Sri Lanka Travel Guide: How to Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular landmarks. Read on for how to visit the Ancient City of Sigiriya and climb Sigiriya rock, how to get there, the best time to go and where to stay.
It may not look like much more than a large rock from the photo, but believe me when I say it is so, so much more. Sigiriya, AKA “Lion Rock”, is a rock fortress located in central Sri Lanka, approximately 3 hours from Colombo.
The massive UNESCO monument dates back to the 5th century AD and consists of the ancient Sky Palace that sits atop of a massive 200-metre-tall rock, a mid-level terrace that features the Lion Gate (sadly, the head is no longer) and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and moats on the lower levels.
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I have now climbed Sigiriya 5 times, so here are all of my best Sigiriya travel tips!
Quick tips for visiting Sigiriya and FAQs
Entrance fee for Sigiriya: To begin, you’ll have to head to the ticket booth and pay the entrance fee (as of 2024 the Sigiriya fee is US$35 for adults, US$20 for children between 6-12 years old) in Rupees, Dollars or by credit card (Visa or Master).
Hang onto the ticket as it will be checked about mid-way through the Sigiriya hike, and make sure you stop for a toilet break at the ticket office as the only other opportunity will be after you’ve come back all the way down at the end.
How long does it take to climb Sigiriya? I am not a fan of heights. My quads do not like hiking up hundreds of steps. But I survived, and you can too! The vertical climb up to the top of Sigiriya is challenging, but not impossible, and will take you anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour to get to the top (it usually takes me about 45 minutes with a few sweaty breaks). Getting back down is a little easier and should take approximately 20 minutes.
When is the best time to visit Sigiriya? As of January 14th 2023, the Sigiriya opening hours are from 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM to enable visitors to watch the sunrise and sunset from the top of Sigiriya Rock. Sigiriya is located in what is known as Sri Lanka’s “dry zone”, which is mostly arid and hot throughout the year.
The climate in this region can be extreme from about April to August, with the temperature soaring upwards of 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is why my biggest travel tip for visiting Sigiriya is to start the climb in the late afternoon at around 4:30 PM.
This way, you can bask in the comfort of knowing that the climb will only get easier and cooler as you progress, rather than hiking up in the morning and guaranteeing yourself a blazing hot walk up (and back down). Trust me on this one, Sigiriya gets stinkin’, brain-melting hot.
The crowds also tend to be smaller in the afternoon as many tour groups visit in the morning (before moving onto the next destination), and there’s also the additional bonus of watching the sunset once you get to the top! Just make sure you purchase your ticket before the entrance closes, wear sunscreen and bring a (large) bottle of water.
If you are climbing the rock in the afternoon, you may need to ensure that you have access to a flashlight (you can also use your phone’s flash function) for the walk back down. There are no lamps to light your way back down, and the ground is extremely uneven, so you need to make sure you can see where you are stepping to avoid injury.
What to wear to hike up Sigiriya: There is no strict dress code to visit Sigiriya as it is not a religious monument. That being said, you should adhere to and respect cultural norms – tank tops, spaghetti straps and shorts are acceptable and you do not need to cover your shoulders and knees (unless you are headed to the Dambulla Cave Temples before or after), but extremely revealing outfits with exposed midriffs and miniskirts are generally frowned upon.
When we were there, some people were walking up barefoot or in flip flops, and while I truly believe in “to each his own”, I cannot imagine doing this in anything other than comfortable walking shoes with good grip.
How to get to Sigiriya: Sigiriya is located approximately 3-4 hours by car from Colombo. The town itself can be a pain to get to as there are few direct buses and trains (the nearest station is in Habarana), which is why I highly recommend saving your time and energy and hiring a private car to take you there whether you are traveling north or southbound during your Sri Lanka itinerary.
If you are traveling directly to Sigiriya from Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo then you can either hire an airport taxi which will cost approximately US$80 and upwards (due to the increased fuel prices), or ask your hotel to arrange a 1-way transfer.
Flying a drone at Sigiriya: Flying a drone at Sigiriya requires that you secure special approval from several government agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Archaeology, Central Cultural Fund and Ministry of Defense.
Do you need a guide to visit Sigiriya? In my opinion, no. A lot of the history and facts can be found at the Sigiriya Museum (also covered by your ticket) at the entrance to Sigiriya. However, if you prefer to hire a guide at Sigiriya make sure you hire a licensed guide from the official office at the car park area. It usually costs approximately US$10 (3000 LKR) for 2 hours, not including a discretionary tip.
Where to stay in Sigiriya
Check out EKHO Sigiriya (formerly named Zinc Journey Sigiriya) – it offers beautifully decorated rooms, incredible service and is located right next to Sigiriya Rock. You can even see the rock from the hotel! The hotel staff can also arrange safaris to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks to spot wild elephants. Click here to book your stay at EKHO Sigiriya!
