Colombo is a dynamic city. It has a lot of interesting, fun things to do and is definitely worth a visit. Most likely, because you will either begin or end your trip to Sri Lanka in Colombo, you will pass through it. As a result, you should set aside 2 full days to explore the city. You will be glad you did.
As Sri Lanka’s capital and its largest, most cosmopolitan city, Colombo has much to offer. Its colonial architecture, museums, religious sites, shopping, cafes and restaurants, and lovely accommodations are memorable and worth exploring. Colombo provides a slice of Sri Lanka’s cosmopolitan side.
- Our Favorite Things in Colombo
- 1. Tour Colombo in a Tuk-Tuk
- 2. Take in the Atmosphere of the Gangaramaya Temple
- 3. Do Not Miss Elegant Seema Malakaya
- 4. Explore Sri Lanka’s History at the National Museum
- 5. Chill at Peaceful Viharamahadevi Park
- 6. Pay Respects to Sri Lanka’s Independence Square
- 7. Sample Colombo’s Restaurants, Tea Rooms and Cafés
- 8. Check Out the Fort District
- 9. Visit the Pettah District
- 10. Head to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
- Accommodations in Colombo
- Worth Exploring
Our Favorite Things in Colombo
1. Tour Colombo in a Tuk-Tuk
When we arrive in a city, the first thing we like to do is get the lay of the land. We arrived in Colombo late at night. We checked into our hotel, had a decent night’s sleep, woke up early, ate breakfast, and decided to go on a long walk to explore the city.
As soon as we left our hotel, a tuk-tuk driver approached us with a hard sell on why we should use his services to tour Colombo. (We must have looked like an obvious target.) We were very reluctant to take him up on his offer because of a bad tuk-tuk experience we had in Bangkok. (Our tuk-tuk driver there pretty much held us captive in his tuk-tuk for several hours, stopping at shops where he earned a commission for taking us there).
Changing our minds:
This driver seemed genuine and spoke good English. Throwing caution to the wind, we asked him how much he charged. (Once you engage with these guys, you are theirs for good.) Ultimately, we negotiated a price for a 3-hour tour around the city to many of its major sights. He did, however, try to pull a “bait and switch” where another tuk-tuk driver appeared out of nowhere to take us around. We refused to go with that driver. The first driver then said he would take us around.
It turned out to be a great experience. Our driver was authentic, knowledgeable, and hit all of the highlights of the city. The tour lasted over 4 hours. We stopped at a lot of places where he gave us a high-level explanation of their history and significance. Moreover, he patiently waited for us at each place.
The layout of Colombo is a bit disjointed. It doesn’t really have a central area. It is comprised of a series of neighborhoods. What better way to explore a city than in a tuk-tuk. Generally, tuk-tuk drivers know the lay of the land and can get around quickly. Because we do not use them in the United States, riding in one was exotic and fun.
Here is our advice on finding a tuk-tuk for a city tour:
- make sure the driver speaks good English;
- ask him what sights he plans on taking you to – – a good one will have a map to show you the route and sights;
- get specifics on duration up front;
- recognize that these drivers work on commission and will want you to stop at a shop where the driver earns a few extra rupees for taking you there. At the very end of our tour, our driver “came clean” and told us that he is paid by a jewelry shop to drive tourists around and ultimately stop off at the store. Because he was such a good tour guide, we were happy to oblige. And, we learned a little about the gem business in Sri Lanka, which turned out to be very interesting. (Our approach is to give these guys a break – with COVID and Sri Lanka’s rough economy, they are just trying to earn a buck.)
- negotiate the price beforehand. We negotiated ours to 3000 rupee ($15), which we thought was a good price for a 3-hour tour (i.e., $5 per hour). In retrospect, we may have overpaid a little. Nonetheless, we were so satisfied with our experience, it was worth every cent. Remember the adage… you get what you pay for.
2. Take in the Atmosphere of the Gangaramaya Temple
This is an extraordinary Buddhist complex. You will feel like you are roaming a unique and very cool compound with thousands of Buddha images in a variety of settings. The atmosphere is unbeatable.
The complex consists of the main temple, a Pagoda, the Bodhi Tree, a Library, a Function Hall, a Stupa (relic chamber), a Learning Center and Museum. The main area is filled with a huge brightly painted statue of Buddha surrounded by hundreds of smaller statues. Outdoors, there is a row of steps lined with hundreds of sitting buddhas and stupas. It was remarkable. This place is packed with art and history and you should undoubtedly stop there. As of this writing, it costs Rs 400 ($2) to enter.
3. Do Not Miss Elegant Seema Malakaya
Close to Gangaramaya Temple is the shrine Seema Malakaya. It sits on the nearby Beira Lake. The much-revered Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa designed the complex. The temple is surrounded by a wall of sitting gold Buddhas. Its setting and design are beautiful. Make sure to wear long skirts and trousers and be prepared to take off your shoes. Admission is included with the purchase of a ticket to the Gangaramaya Temple.
4. Explore Sri Lanka’s History at the National Museum
The National Museum offers an excellent survey of the history of Sri Lanka. Located in a beautiful neo-Baroque white colonial building, the museum is set up chronologically, with each room highlighting Sri Lanka’s historical kingdoms. The upstairs rooms contain examples of Sri Lanka’s arts and culture.
