As the capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo is rich with history, culture and represents the vibrancy of the country. There is so much to see and do in the city, including historical landmarks, visiting buzzing streets and areas, shopping and museums and parks. Alongside it’s rich cultural heritage, the city is also undergoing a vast array of development projects, keeping the city evolving constantly. Here are our top picks of the top 10 best things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka:
1. GALLE FACE GREEN
Stretching 500m along the coastline, Galle Face Green is an urban park covering 12 acres. It was initially created by the Dutch to line up their cannons in defence against their enemies, the Portuguese. Formerly used for sports activities including horse racing, golf and cricket. Now the green is used as a large open space for the public to enjoy and is a regular location for street food stalls to set up, particularly in the evenings. Some of the local specialities served up include crab and prawns cooked in rice crackers and mango with salt and pepper. It’s a great place to experience local life and some of the local street foods.
2. Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Located in the Pettah district of the city (Colombo 11), Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the city, and was completed in 1909. The iconic red and white stripes and patterns of the façade have made this mosque a landmark of the city, and nothing compares to seeing it in person. Visitors are allowed in for a look around except for during prayer times. Women are usually allowed into the tourist areas only, but will need to ensure that hair, arms and legs are covered.
- Opening Times: Open daily, visitor hours are outside of prayer times
- Entry/Tickets: Free
3. LOTUS TOWER
At 350m high, the Lotus Tower has become a symbolic landmark for Colombo and Sri Lanka. In 2019, the tower became the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia. The tower is home to communication facilities, an observation deck and leisure outlets, including a revolving restaurant at the top, shopping mall and hotels. It is unclear what the opening times for the tower are, as it was due to open at the end of 2019 but there is little information regarding it’s status. When we visited, the tower was closed but it is still worth a walk nearby to see the tower up close.
- Opening Times: Noted as open 24 hours, daily
- Entry/Tickets: Observation deck noted as Rs4000-5000 ($20-$25) entry per person
4. Gangaramaya Temple
Sitting on Beira lake in the centre of Colombo, this Buddhist temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo. It was built in the late 19th century and is a mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Malay and Chinese architecture. The temple is formed of several structures which form spaces including a temple, relic chamber and Seema Malaka, an assembly hall for monks, which is located a few hundred metres away. As well as the temple, the complex is also home to a library and museum which showcases an array of jewelled gifts.
- Opening Times: Daily from 06:00 to 22:00
- Entry/Tickets: Rs100 ($0.50) donation requested
5. Mount Lavinia Beach
Situated south of Colombo, the Mount Lavinia municipality is technically out of Colombo, but makes for a nice day trip to the beach. It’s beach is one of the most popular in the country, being so close to populous Colombo, and is well known for its sunsets. Depending on the season, the waters can be good for swimming and other water activities. There are also a number of restaurants and bars located on the beach. You can get to the area in around 35min by car from Colombo or in around 1 hour by bus or train. You can check train schedules for Sri Lanka on the website here.
- Opening Times: Daily, 24 hours
6. Dutch Shopping precinct
The historical Dutch area in Colombo is centred around the old Colombo Dutch hospital, which is thought to be the oldest building in the Colombo fort area. Now considered a heritage building, it has been repurposed as a shopping and dining precinct with a number of boutique shops and upmarket restaurants.
- Opening Times: Daily from 10:00 to 22:00
7. Colombo National Museum
Located in Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 07), Colombo National Museum covers the national heritage and natural history of Sri Lanka through displays and exhibitions. Housed in an impressive colonial building, the museum offers visitors the opportunity to learn about and see Sri Lankan arts and crafts, swords, guns and colonial paraphernalia and various other Sri Lankan antiques. The natural history section includes specimens of species of plant and animals that are threatened and extinct that are endemic to Sri Lanka. There is also a gift shop and café in the grounds.
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 to 17:00, except for national holidays
- Entry/Tickets: Adult Rs600 ($3), Child Rs300 ($1.50)
- Where to Buy: In person, on entry
8. ONE GALLE FACE MALL
One Galle Face is a new, mixed use development along Galle Road, opposite Galle Face Green. The development consists of offices, a hotel and a new shopping mall, One Galle Face Mall. The shopping mall and development was opened in 2019 and is a window into what the future of Colombo may look like, given the sheer amount of development happening across the city. The mall is modern, large and well equipped, and is home to an array of high-end, chain and independent shops as well as a good selection of bars and restaurants. It serves as a great place to shop and eat in the comfort of the cool air-conditioning.
- Opening Times: Daily from 10:00 to 22:00
9. Viharamahadevi Park
This is the largest public park in Colombo, formerly named Victoria park but renamed in the 1950s after the mother of the King. Alongside the trees and greenery are walkways, benches and new landscaping. The park is a great place to relax and watch the world go by in the Cinnamon gardens area of the city.
- Opening Times: Daily from 06:00 to 18:00
- Entry/Tickets: Free
10. Pettah floating market
Located on Bastian Mawatha, Pettah floating market was established partly as a tourist attraction but also to relocate some of the local vendors from the busy streets of Pettah. The area that forms the floating market is filled with 92 trade stalls, selling local goods and handicrafts to fruit and electronics, with some over spilling onto Beira Lake.
- Opening Times: 08:00-22:30 generally but all shops have their own opening times and many are likely to close before 22:30
- Entry/Tickets: Free
That’s our list of the best things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For everything you need to travel to Colombo, check out our Colombo travel guide, complete with information on how to get to Colombo, where to stay, when to go and what to eat. We also have a range of other travel guides for Sri Lankan destinations which you can read to help plan your trip in Sri Lanka.