Operated by homegrown Jetwing Hotels, Jetwing Lake is a luxury hotel in Dambulla, a 30-minute drive from Sigiriya. Rooms are extremely spacious, modern and some even offer a balcony. There is a lovely pool with mountain views as well as an on-site fitness center.
The property has won many awards for its sustainability initiatives and even has on-site sewage treatment, biogas and water bottling plants. Their solar panels power 45% of the hotel’s consumption! I also highly recommend going on the quick sustainability tour with their in-house naturalist which takes place at 10:30 AM daily and also on demand. Click here to check rates and availability at Jetwing Lake.
Another option for nature lovers is Diyabubula, about an hour away from Sigiriya Rock. It may be lesser-known to the average traveler to Sri Lanka, but not in the architecture and design community as it was designed by renowned Sri Lankan artist Laki Senanayake.
The eco-luxury jungle hideaway was built with sustainability at the forefront, and building materials were upcycled from 100-year-old railway sleepers combined with local timber. Check out the various room types (bamboo grove, water villa, tree house) at their website or read my full hotel review here.
Looking for more choices? Based on positive reviews, here are some other popular and highly-rated hotels in Sigiriya, or you can also click here to explore more accommodation options.
Hotel Sigiriya: one of the best hotels in Sigiriya, this luxury property has a pool with the ultimate view – the Lion Rock itself. Click here to check rates and availability at Hotel Sigiriya.
Aliya Resort & Spa: This luxury hotel in Sigiriya has a stunning infinity pool and offers family suites with 2-bedrooms and a small kitchen, plunge pool and sauna room. Click here to check rates and availability at Aliya Resort & Spa.
Climbing Sigiriya Rock
The climb up Sigiriya Rock consists of approximately 1200 steps in total and can be divvied up into a few phases. There are steps all the way to the top, and can get very crowded, steep and narrow in certain sections, so it’s important to pace yourself, rest when needed, and remember to catch your breath. Read on for what to expect at each stage of the Sigiriya hike.
Phase I: The gardens
The stairs through the gardens at the base of the rock fortress of Sigiriya are wide and very easy to climb, but don’t let this deceive you as it is in no way representative of what’s to come!
There are a number of terraces, caves and platforms that you can walk around, and areas where you can rest and stretch your calves, hamstrings and quads, so use them wisely.
Stop and check out the octagonal pool, vertical drain, various ponds and caves that monks once used.
Ready to climb Sigiriya rock? I personally recommend EKHO Sigiriya, a small no-fuss boutique hotel adjacent to the rock palace with spacious rooms featuring terracotta tiles and an on-site restaurant. We also highly enjoyed our stay at Jetwing Lake, a modern luxury hotel in Dambulla with spacious rooms and a pool overlooking the mountains, not to mention a huge focus on sustainability.
Other highly-rated Sigiriya hotel options include Hotel Sigiriya (a luxury property that has a pool with the ultimate view – the Lion Rock) or Aliya Resort & Spa (a luxury hotel in Sigiriya with a range of rooms including family suites with 2-bedrooms and an infinity pool).
Phase II: The Lion’s Paw
From here, pace yourself as the climb begins. The never-ending stairs pull you towards the Lion Gate or “Lion’s Paw” before you get the opportunity to sit down for a few minutes. I consider myself relatively fit, but this climb isn’t exactly a cakewalk.
The Lion Gate now features two massive sets of claws that guard the final pathway up to the Sky Palace, and leaves you wondering how majestic and perhaps intimidating it would have looked before the lion’s head disintegrated.
Once you’ve regained feeling in your legs and mentally prepared yourself, it’s time for the last and what many believe to be the most challenging portion of the climb: the Lion Staircase. This is where the vertigo and leg cramp-inducing part of the climb begins. As you can see from the photo above, it is steep and literally hangs off the edge, providing an unobstructed view across the plains surrounding the rock fortress of Sigiriya.
My key takeaway? Don’t look down, and if you have a partner, hold onto him or her for dear life. If you suffer from vertigo, you will need to be mentally prepared for this section.
Another very important thing to be aware of is that you should keep your voice down as there are wasp nests around. When I visited for a 2nd time in 2017, we experienced a cloud of wasps that swarmed around the Lion Staircase.
We were forced to (quietly) retreat back down to the terrace and were ushered into a netted makeshift room. We waited 5 minutes or so being told that the coast was clear and that we could proceed up the Lion Staircase.
Ready to climb Sigiriya rock? I personally recommend EKHO Sigiriya, a small no-fuss boutique hotel adjacent to the rock palace with spacious rooms featuring terracotta tiles and an on-site restaurant. I also recommend Jetwing Lake, a modern luxury hotel in Dambulla (30 minutes by car from Sigiriya) with spacious rooms and a pool overlooking the mountains.
