Historic Hotels & Rest Houses

Half a dozen hotels on this island are older than most of the countries that sent their guests. The Mount Lavinia (1806), the Galle Face (1864), Queen's Hotel Kandy (1844), the Grand at Nuwara Eliya (1828), the New Oriental at Galle (1684) — all still operating, all still in their original buildings.

Staying inside the heritage stock is the single biggest shift a heritage trip can make. A night at the Galle Face teaches you more about Old Ceylon than three museums.