Colombo
Discover Colombo
Colombo (Sinhala: කොළඹ, Tamil: கொழும்பு) is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka, and still perceived by many as the capital though the suburb of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is now the official capital. Just like any other big South Asian city, Colombo is congested, noisy, busy, and vibrant with a mixture of modern life and colonial architecture. It is the financial centre of the island and a popular tourist destination. Colombo is the commercial and financial capital of Sri Lanka after the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, a suburb east of the city. "Colombo" could refer to either the city proper, or to Greater Colombo that includes the areas of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.
What to Experience in Colombo
Famous Beaches
Taste of Colombo...
Sri Lankan food can be very spicy, so ask questions and order accordingly. That said, Colombo has a wide range of eateries, and there should be something for almost any combination of food preference and budget. Available everywhere are small bakeries selling rotis (either flat or folded into triangles filled with egg, vegetable or fish), hoppers (bowl shaped pancakes made with coconut milk), and other "short eats" (bread-based snacks or fried foods). The price of individual items range from Rs 50-100. Buy a "lunch packet" from street stands practically anywhere in the city. Typically, it will be a filling meal of rice and vegetables for about Rs 180. Colombo's nightlife is on par with most other Asian destinations and features a number of establishments that offer decent music and drinks, served in a pleasant atmosphere. Expect the music to range from 80s retro to modern chart toppers as elegant partygoers dance the night away sipping the poison of their choice. Most clubs close around 04:00, R&B perhaps a little later. 6.8415679.862861 Mount Lavinia is about 20 minutes away from the city and has a good deal of nightlife. The beach and the friendly people draw plenty of visitors. Along the beach are a variety of restaurants that serve alcohol have food to suit every budget.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Colombo into what it is today.
The Portuguese gave the city its current name, which is derived from Sinhala: kolon thota - "port on the river Kelani" or kola-amba-thota - "harbour with leafy/green mango trees" or kolamba - "ford or harbour". And thanks to its natural harbour it has been a trading point for thousands of years, visited by traders from as far as China and the Roman Empire. From the 8th century Arab traders settled in the area and eventually came to control the trade through Colombo. They were followed by the Portuguese, who in 1505 made a treaty with the Kingdom of Kotte where they were allowed to establish a trading post in Colombo and trade in cinnamon in exchange for protection from outer invaders. The Portuguese eventually set up a fort, expelled the Arabs from Colombo and proceeded to take over the whole island, formerly ruled by many kingdoms, over the course of the 16th century. The surroundings where the fort stood are now known as the Fort district, though the Dutch tore it down replacing it with their own fort, which the British replaced with military barracks and other buildings, and the barracks were demolished in the 1970s to make room for the Colombo World Trade Center. The Portuguese presence in Sri Lanka was marked by a long war, the Sinhalese-Portuguese war from 1527 to 1658. The Dutch, Portugal's main rival during the age of colonization became involved in the war and took over Colombo in 1656....
