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Sri Lanka Colombo travel guide
15 things to do in Colombo, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Colombo
- National Museum of Colombo — Sri Lankan museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Lotus Tower — Telecommunications tower in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Galle Face Green — urban park in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 45 min)
- St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade — church in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Gangaramaya Temple — Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 30 min)
- St. Lucia's Cathedral (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Viharamahadevi Park — public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Wolvendaal Church — church building in Colombo District, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Seema Malaka — part of Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Nelum Pokuna Performing Arts Theatre — performing arts centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 20 min)
- HMS Tenedos — 1918 S-class destroyer (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Colombo National Art Gallery (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Postal museum, Colombo — Sri Lankan national museum of post (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Colombo Port Maritime Museum — Maritime museum in Sri Lanka (visit ≈ 120 min)
2-day Colombo walking itinerary
Starting point: Fort. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.5 km · 12,770 steps · 2 h 7 min on the way): Galle Face Green → Gangaramaya Temple → National Museum of Colombo → Viharamahadevi Park → Lotus Tower
- Day 2 (≈ 7.7 km · 10,370 steps · 1 h 42 min on the way): St. Lucia's Cathedral → St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade → Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Where to stay in Colombo
- Fort: Historic buildings, the train station and business centre; well connected.
- Galle Face / Kollupitiya: Seafront promenade and big hotels.
- Cinnamon Gardens: Leafy, calm and elegant; near museums and the park.
- Bambalapitiya: Good-value hotels and local eateries on Galle Road.
- Mount Lavinia: A calm beach area; reach the centre by train or taxi.
Getting from the airport to Colombo
- Bandaranaike International (CMB): Expressway bus ≈ 45 min; taxi or PickMe/Uber ≈ 40 min.
Getting around
Use tuk-tuks for short trips; with PickMe or Uber the fare is fixed upfront. The coastal train is handy for heading south.
Classic places to eat
- Ministry of Crab: Giant Sri Lankan crabs in the Old Dutch Hospital.
- Upali’s: Classic Sri Lankan dishes like rice and curry and hoppers.
- Hotel de Pilawoos: Open late; the legendary place for kottu roti.
- Nuga Gama: Village-style rice and curry buffet in the Cinnamon Grand’s garden.
- Paradise Road The Gallery Café: Elegant café-restaurant in Geoffrey Bawa’s former office.
- Barefoot Garden Café: A calm garden café in the courtyard of the handloom shop.
- Galle Face Hotel: Sunset drinks on the veranda of the 1864 hotel.
Romantic views
- Galle Face Green (Sunset): Couples stroll this oceanfront lawn at sunset and share street snacks.
- Beira Lake and Seema Malaka (Evening): The wooden temple on the lake glows softly in the evening light.
- Viharamahadevi Park (Early morning): Shady trees and ponds make for a calm walk in the middle of the city.
- Mount Lavinia Beach (Sunset): A long sandy beach where you can watch the sun set over the waves.
Good to know before visiting Colombo
- Fine: Showing Buddha tattoos or posing with your back to Buddha images is seen as disrespectful; tourists have been deported.
- Fine: Photographing military sites, borders and government buildings is prohibited.
- Fine: Drones need a permit.
- Warning: In temples cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats; white clothing is preferred.
- Warning: Traffic drives on the left.
- Warning: Keep your distance from wild elephants and stay in your vehicle.
- Emergency: police 119, ambulance 1990, fire 110
- Plugs: D/G, 230V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: Bills include 10% service; a small extra tip is common.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Sri Lanka, Wikivoyage — Sri Lanka, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Colombo travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Colombo?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 15 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Colombo?
- Highlights: National Museum of Colombo, Lotus Tower, Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Galle Face Green and St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade. The map has 15 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Colombo?
- Fort: Historic buildings, the train station and business centre; well connected. Other options: Galle Face / Kollupitiya, Cinnamon Gardens, Bambalapitiya and Mount Lavinia.
- How do you get from the airport to Colombo city centre?
- Bandaranaike International (CMB): Expressway bus ≈ 45 min; taxi or PickMe/Uber ≈ 40 min.
- How do you get around Colombo?
- Use tuk-tuks for short trips; with PickMe or Uber the fare is fixed upfront. The coastal train is handy for heading south.
- What is the emergency number in Colombo?
- Emergency: police 119, ambulance 1990, fire 110.
- Do you tip in Colombo?
- Bills include 10% service; a small extra tip is common.
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