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Colombo

Late-night street eats, Pettah bustle & Indian Ocean sunsets

Browse Colombo

Colombo is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple and Pettah Market. Food lovers should not miss Aluthkade and Ministry of Crab. Below you will find 13 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Colombo at a glance

  • Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
  • Best time to visit: spring and autumn
  • Highlights: Galle Face Green and Gangaramaya Temple
  • Where to stay: Colombo 2 and Colombo 3
  • Local picks: 13 hand-chosen recommendations
  • Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Colombo

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Where to stay in Colombo

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Pettah

Aluthkade

Also known as Pudukade, this busy Pettah street is Colombo’s after-dark food destination. Stalls and small restaurants stay open past midnight, serving rice and curry, short-eats, BBQ, burgers and local drinks like faluda at easy prices.
★ 4.4
$
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Kollupitiya (Colombo 3)

Barefoot

Barefoot has been Colombo’s most loved shop for over sixty years, a rambling old house on Galle Road filled with rainbow-bright handwoven cloth, a bookshop, an art gallery, and a shady garden courtyard cafe. Why it matters: founded in 1964 by artist Barbara Sansoni, who began designing cloth for rural weaving centres, Barefoot has provided steady work to generations of Sri Lankan women hand-weavers. Pick up a sarong, handloom toys, or fabric by the length, and browse one of the best bookshops in the city. Tip: it stays open every day, including Sundays and Poya days, and the courtyard cafe is the calmest lunch spot on this stretch of Galle Road.
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Colombo 7

Colombo National Museum

Sri Lankas largest museum, rich in royal regalia and antiquities.
★ 4.4
$
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Various

Colombo Street Food Tour

A tuk-tuk food crawl taking in the famous stalls of Aluthkade.
★ 4.5
$$
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Colombo 3

Galle Face Green

The oceanfront promenade of kite-flyers and sizzling evening food stalls.
★ 4.4
$
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Colombo 3

Galle Face Hotel

A colonial-era seafront grande dame, one of Asias oldest hotels.
★ 4.5
$$$
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Colombo 2

Gangaramaya Temple

An eclectic, treasure-filled Buddhist temple and museum by Beira Lake.
★ 4.5
$
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Colombo 7

Independence Square

The colonnaded memorial hall and its popular surrounding park.
★ 4.5
$
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Colombo

Lotus Tower

South Asias tallest tower, with an observation deck over the city.
★ 4.3
$
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Fort

Ministry of Crab

The world-famous restaurant for giant Sri Lankan lagoon crab.
★ 4.6
$$$
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Fort

Old Dutch Hospital

A beautifully restored colonial precinct of restaurants, bars and shops.
★ 4.4
$
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Pettah

Pettah Market

The frenetic, colourful bazaar district at the heart of old Colombo.
★ 4.3
$
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Narahenpita (Colombo 5)

Randoli Restaurant & Take Away

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Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7)

Saturday Good Market

Every Saturday, rain or shine, 70 to 90 vendors fill the Nuga Tree Car Park beside the Colombo Racecourse with organic produce, natural food, ethical fashion, and handmade crafts. Why it matters: Good Market is a not-for-profit social enterprise that screens every stall – only vendors that are good for people and good for the planet, from organic farmers to fair trade artisans, make the cut. It is the easiest single stop in Colombo to shop directly from Sri Lankan social enterprises. Tip: come hungry and go early – the market runs 9am to 5pm and the food stalls and fresh produce are best before noon.
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Havelock Town (Colombo 5)

Selyn

Selyn is Sri Lanka’s only fair trade guaranteed handloom company, and its Fife Road store is the place to buy its brilliantly coloured woven cotton in Colombo. Why it matters: founded in 1991 by Sandra Wanduragala with 15 women in a village near Kurunegala, Selyn now supports around 1,000 rural artisans – most of them women weaving from home or in village workshops – on fair trade terms. The handmade cotton toys are the sleeper hit, alongside bags, sarongs, and home linens. Tip: it opens Sunday mornings too, handy for last-minute gifts before a flight.
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Colombo 2

Shangri-La Colombo

A sleek oceanfront luxury tower with sweeping bay views.
★ 4.5
$$$
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Colombo 7

Upalis by Nawaloka

Classic Sri Lankan home cooking, from kottu to hoppers.
★ 4.4
$$
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Colombo travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Colombo?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Colombo at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Colombo?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Colombo?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Colombo guide.

What is the best time to visit Colombo?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Colombo is worth visiting year-round.

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