Colombo
Save32 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Seafront promenade famed for sunsets and street food
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Go at sunset
- Try isso wade and kottu from the stalls
- Weekends are busiest
📷 Photos
- 2
Eclectic Buddhist temple and museum beside Beira Lake
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Remove shoes
- Allow an hour
📷 Photos
- 3
Sri Lanka largest museum, with royal regalia of Kandy
3 tips
- Closed on public holidays
- Allow two hours
- Foreigner ticket is higher
📷 Photos
- 4
Lotus-shaped telecom tower with an observation deck
- Tip: Sunset
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Visit near sunset
- Bring ID
📷 Photos
- 5
Busy bazaar district of narrow lanes and wholesale stalls
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Keep valuables secure
- Avoid Sundays when many stalls close
📷 Photos
- 6
Red-and-white candy-striped mosque from 1909
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Ask before entering
- Best photographed from the street
📷 Photos
- 7
Restored colonial hospital with restaurants and shops
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Good for lunch
- Pleasant in the evening
- Close to the Fort lighthouse
📷 Photos
- 8
Colombo largest green park with a golden Buddha statue
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Close to the National Museum
- Small entry fee for some areas
📷 Photos
- 9
Bawa-designed meditation temple floating on Beira Lake
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Small entrance donation
- Pair with Gangaramaya
📷 Photos
- 10
Monument marking independence from Britain in 1948
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Free to visit
- Located in Independence Square
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Colombo tips
Transportation
- Use PickMe or Uber: Ride-hailing apps offer fixed fares for tuk-tuks and cars, avoiding haggling.
- Take the coastal train: Trains along the coast to Galle offer ocean views; board at Colombo Fort.
- Insist on metered tuk-tuks: If hailing a tuk-tuk, ask for the meter or agree a price first.
Security
- Beware of gem scams: Avoid strangers who steer you to shops promising gem bargains.
- Watch for friendly touts: People near Galle Face may offer tours or claim a temple festival; politely decline.
- Keep valuables secure: Watch belongings on crowded buses and in Pettah market.
Saving
- Eat rice and curry: Local lunch spots serve rice and curry at very low prices.
- Try street snacks at Galle Face: Isso wade prawn fritters and kottu are cheap and tasty.
- Travel by train and bus: Public transport is very affordable compared to taxis.
Weather/Clothing
- Expect heat and humidity: Colombo is hot year-round; wear breathable clothing.
- Prepare for monsoon rains: The southwest monsoon brings heavy rain mid-year; carry an umbrella.
- Dress modestly for temples: Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes and hats.
Cultural
- Respect Buddhist customs: Do not pose with your back to Buddha statues or touch monks.
- Try kottu roti: The chopped flatbread dish is cooked with rhythmic clanging on a griddle.
- Use your right hand: Eat and pass items with your right hand as a sign of respect.
Local Hacks
- Visit Gangaramaya Temple: The eclectic temple near Beira Lake is a Colombo highlight.
- Sunset at Galle Face Green: Families gather for kites and snacks along the seafront.
- Get a local SIM: SIMs from Dialog or Mobitel are cheap and useful for ride apps.
1-day itineraries in Colombo
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Pettah Market and around
🕘 9:30–17:15📍 6 stops
- 1Pettah Market
- 2Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
- 3Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct
- 4Old Parliament Building
- 5Galle Face Green
- and 1 more
Day 2 of 2
Independence Memorial Hall and around
🕘 9:30–17:00📍 5 stops
- 1Independence Memorial Hall
- 2Colombo National Museum
- 3Viharamahadevi Park
- 4Seema Malaka Temple
- 5Gangaramaya Temple