few drinks before heading on to one of Ella’s bars.
How to get to Ella
To get to Ella, we recommend taking the train from Kandy. The ride between the two towns takes 6.5 hours, but the scenery and the experience are well worth it. It’s a real Sri Lanka must! (Until the Kandy–Nanu Oya section reopens, you can travel by road to Nanu Oya and take the train from there.)
We wrote a complete guide to this famous blue train to help you plan your ride.
How long to stay in Ella
We recommend staying at least two days in Ella, so you have time for the main activities in and around town. If you’d like to take it slower, three days is ideal!
Here’s a recap of our two days in Ella:
- Day 1: Arrival in Ella by train from Kandy, sunset climb up Little Adam’s Peak, dinner at Little Restaurant
- Day 2: Morning hike up Ella Rock, tour of the Uva Halpewatte tea factory, view of the Nine Arch Bridge, a dip at Ravana Falls and dinner at Café Chill
- Day 3: Bus to the next stop on our trip, Tangalle
To sum up, even though Ella wasn’t our absolute favorite stop on our Sri Lanka road trip, we really enjoyed the region’s nature, which is very different from the rest of the country. It’s also the best town in Sri Lanka for partying and meeting other travelers!
To go further: check out our full itinerary for a two-week trip to Sri Lanka.
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