Best Things to Do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo sprawls along the Indian Ocean coast in western Sri Lanka. The things to do in Colombo begin in the Pettah district, a densely packed wholesale bazaar where entire streets specialize in single products — electronics, spices, fabric, ayurvedic medicine. The Gangaramaya Temple, on the banks of Beira Lake, is one of the most important Buddhist temples in the country, with an eclectic museum inside containing thousands of gifts from devotees and world leaders. Galle Face Green is the colonial esplanade along the seafront, now a popular evening gathering place for families and street food vendors. The National Museum of Colombo holds the country’s largest collection of royal regalia, sculpture, and historical artifacts. The Pettah Floating Market (a gentrified canal-side market), the Old Dutch Hospital shopping complex (colonial-era building now housing restaurants and boutiques), and the Slave Island area (Kompannavidiya), with the Red Mosque and dense street life, round out the city’s core attractions. Fort, the central business district, has the colonial-era architecture remnants including the Old Parliament Building.

Best time to visit

December through March is the best time for Colombo and the west coast generally. This is the dry season on the western side of Sri Lanka (the country’s weather is split by the monsoons — May-September wet on the west coast, November-January on the east coast). April and May are very hot but the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (mid-April) brings interesting cultural activity. June-September sees the southwest monsoon with heavy afternoon rains; still workable but less comfortable.

Getting around

Bandaranaike International Airport is 30 km north of the city center; a taxi takes 45-90 minutes depending on traffic. Within Colombo, tuk-tuks (three-wheelers) and PickMe (ride-hailing app) are the most common transport. Traffic in Colombo can be very heavy, especially during morning and evening rush hours. The Colombo suburban rail network connects the city to Negombo (north, near airport) and Galle (south).

What to eat

Sri Lankan cuisine is distinct from Indian despite geographic proximity. Rice and curry (multiple curries served with rice, eaten with the right hand at traditional places) is the staple. Kottu roti — shredded flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg, and meat — is the street food of choice. Hoppers (bowl-shaped rice flour pancakes, sometimes with an egg) are the breakfast standard. String hoppers (steamed rice noodle circles) are another morning staple. Coconut features heavily: coconut sambol, coconut roti, coconut curry. Ministry of Crab (in the Old Dutch Hospital complex) is the city’s most internationally recognized restaurant — excellent lagoon crab, book well in advance. For street food, Galle Road’s wayside vendors sell isso vade (shrimp fritters) at the Wellawatte junction.