Ella might be one of the most popular places to visit in Sri Lanka and should be part of your itinerary when visiting Sri Lanka. The town is part of the hill country and awards you amazing views and a relaxed backpacker vibe. This ultimate Ella Travel Guide highlights my favourite things to do and the best places to eat and drink in and around Ella, Sri Lanka. Be prepared for some amazing hikes, such as Ella Rock and towards the Nine Arch Bridge and some relaxing times at Chill Cafe.
I would recommend you spend a minimum of two nights in Ella to make sure you can visit the main sights. I liked the vibe in Ella may be the best of all places in Sri Lanka! Ella is home to amazing places to stay, with stunning views and kind hosts.
Check out my complete 2-week Sri Lanka itinerary here
If you want to splurge (which is still affordable in Sri Lanka), I could highly recommend you to stay in either EKHO Ella or Zion View Ella Green Retreat. If you are into great views but want to benefit from the lower prices in the country, there are also amazing stays between 25 and 45 euros a night, such as Glorious Nature Inn, Guest Inn Avendra, Country Homes or Arana Sri Lanka Eco Lodge.
This famous bridge is a must-visit! You can take a tuk-tuk to the bridge, but the walk over the train rails to get there is a great experience itself. Around 6 trains are passing the bridge a day. We went there around 9:45 in the morning and were able to see a train passing the bridge. Check the current timetable with locals or your guesthouse when the trains are supposed to come by.
If you want to combine the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak, you can also opt for a tour combining these two.
If you would like to catch the sunrise at Ella Rock, you can also opt for a private guide to join you on this morning walk with the private Ella Rock Sunrise walk.
Rent a scooter or take a tuk-tuk to one of the nearby tea fields to get a tour. Lipton Seats is a bit further out, so we decided to go to Uva Halpewatte. To be honest, it is nice to see how the tea is made, but if you fear not having enough time, I would personally skip it.
Note: these pictures weren’t made at the tea plantations, but they suit well ;).
We wanted to do one cooking class during our trip to Sri Lanka and we’ve heard great stories about the cooking class from Matey Hut. During the day we made a reservation to cook a great Sri Lankan meal in the evening. I could recommend the experience!
What is an Ella travel guide without a wonderful bar/restaurant? Cafe Chill is a place that is well known and for a reason! While we were in Ella, we visited the place at least once a day – whether it was for lunch, dinner or a beer or a cocktail. Take off your shoes and sit down on one of the beanbags or at one of the tables and enjoy your time here!
Besides Matey Hut and Chill Cafe, I could also recommend Dream Cafe, Cafe Guru or Starbeans Cafe for something to eat. However, Chill Cafe, will definitely be your go to place when visiting Ella!
