Sri Lanka’s Jaffna City in the North has been recognized among the 25 Best Destinations to visit in 2026, listed by the leading global travel guide, Lonely Planet.
This recognition comes as part of the publisher’s “Best in Travel 2026” edition, released on 21 October 2025.
Ranked second on the list of destinations, Lonely Planet describes Jaffna as known for its culture, cuisine and island adventures.
“Family-run homestays like the Malabar Home Stay have been reviving Jaffna as a cultural travel destination since the civil war ended in 2009. To understand Jaffna’s nuanced history, visit the restored Jaffna Public Library, which was set on fire during the war; the pentagonal-shaped Jaffna Fort, originally built by the Portuguese in 1619; and the two bunkers turned into museums at the luxury Fox Jaffna resort.
“An hour-long ferry from Jaffna is tiny Delft. With a shallow reef, coral-fenced houses and homestays like the Delft Village Stay, the sleepy island is ideal to slowly cycle around between home-cooked meals.
“Traveling to Jaffna is easy by cycle, tuk tuk, bus or ferry, while trains and buses connect the city with the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and direct flights operate from Chennai. But above all, hospitality runs deep here, where warm smiles, cups of frothy tea and crab curry feasts are aplenty,” the global travel guide describes.
Travellers are also suggested to take the ferry to Nainativu, which holds two temples: the Hindu Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil and the Buddhist Nagadeepa Temple. According to legend, Buddha arrived here during his second visit to Sri Lanka, while the island itself derives its name from the Naga people often mentioned in Sri Lankan folklore, Lonely Planet reports.
Full list: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel#the-25-best-destinations-in-2026-jaffna (Newswire)