Top places to visit in Colombo

• Galle Face Green

  seafront-promenade · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Half-kilometre oceanfront urban park and promenade — kite flyers, street-food stalls and Colombo's favourite sunset spot.

• Gangaramaya Temple

  buddhist-temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Colombo's most important Buddhist temples, an eclectic blend of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architecture with a museum of curios.

• Mount Lavinia Beach

  city-beach · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Colombo's closest swimming beach — a golden crescent backed by the colonial Mount Lavinia Hotel, lined with seafood shacks and sunset bars.

• Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

  buddhist-temple · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Ancient royal Buddhist temple believed to have been hallowed by a visit of the Buddha, famed for its vivid murals and the Duruthu Perahera festival.

• National Museum of Colombo

  history-museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Sri Lanka's largest museum, set in a grand 1877 colonial building — royal regalia, ancient sculpture and the throne of the Kandyan kings.

• Viharamahadevi Park

  urban-park · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Colombo's oldest and largest public park, with flowering trees, fountains and a golden Buddha statue facing the old Town Hall.

• Old Dutch Hospital Precinct

  dining-shopping · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Restored 17th-century Dutch colonial hospital, now Colombo's most atmospheric dining and shopping precinct of cafes, bars and boutiques.

• Colombo Lotus Tower

  observation-tower · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  At 350 m the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia, shaped like a lotus, with an observation deck offering 360° city and ocean views.

• Independence Memorial Hall

  monument · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Grand commemorative monument modelled on the Kandyan royal audience hall, marking Sri Lanka's 1948 independence; a popular morning jogging spot.

• Pettah Market

  bazaar · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Colombo's frenetic open-air wholesale bazaar — streets themed by trade, from textiles to spices, fruit and electronics.

• Seema Malaka Temple

  buddhist-temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Serene meditation temple floating on Beira Lake, designed by celebrated architect Geoffrey Bawa — rows of seated Buddha statues over the water.

• Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya

  buddhist-temple · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Revered Buddhist temple ~12 km south of central Colombo, home to a sacred Bo tree said to descend from Anuradhapura's Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and the vibrant annual Esala Perahera.

Things to do

• Colombo Street Food Tuk-Tuk Tour Food · 3 h · from LKR 21,100 per person
• Colombo City Highlights Tour Sightseeing · 4 h · from LKR 26,400 per person
• Colombo City Tuk-Tuk Tour City Tour · 4 h · from USD 23 per person
• Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip with Safari Day Trip · 15 h · from USD 70 per person
• Udawalawe National Park Safari Day Tour Safari · 11 h · from USD 175 per person
• Aunty's Sri Lankan Cooking Class Cooking Class · 3 h · from USD 59 per person
• Pettah Market and Local Food Walking Tour Walking Tour · 3 h · from USD 45 per person
• Gangaramaya Temple and City Highlights Tour Cultural · 4 h · from USD 25 per person

Day trips and tours

• Colombo City & Temples Day Tour 8 h · from LKR 31,700

Where to stay in Colombo

• Fort & Galle Face about LKR 28,000 per night

  Colombo's seafront business core — luxury hotels, the iconic Galle Face Green promenade, walking distance to colonial landmarks.

• Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) about LKR 22,000 per night

  Leafy upscale residential district with boutique hotels, museums, cafes and tree-lined avenues.

• Mount Lavinia about LKR 16,000 per night

  Relaxed beach suburb south of the city with the historic Mount Lavinia Hotel and a lively golden beach.

Hotels

• Shangri-La Colombo 5-star · LKR 45,000 to LKR 95,000 per night
• Jetwing Colombo Seven 4-star · LKR 26,000 to LKR 48,000 per night
• Cinnamon Grand Colombo 5-star · LKR 32,000 to LKR 68,000 per night
• Galle Face Hotel 5-star · LKR 38,000 to LKR 85,000 per night
• Cinnamon Red Colombo 4-star · LKR 18,000 to LKR 36,000 per night
• Clock Inn Colombo 2-star · LKR 3,500 to LKR 9,000 per night

Where to eat

• Ministry of Crab Seafood, Sri Lankan · about LKR 12,000 per person
• Pilawoos Sri Lankan, Street Food · about LKR 800 per person
• Upali's by Nawaloka Sri Lankan · about LKR 2,500 per person
• Nuga Gama Sri Lankan · about LKR 5,000 per person
• The Gallery Cafe International, Fusion · about LKR 7,000 per person
• Kaema Sutra Sri Lankan, Modern · about LKR 6,000 per person
• Jeewa's and Kuma's Natural Foods Sri Lankan · about LKR 450 per person
• Mayura Hotel Sri Lankan · about LKR 350 per person

Getting to Colombo

Airport: Colombo (CMB)

How visitors arrive in Colombo

• Fly to Bandaranaike International By air from International hubs · common

  The airport, near Negombo north of the city, is Sri Lanka's primary international airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Colombo Fort By train from Kandy / island rail · common

  Colombo Fort is the main railway hub for services from elsewhere in the island. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus to Pettah By road from Rest of Sri Lanka · common

  Long-distance buses arrive at the Pettah terminals. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Official airport taxi counter

  The counter is just past customs on your right; give your destination and receive a voucher. Taxis can use the E03 expressway into Colombo. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus 187 to Colombo

  Bus 187 runs from the airport bus depot to Colombo Fort; an air-conditioned version goes via the expressway to Pettah. Space for big luggage is limited. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Katunayake

  Sri Lanka Railways lists Katunayake and Katunayaka Airport stations on the Puttalam line towards Colombo Fort. Reach the station by a short road hop from the terminal and check the current timetable before relying on a train. Source: railway.gov.lk

• PickMe or Uber

  PickMe is the local ride-hail app; Uber is also commonly used by visitors. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• The airport is nearer Negombo than Colombo; consider a night there after a late arrival. Colombointernationalairport.com is not official. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Car With Driver
• Tuktuk
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pettah ATM card skimming

  Pettah & Fort, Colombo

  Compromised or standalone ATMs in busy areas can skim card details; distraction theft also occurs in crowded markets.

  How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside bank branches, cover the keypad, and keep bags zipped and in front of you in Pettah.

• Fake temple "guide" at Gangaramaya

  Gangaramaya Temple

  Someone attaches themselves as a "free" guide then demands a large fee, or insists on a donation far above the norm.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline unsolicited guides. The entry ticket covers access; any donation is your choice and modest.

Best time to visit Colombo

• Jan 29°C
• Feb 31°C
• Mar 32°C
• Apr 30°C
• May rough
• Jun rough
• Jul rough
• Aug rough
• Sep rough
• Oct 28°C
• Nov 29°C
• Dec 29°C

More in Sri Lanka

• Sigiriya
• Kandy
• Ella
• Galle
• Nuwara Eliya
• Polonnaruwa

Frequently asked questions about Colombo

How many days do you need in Colombo?

A typical trip to Colombo is 1-2 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Colombo?

The highest-rated places in our Colombo guide are Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, Gangaramaya Temple, Old Dutch Hospital Precinct, Independence Memorial Hall.

Where should I stay in Colombo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Colombo: Fort & Galle Face, Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7), Mount Lavinia.

How do I get around Colombo?

Ways to get around Colombo covered in our guide: Car with driver, Tuk-tuk, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Colombo?

Scams reported to us for Colombo include Pettah ATM card skimming; Fake temple "guide" at Gangaramaya. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Colombo?

Average daytime highs in Colombo run from 28°C in Oct to 32°C in Mar.

Which airport is nearest to Colombo?

The nearest airport to Colombo has the code CMB.