Other highly-rated Sigiriya hotel options include Hotel Sigiriya (a luxury property that has a pool with the ultimate view – the Lion Rock) or Aliya Resort & Spa (a luxury hotel in Sigiriya with a range of rooms including family suites with 2-bedrooms and an infinity pool).
Phase III: The Sky Palace
What do they say about hard work again? Oh yeah: “With hard work comes great reward.” This perfectly encapsulates my feelings about making it to the Sky Palace. How many times in your life are you going to be able to say that you walked around an ancient palace at the top of a 200-metre-tall rock? Exactly.
Almost every part of the summit can be explored, which is incredible given that most landmarks set up a hundred different perimeters to stop you from walking around.
You can easily spend an hour moving from edge to edge, taking in 360-degree panoramic views over the horizon and watching the sun set across Sigiriya.
The views are indescribable, so I’m not even going to attempt to put it into words.
Phase IV: The Mirror Wall and Sigiriya Frescoes
Once you’ve made your way back down from the Sky Palace and Lion’s Paw, the traffic is split off towards the Mirror Wall, said to be so highly polished that it was reflective.
Next, narrow metal spiral staircases dangle off the side of the rock to lead you up to the Sigiriya fresco caves. Some say that these well-preserved frescoes depict the king’s daughters, other say that they are paintings of his harem. There are even theories that they are goddesses of thunder and lightning.
In the past, you were not allowed to take photos of the frescoes of Sigiriya without proper permission. These days, as of my last visit in November 2024, each visitor is allowed to take 2 photos without flash – however, this policy may change at any time.
Ready to explore Sigiriya? For an amazing view of Sigiriya rock from your hotel room, check yourself into EKHO Sigiriya, a small boutique hotel adjacent to the rock palace. We also highly recommend Jetwing Lake near the Dambulla Cave Temples for the stunning infinity pool, spacious rooms and excellent service. Other highly-rated Sigiriya hotel options include Hotel Sigiriya and Aliya Resort & Spa, both of which are luxury properties with pools that offers the ultimate view – the Lion Rock itself.
Have you visited Sigiriya? What was your experience? Leave a comment below and tell me all about it!
Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? You might also enjoy these reads:
- Wondering what to see apart from Sigiriya in Central Sri Lanka? Click here for my guide to Polonnaruwa, an ancient city just an hour away from Sigiriya Lion Rock
- You might also want to head to Sri Lanka’s first capital – here is my guide to Anuradhapura
- Culture vultures should check out this list of 7 places you can’t miss in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
- Not sure where to start? Don’t miss my 2 week itinerary for the Pearl of the Indian Ocean or head on over here for my express 7 day itinerary for Sri Lanka
- You can also see the full collection of Sri Lanka travel tips and destination guides here
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I’m heading here next month and I noticed you’re wearing shorts in your photos. Are they allowed/recommended? I know Sri Lanka is a bit more conservative.
Thanks!
Sri Lanka is not as conservative in clothing as India – you’ll be fine in shorts and a vest at Sigiriya. Exposed shoulders are fine, just be prepared to cover your shoulders with a shawl if you are entering any place of worship!
Gorgeous pictures as usual, Flo! I’ve gotten to know so much about Sri Lanka because of your posts and now it’s high on the list of places I want to visit soon! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday! P.S Love the slider!!!!
I hope you make it to Sri Lanka soon Kana! <3
Absolutely stunning pictures girl!! I’ve been loving all of your posts of Sri Lank and seriously giving me major fomo haha!! Thank you for sharing on FlyAwayFriday and can’t wait to see your next posts!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, Chloe! <3
Sigiriya is a relatively unknown gem. It looks so intriguing, especially the Lion gate. The claws are so mammoth, it would have been an awesome sight if the Lion’s head existed. the views are great too.
Absolutely – I wish the Lion’s head was still there! Must have been absolutely magnificent.
I love giant rocks – not kidding! I guess the UNESCO listing comes with a UNESCO price tag… but it looks like it was worth it, amazing photos, especially of sunset, the monkeys are kinda scary…! I appreciate how you broke down the climb into different phases too. Nice work on the completing the climb & the awesome write up 🙂
Haha I just read your piece on the Golden Rock! Thanks for taking the time to read my piece – it really is an amazing monument!
Oh my goodness! What a view!!! I would have never thought there’d be a Sky Palace on top of that big rock. Now I am curious – why don’t wear grey?! 1200 steps is a lot, I can imagine how tired you’d get especially in the heat. Great tip about hiking up in the late afternoon.
Hahaha don’t wear grey because you will have MASSIVE sweat patches!
Haha, I was also curious about why no gray. This is so beautiful! Flo, you always write about the most stunning places!
Thanks so much for checking this out, Mara! Haha I saw some serious sweat patches on people who chose to wear gray that day – yikes!