The museum has a very impressive, extensive collection. You will learn a lot about the history and culture of Sri Lanka from your visit there. If you are fortunate enough to visit the museum before you tour the rest of the country, the museum will provide you with an excellent primer of what you are in store for. One highlight was the royal throne of King Wimaladharmasuriya built in 1693. But, there is so much more. Don’t miss it. Entry is Rs 1000 ($5).
5. Chill at Peaceful Viharamahadevi Park
This is a large, beautifully landscaped Victorian park filled with flowering trees, a huge reflecting pool, and a huge golden seated Buddha statue facing the old Town Hall. It is the oldest and grandest park in Colombo. It also houses a mini zoo and an open-air stadium for concerts and public events. The area was once used as a cricket ground in the park from 1927 to 1995. It’s a perfect venue for a respite from Colombo’s chaos.
6. Pay Respects to Sri Lanka’s Independence Square
Independence Square is a lovely park that contains Independence Memorial Hall, a national monument built to commemorate Sri Lanka’s independence from the British rule in 1948. Each feature of the structure has significance to Sri Lankans. Within the monument’s pillars is a series of paintings depicting the life and teachings of Buddha. This impressive structure sits on a park that holds religious events and the annual national day celebrations.
7. Sample Colombo’s Restaurants, Tea Rooms and Cafés
Colombo is a melting pot of cuisines. It is also a great place to sample Sri Lankan food. Colombo’s cafes and restaurants are impressive.
Our favorite meal was at Upali by Nawaloka, which serves outstanding Sri Lankan cuisine in a casual, pleasant setting. Upali makes one of the best Watapallans – a classic Sri Lankan dessert of a cardamom spiced, coconut custard – that we had in Sri Lanka.
We ate lunch at the charming Paradise Road Gallery Café. It is in a really beautiful colonial villa, that houses a chic indoor-outdoor restaurant, a lovely art gallery and shop, and a peaceful garden and koi pond. Famous Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa designed the courtyard. Plus, his office was also once housed in the building. The restaurant served very good food from an interesting selection of Sri Lankan influenced offerings. I bet the dinner is really wonderful there. It is very romantic.
We indulged in a delicious tea concoction at t-Lounge by Dilmah, located in the Fort neighborhood. The setting was upscale and well-designed. Its menu was interesting and extensive. You can also order food and dessert there. It’s a great spot for an afternoon tea and snack.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time in Colombo to explore a lot of dining options, but the ones we hit were memorable. Also, Colombo has a very vibrant café culture which we did not get to experience.
Do some research online, ask around, and keep your eyes open when you wander around the city. Regardless of how you find a place to eat in Colombo, you will be delighted by how satisfying and tasty it is.
8. Check Out the Fort District
The Fort is actually a neighborhood in Colombo where the main fort once stood. Not much of the fort remains. Nowadays, the area is home to the busy harbor, the stock exchange, the World Trade Center building and a lot of beautiful colonial buildings such as Cargills. Check out the Old Colombo Lighthouse too.
Definitely don’t miss the Dutch Hospital, built in the 1600s. Today, the Dutch Hospital houses restaurants and shops instead of the infirmed. It is beautifully restored and one of the highlights of the Fort. Its restaurants and bars get hopping at night.
9. Visit the Pettah District
Next to the Fort is Pettah. The tone and feel of Colombo dramatically change as soon as the neighborhood changes from the Fort to Pettah.
Pettah is a maze of markets, mosques, Hindu temples and churches. It is crowded and full of life. Explore the markets for sure. But also take note of some of the beautiful architecture that you may miss because there is so much activity on the streets. For instance, the Masjid Jami-Ul Alfar is a magnificent mosque with a striped brick façade and intricate detail. Unfortunately, only worshippers may enter. Nonetheless, it is worth seeing its architecture. There is a large Hindu population here too so be certain not to miss the stunning Hindu temples.
10. Head to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
This Buddhist temple is very sacred and special because it is where the Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the third time. The temple has some lavish, magnificent paintings and sculptures and an impressive stupa. This temple is a little over 6 miles (11km) outside of the center of Colombo so you need to take transportation (e.g., a tuk-tuk) to get there.
Accommodations in Colombo
Colombo offers a wide variety of accommodations. We stayed at the Cinnamon Red Hotel in the Kollupitiya neighborhood. The hotel is in a great location, has good service, provides nice rooms, and offers an excellent buffet breakfast. Its rates are very reasonable.
You may want to consider a splurge because Colombo offers a variety of luxury hotels. For old world colonial charm, the Galle Face Hotel can’t be beat. High tea there is supposed to be very special. The Shangri-La, Taj, Paradise Road Tinagel, Uga, and many others look gorgeous too.
Worth Exploring
With only 2 days in Colombo, we did not have an opportunity to do all that we wanted to do. We did not get a chance to shop, to visit some of the luxurious hotels to have high tea or drinks, or to walk along Galle Face Green and the harbor to view the sunset. All of these activities in Colombo are supposed to be memorable and fun.
Nevertheless, we had a great time in Colombo. It is a vibrant, entertaining place with tons to do. Without question, it offers a perspective of Sri Lanka that you won’t find anywhere else. Stay there for at least a couple of days. You will be glad you did.
