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People often know what they want to do when they come to Sri Lanka. They want to visit the island’s pristine beaches, take trains through tea plantations, and see wildlife. What I think many people don’t know is what to do in Colombo while passing through the capital to explore the rest of the country.
I’ll admit I had very few things to do in Colombo in mind for my time there. It was my last stop, and I only knew of one or two Colombo attractions I wanted to see. It just wasn’t a priority of my trip. But I’m glad I made the most of my couple of days there, as I learned there’s a lot more to see than I thought.
Getting to Colombo
Colombo is one of the easiest places to get to in Sri Lanka. It is the capital and biggest city after all.
Flying into Colombo is the obvious approach when arriving in Sri Lanka. All sorts of Asian and Middle Eastern airlines fly here, so take your pick.
The only issue is that Bandaranaike International Airport is a long way from Colombo — it’s far closer to Negombo. That’s why I recommend planning your airport transfer in advance.
If you’re already in Sri Lanka, then taking the train, buses, or a taxi/transfer is the way to go.
Many choose to take the coastal train up from Galle and the south beaches, but you can also come on the train in from Kandy. Other routes, such as Sigiriya and Ella, are longer or more complicated.
Now, if you’re only in Negombo or the southwest beaches, you can also just take a taxi. In that case, using a service like Sri Lanka’s rideshare app, PickMe, is easy and affordable.
Where to stay in Colombo
Colombo is one destination where staying central isn’t always the way to go.
While you can find places to stay in the central Fort and Pettah areas, many people choose quieter neighbourhoods, particularly in Colombo’s south.
For my visit to Colombo, I chose to stay in Milagiriya, south of downtown and roughly halfway to Mount Lavinia Beach.
I spent my time at the comfortable and affordable Visakha 6 guesthouse. While it looks far from Colombo Fort, tuk-tuks are easy to get, and it has lots of good food options around (try Bowl’d and Cyril Rodrigo’s Green Cabin).
Other well-rated accommodation options in Colombo include:
Best places to visit in Colombo
Travellers often underestimate what there is to do in Colombo because it seems less exciting than Sri Lanka’s other destinations.
But the city has a lot of cultural attractions to explore, plus some really scenic viewpoints. It also offers plenty of shopping opportunities, so if that’s what you want, go to the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct or One Galle Face Mall.
However, let’s focus on sightseeing here. These are the places to first look, whether you visit these attractions on your own or on a Colombo city tour.
Seema Malakaya Temple
The Seema Malakaya Temple is a nice place to start when sightseeing in Colombo. It combines culture and scenery into a single attraction.
Extending out onto a small lake, this Buddhist temple is a curious sight. It’s a simple wooden hall under a big blue roof, but most notably, golden Buddha statues line its outer balcony.
Rather than a place of worship, this temple is intended for meditation, which explains its tranquil spot on the water. You can pop your head inside its hall, but the main decorative elements are all outside.
Gangaramaya Temple of Colombo
Now, the Seema Malakaya Temple is actually part of a broader Buddhist complex, the Gangaramaya Temple.
Worshippers consider this one of the city’s most important Buddhist sites, but it’s also one of the most visually stunning temples I saw in Sri Lanka.
There’s a lot to see at the Gangaramaya Temple, from its big bodhi tree to its small museum-like exhibition and mix of Asian design elements. But the two main elements that make it worth visiting are the painted ceiling in its hall and the grandstand of row after row of Buddha statues.
Entry to this Buddhist temple is free, and there’s plenty to see, so this is one Colombo attraction not to miss.
Lotus Tower
If you want to see what Colombo looks like from above, then head to the Colombo Lotus Tower.
This distinctive lakefront tower offers one of the best views of the city, and visitor reviews are quite solid. Entry is quite steep, relative to most things in Sri Lanka, so it’s worth timing your visit carefully.
I came by in the mid-morning Colombo tuk-tuk tour, so I didn’t go up. Had I come here later in the day or early evening, I would have. My loss, I guess.
Galle Face Green
Speaking of views, another great place to go to admire Colombo is the Galle Face Green.
This grassy square lines the waterfront south of Galle Fort and offers sweeping views of Colombo’s coast. You can see right across the Port City area in one direction, and follow the seaside south in the other direction.
Now, the views hardly compete with the South Coast of Sri Lanka. But seeing the towers of Colombo stretch off into the distance really gives scale to the urban sprawl.
Galle Face Green is mostly just a long hangout, with seats under palm trees, street vendors, and space to fly kites. But the view interested me most of all.
Viharamahadevi Park
One of the largest public spaces in Colombo to rest and wander is Viharamahadevi Park.
This park is just a few blocks from the Gangaramaya Temple and sprawls with lawns and shady trees. It centers on a golden Buddha statue and faces Colombo City Hall.
Walk around the park, and you’ll see it’s effectively a mini-botanical garden, with a variety of trees and plants about. While walking around, I was approached by a man claiming to be a botanist. He pointed out a handful of trees and anything related to Australian flora, then insisted on a tip — I should have seen that coming.
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
The Colombo attraction I most wanted to see was the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque.
After seeing the mosque in Kandy, I learned that there was an even more impressive red and white mosque in Colombo. And wow, did the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque not disappoint!
It only dates from the early 20th century, but the design and overlook look of this active mosque is just stunning. There are just levels on levels of its striped and checkered design, creating such a memorable scene.
The mosque had just closed its doors for prayer when I arrived, so I missed out on going inside. Instead, I wandered around Pettah a bit, trying to block out the street noise and bustle while admiring this beautiful Colombo landmark.
Sri Kaileswaram Temple
Having visited Buddhist temples and a mosque, it’s only fair that you also visit a Hindu temple in Colombo.
While there are plenty around, the one my guide showed me was the Sri Kaileswaram Temple. Hidden away between train tracks, this is the oldest and largest Hindu temple in Colombo.
I can’t say I learned much about the temple, so I mostly just admired its incredible kaleidoscope of color. Even for a Hindu temple, this place is colourful!
Plus, its colour extends beyond the gopuram, the ornate gate leading into it. Frescoes adorn the walls and ceilings of the temple, but it’s all the added figures sculpted into them that make the temple so immersive. While it’s free to visit the temple, you need to pay a small fee for taking photos.
Colombo National Museum
Most of the things to do in Colombo mentioned so far won’t give you deep insight into Sri Lanka’s history.
That’s where the Colombo National Museum comes in useful. Set inside a large and purpose-built colonial building, this museum covers a huge amount of ground.
Exhibits on the prehistoric, ancient, and early modern history of Sri Lanka cover the ground floor. Displays focused on everything from art, ceramics, coins, and rituals fill the upper floor.
Stand-out exhibits include the royal seat of the king of Sri Lanka, used from the 17th to 19th centuries, and the Bodhisattva Sandals below.
It’s best to allow several hours to explore the Colombo National Museum if you like to read informational displays. Other than maybe Kandy, few destinations give you such a deep insight into Sri Lanka’s religion and history.
This is one of those times where I wish I had been here at the start of my trip to give context to everything I saw. But visiting at the end meant I could reflect on where I’d been, so not all bad.
Independence Square
The last stop on my Colombo tuk-tuk tour was the memorial hall at Independence Square.
A large hall sits as the focal point of the square, commemorating Sri Lanka’s independence from the UK. While there is a small museum under the pavilion, I just had time to see its distinctive architecture.
If you’ve been to Kandy, you may recognize the design. The audience hall of Kandy Palace inspired its look, although this isn’t carved from wood.
