A wide pathway leading through lush gardens toward Sigiriya Rock, an ancient fortress in Sri Lanka. The massive rock formation is partially covered by mist, with greenery and ruins surrounding the area.

What To Know For Hiking Sigiriya Rock 2024

ByMelissa Kruse Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

One of the main reasons for extending our time in Sri Lanka was to make sure we could fit in a visit to Sigiriya Rock. Most people land in Colombo and head out to Sigiriya first and then take the train from Kandy to Ella and head down to the coast afterwards before circling back up the west coast to fly out of Colombo. We actually did the circuit in reverse. Whichever direction works best for your itinerary can easily work out.

What is Sigiriya Rock?

An ancient rock fortress also known as Lion Rock. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can purchase tickets to climb up. The climb is all on marked pathways and staircases so you don’t need to be an advanced hiker or climber to visit this site.

How to get to Sigiriya Rock

Whether you stay directly in Sigiriya or in nearby Dambulla, you’ll need to get a tuk tuk or cab to the site. You can either pre-arrange for a driver to pick you up in about three hours or there are usually tuk tuks waiting at the exit parking lot to drive people to their next stop (whether that’s back to your accommodation or into town for a meal).

What to know when visiting Sigiriya Rock

Answering some FAQs and sharing some tips for a visit to Sigiriya Rock.

How to get tickets for visiting Sigiriya Rock?

It costs $30 USD for foreigners. My partner paid $15 because he is Indian and SAARC countries get half off. Note: he did need his passport on hand to show proof of citizenship for the SAARC discount (they had signs saying pictures of passports did not suffice).

They DO accept credit cards on site now. I’ve seen most blogs note that it is cash only so I was surprised to see they accepted all major credit cards at the ticketing booth.

You can also purchase tickets online ahead of time (link here). We did this and you’re supposed to get an email with your confirmation which never came for us. We had a screenshot of the confirmation on the website and that was enough for them to print our tickets upon arrival.

How long does it take to hike Sigiriya Rock?

We spent a little over three hours in total including the hike up, spending an hour at the top, and the walk down. We stopped for pictures quite a bit so you could do it in 2.5 hours if you were quick about it. While it’s not a very long hike, there are 1,200 stairs so it can get tiring in places.

If it’s cloudy, you should still hang around when you reach the top to see if it will clear. We spent a good hour or so on top and the weather conditions changed often. At first it was too cloudy for a great view but the wind swept the clouds away and we ended up getting some nice views.

Is a guide necessary to hike Sigiriya Rock?

There are guides on site that you can hire to take you up and teach you about the history. We did not get a guide and it’s not necessary for the hike as it’s clear where to walk and climb up the steps, but if you want to hear more about the history and support the local economy it would be nice to get a guide.

What should I wear to hike Sigiriya Rock?

It is not a temple so you don’t need to worry about covering shoulders and knees. Wear whatever is comfortable for walking in and to protect you from the sun. I suggest sturdy sneakers; no sandals or flip flops. It was raining while we did the hike and the stairs and rock do get a little slippery in spots. I also recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated in the heat.

View from top of Sigiriya Rock with girl standing on the edge.

What is the difference between Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala Rock?

Pidurangala is separate rock that sits north of Sigiriya Rock. It is a Buddhist site with a temple so you do need to dress appropriately with covered shoulders and knees. Similar to Sigiriya Rock, you can hike to the top via a manmade staircase and path.

Pidurangala is less popular than Sigiriya so you get the benefits of lesser crowds, lower admission cost, and a spectacular view of Sigiriya Rock itself from the top. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get to the top, depending on your fitness level.

When debating between Sigiriya Rock vs. Pidurangala, we opted for Sigiriya but if you are on a strict budget, then I recommend Pidurangala (which is only 500 LKR or ~$3 USD compared to Sigiriya’s $30 USD).

You can also consider doing both in one full day! Hike Pidurangala for sunrise and then head to Sigiriya Rock in the late afternoon. There is a mere 4.5 km drive between Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala Rock so its only about an 11 minute tuk tuk ride between the two. Be sure to fuel up with some lunch between visits.

TL;DR: What To Know For Hiking Sigiriya Rock

If you are debating visiting Sigiriya Rock on your trip, I’d highly suggest fitting it into your schedule. Dress comfortably for a hike and spend about three hours exploring the site and the stunning views of the area. You can see it in a full day trip from Kandy (about 2.5 hours away) or stay in Dambulla (about 30 minutes away) and see some other sites while you’re in the area like Pidurangala or the Dambulla Cave Temples.


Do you have plans before or after visiting Sigirya? Read this post about Ella or Nuwara Eliya or Kandy: where to stop?

Heading south after visiting Sigiriya? Check out Things to do on Sri Lanka’s South Coast.