Climate
Colombo has a tropical monsoon climate, bordering on tropical rainforest climate, so the weather is warm or hot around the year with temperatures usually around 25 °C (77 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F), and wet during much of the year. For the best weather, visit during the north-east monsoon season, including the driest months December to March. There's also a shorter dryer period in July and August. The Portuguese gave the city its current name, which is derived from Sinhala: kolon thota - "port on the river Kelani" or kola-amba-thota - "harbour with leafy/green mango trees" or kolamba - "ford or harbour". And thanks to its natural harbour it has been a trading point for thousands of years, visited by traders from as far as China and the Roman Empire. From the 8th century Arab traders settled in the area and eventually came to control the trade through Colombo.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAir service to Colombo is provided by the national airline Sri Lankan Airlines and foreign airlines, mostly from India and Asia. Direct flights are available from major centres in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast and East Asia and Australia, as well as from many cities throughout the subcontinent. The international airport is closer to Negombo than to Colombo, so if you're arriving late or departing early, it might be a better option to stay the night in Negombo. Confirm the cost of any mode of transport before using it. The journey from Colombo Fort will take about 45 minutes by taxi, if taking the toll expressway (Highway E03), and is the fastest option available. Toll between Colombo and the airport costs Rs 450 each way. At the airport, immediately after leaving customs, there's a taxi counter on your right. Tell them your destination and they will print you a voucher with the price. An A/C van from the airport to Colombo 1 (Fort) costs Rs 7,500 (2024)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Getting around by Tri-shaw (Three wheeler, tuk-tuk) is most convenient. Some three-wheelers have built in meters or the drive uses a phone app that does the same. Drivers hanging out in tourist areas often will not have or not allow meters as an option. Ask if there is a meter and if there is not a meter to use, always negotiate and agree on a price before you take a trip. But it's best to hail a meter taxi (identified by the words "Meter Taxi" on its windshield) that is traveling in the direction that you need to go instead of hiring one from the parking area or the tuk-tuk stand. The meter taxi costs Rs 100 for the first kilometre and increases in increments of Rs 10 based on distance and waiting time. It is best to have an offline map, as drivers relying on meters will agree to take you without an understanding where they need to go, whereas drivers negotiating a price will not agree to a price unless they understand how to get to the destination.
Where to Stay
Colombo's cheap accommodations in the centre of town apart from the famous YMCA (containing a gay bathhouse) are mostly concentrated along the road opposite the Colombo Fort Railway Station. Many rooms are available but with shared bathrooms. These, however, tend to be dirty and dingy affairs that even seasoned travellers are unlikely to tolerate. Moving south along Galle Rd, one can find a lot of more reasonable accommodation. Around Kollupitiya (the next suburb south of Galle Face), you will still be dealing with overpriced, soulless air-conditioned concrete boxes. Further down south, prices and people will get more reasonable. There are quite a few small hotels in the side streets off Galle Rd. in Wellawatte area. If you continue south and get as far as Mount Lavinia, there will be hundreds of small guesthouses, some of them very affordable, in a quiet old-fashioned area with a lot of greenery and right by the sea (the only problem being that it's far from the city centre).
Money & Budget
Sri Lankan mines produce some fine gemstones, especially sapphires and moonstones, and Colombo is one of the main places where they are marketed. Cut but unmounted stones and finished jewellery are sold in many places. The beach town of Beruwela, about 55 km to the south, also has a large gem market. Ratnapura, 100 km south, is in the centre of the main gem mining area and also has large markets. Sri Lankan food can be very spicy, so ask questions and order accordingly. That said, Colombo has a wide range of eateries, and there should be something for almost any combination of food preference and budget.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Colombo is like most other South Asian capitals. Although it is not as dangerous as one would think, tourists should be very vigilant. Many first time visitors to Colombo find themselves falling victim to scams and touts; however, seasoned visitors to Sri Lanka are rarely scammed and it is very simple to avoid being a victim of scammers as long as you take precautions such as: Once you are past the scammers, Colombo is a far more welcoming destination than other South Asian cities. Certainly single women, although not advised to explore every nook and cranny of the city on their own late at night, will not find the pestering attentions of leering men. Sri Lankan women are also very "western" in their dress sense, so it is very normal to wear skirts, tank tops, etc. You may get a few whistles and hellos from bored school boys, but they are more friendly and not meant to be threatening, so just ignore it and they will leave you alone.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Colombo
a large red building with a clock on the top of it
Buddha Statue in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Had very light sleep that night, got up what felt way too early. Pull back the black out curtains and this beautiful scene appears.
Colombo
This is the Sri Lanka.
red and white concrete building
white bridge over river near city buildings during daytime
So Sri Lanka
A bustling street lined with signage, capturing the vibrant chaos of city life. The crowd blends with the urban landscape, buzzing with dynamic energy.
old parliament sri lanka
a large red building with a clock on the top of it
Buddha Statue in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Had very light sleep that night, got up what felt way too early. Pull back the black out curtains and this beautiful scene appears.