Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, is often skipped by travelers planning their trip to Sri Lanka, but the city is really worth a stop. Whether it’s for the buzz of the Pettah neighborhood, a walk around Colombo Fort, its many temples or its nightlife, there’s something for everyone.
So, what is there to do in Colombo? And where should you eat? Here are the things you shouldn’t miss in the city, along with our tips for planning your visit, whether you have one day or more!
1. Explore the Colombo Fort district
Now the city’s financial district, Colombo Fort was first fortified by Portuguese colonists and served as a trading port from the 16th century onward.
The colonial buildings, built by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and the British, have been turned into supermarkets, bars and restaurants, and are surrounded by more modern buildings like the World Trade Center.
It’s a pleasant area to walk around, thanks to its charming old buildings, like the former Cargills and Miller’s department stores. Don’t miss the Lloyd’s Building either, the former headquarters of an import-export company, with its very Wes Anderson look.
Much of the district is off-limits, as it’s home to the President’s House, but you can do a nice loop on foot to the Clock Tower. And if you need to buy souvenirs, stop by the Laksala store!
In the evening, don’t miss the Dutch Hospital, the city’s trendiest spot. This former hospital from the Dutch colonial period has been turned into a complex of shops, restaurants and bars.
2. Get lost in Pettah
Pettah is Colombo’s most iconic neighborhood, where pedestrians and tuk-tuks swarm between stalls selling fruit, clothes and fabric. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in the city, and all five senses get a workout in this maze of streets.
Beyond the atmosphere, Pettah has several points of interest:
- Pettah Market, or Manning Market, to see the colorful stalls of the fruit and vegetable vendors
- The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, which you can spot from afar thanks to its stunning red and white facade. Don’t miss the views of its different entrances. The inner courtyard can be visited outside prayer times.
- Several Hindu temples, all topped with a mass of colorful sculptures. We admired the facades of Sri Kathirvelayutha Swami Kovil and Sammangodu Sri Kathirvelayutha Swamy Kovil.
- The Pettah Floating Market, made up of small shops connected by wooden walkways. Perfect for a quick break away from the crowds.
3. Admire Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil
Behind this very long name is one of Colombo’s most iconic temples, and the oldest Hindu temple in the city (more than 200 years old).
Dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh, the temple is striking for its rich details and bright colors. You could spend hours taking in every detail!
Entry is free, but only at certain times, and modest clothing is required.
If your trip to Sri Lanka mostly covers the south of the country, you won’t get many chances to see Hindu temples, so don’t miss this one!
4. Browse the collection at Gangaramaya Temple
This Buddhist temple is a real haven of peace in the middle of the city, and it has a real curiosity: a huge collection of objects donated by worshippers, from jewelry and paintings to figurines and even cars. At times it feels like a flea market, until a gigantic, lifelike elephant statue brings you back to reality.
We paid LKR 400 per person (just over $1) in 2023, but prices have gone up since, so check the current rate on site. The ticket also gets you into the Gangaramaya Lake Temple (Seema Malaka), a few minutes’ walk away. This small temple standing on the water offers a lovely view of Beira Lake and the surrounding park.
Not far from Gangaramaya, don’t miss the Moors Sports Club, home ground of one of Colombo’s cricket teams. Cricket is Sri Lanka’s favorite sport, and you might catch a match or a training session!
5. Stroll along Galle Face Green and visit the Galle Face Hotel
Galle Face Green is a large seafront park where locals and travelers come to stroll at the end of the day. Families fly kites (if you don’t have one, there are plenty of vendors on site), and young people come to watch the sunset with their feet in the water.
It’s the perfect place to end a day of sightseeing in Colombo, to enjoy some calm away from the crowds of Pettah and admire the late-afternoon sky.
If you’re curious, walk over to the Galle Face Hotel, which overlooks the whole park. This grand hotel, built in 1864 and a relic of Sri Lanka’s colonial era, has welcomed an impressive number of famous guests, as you’ll discover when you step into the hotel café. The interior is well worth a look, especially the café’s inner courtyard.
If your budget allows, you can even treat yourself to a night in this historic hotel!
Where to stay in Colombo
We recommend staying in the Colombo Fort area, as that’s where the city comes alive at night, and you’ll be close to the main sights. There are plenty of hotels, and here are a few recommendations.
We stayed at C1 Colombo Fort, a hotel in a great location with very friendly staff, who helped us arrange our transfer to the airport.
Fairway Colombo is another good hotel in the Fort area, with its own rooftop bar. If you have a bigger budget, you’ll probably be tempted by the Hilton Colombo, right next door!
🛌 Find places to stay in Colombo ➜Where to eat and drink in Colombo
Here are the places we tried and recommend:
🍵 T-Lounge, for a tea and pastry break in the Fort district. This little café has an impressive range of teas, chai and lassis, so you’re bound to find something you like!
🫓 Arunthathee Vihaar, to try Indian street food. In Pettah, this restaurant serves lots of Indian specialties. We recommend their dosas, perfect when you’re a little hungry.
🍛 Ceylon Curry Club, for a fresh take on Sri Lankan classics. This restaurant in the Dutch Hospital adds a fine-dining touch to traditional local dishes.
🧇 Fairway Street Food Festival, for a culinary trip around the world. When we visited, this street food festival was held on the last Thursday of every month, with everything from corn dogs and biryani to waffles and burgers, plus live bands. Check that it’s still running before you go.
How to get to Colombo
From Negombo
Negombo is close to Colombo’s international airport, so there’s a good chance you’ll make this trip. Luckily, it’s fairly short: about 22 to 25 miles (35 to 40 km).
You can take a train from Negombo station to Colombo Fort. The ride takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and trains run frequently. We went for the comfortable option to get from Colombo to Negombo: a taxi booked through our hotel.
From Galle
Galle, south of Colombo, is about 75 miles (120 km) away. We took a regular bus, bought that morning at Galle bus station. It’s cheap (just a few dollars) and takes about 3 hours. Expressway buses are faster, taking around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Colombo in one day: our itinerary
Colombo was the last stop of our trip to Sri Lanka. We spent a full day there before catching our flight the next morning. Here’s the route we followed, which made for a great loop around the city!
- Colombo Fort in the morning, with a tea break at T-Lounge
- Pettah, starting with the Floating Market, then heading north to Manning Market, the mosque and the different kovils (Hindu temples). Lunch at Arunthathee Vihaar
- A tuk-tuk to Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil, then another one to Gangaramaya Temple, the Moors Sports Club and the Gangaramaya Lake Temple
- Late afternoon at Galle Face Green, after a stop at the Galle Face Hotel café
- Evening at the Dutch Hospital, with dinner at a restaurant or a Street Food Festival stall, then a drink at one of the area’s rooftop bars
If you’d rather have a guide for your day in Colombo, we recommend this guided tour, which gets great reviews.
As you can tell, we really enjoyed our stop in Colombo, a fascinating city that’s well worth a visit at the start or end of your trip to Sri Lanka!
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