Colombo Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget mealLKR 600.00≈ $1.79
- Mid-range mealLKR 2,500.00≈ $7.45
- CappuccinoLKR 450.00≈ $1.34
- Domestic beerLKR 700.00≈ $2.09
- Taxi (per km)LKR 100.00≈ $0.30
- Public transport ticketLKR 40.00≈ $0.12
- Museum entryLKR 1,000.00≈ $2.98
- Mid-range hotel (night)LKR 12,000.00≈ $35.77
Food & Drink
- Ministry of CrabSri Lankan seafood · $$$$
Renowned seafood restaurant in the Dutch Hospital precinct by celebrity chefs, famous for its pepper crab and jumbo prawns sourced fresh from Sri Lankan lagoons.
- Upali's by NawalokaSri Lankan · $$
Long-standing local institution serving authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry buffets with a huge variety of vegetable and meat curries.
- Galle Face Hotel VerandahInternational/Sri Lankan · $$$
Colonial-era hotel's oceanfront terrace restaurant overlooking Galle Face Green, serving high tea and Sri Lankan-international dishes since 1864.
- Palmyrah at Renuka HotelSri Lankan (Jaffna style) · $$
Long-running Jaffna-style Sri Lankan restaurant known for its crab curry and traditional lamprais.
- Galle Face Green food cartsSri Lankan street food · $
Row of street food stalls along the seafront promenade selling isso wade (prawn fritters) and kottu roti as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
- Rhythm & Blues
Popular live music bar in Colombo 3 with regular local bands playing rock and blues covers late into the night.
- Cloud Red at Cinnamon Red
Rooftop bar with panoramic Colombo skyline views, a go-to spot for sunset cocktails.
Culture & History
- Colombo National Museum
Sri Lanka's largest museum, housing the crown jewels of the last Kandyan king and an extensive collection of ancient artifacts in a grand colonial building.
- Dutch Period Museum
Housed in a restored 17th-century Dutch colonial mansion, displaying artifacts and furniture from Ceylon's Dutch colonial era.
- Sri Lanka Maritime Museum
Small museum near the Galle Face area covering the island's maritime and naval history.
- Savoy Cinema
One of Colombo's classic cinema halls in Wellawatte, screening both Sri Lankan and international films.
- Liberty Cinema
Long-established cinema on R.A. De Mel Mawatha showing mainstream releases.
- Vesak Festival
Buddhist festival marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, when Colombo streets are decorated with illuminated pandals and paper lanterns.
- Kandy Esala Perahera
While centered in Kandy, this major Buddhist procession draws visitors from Colombo and is often combined with a capital city stay.
Nature & Outdoors
- Galle Face Green
Colombo's iconic urban seafront promenade, more a social gathering strip than a swimming beach, lined with food vendors and kite-flyers at dusk.
- Mount Lavinia Beach
Sandy beach south of the city center backed by the historic Mount Lavinia Hotel, popular for weekend swimming and sunset drinks.
Active & Fun
- Gold's Gym Colombo
International gym chain branch in Colombo offering full weight and cardio facilities.
- Sugathadasa Aquatic Complex
Public swimming facility in Colombo used for competitive and recreational swimming.
- Ranweli Water Park
Water park near Colombo with slides and pools, a popular family day-trip destination.