Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka, where the traditional buildings meet with the skyscrapers. As there are several international flight options to Colombo, it is an ideal city to start your Sri Lanka journey. Let’s start with the best places to visit in Colombo, Sri Lanka!
The Best Places to Visit in Colombo
It is possible to see the main touristic places of Colombo in 1 or 2 days. Our recommendation would be to stay here for 1 day. We summarized how to travel, where to see, where to eat and where to stay in Colombo in this article.
How to travel to Colombo?
You can reach to Colombo by plane. From Germany, you can book a flight from Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt or Berlin with a transit in India or Suudi Arabia to Colombo. The Bandaranaike International Airport is actually located in Negombo, which is a small city very close to Colombo, only 35 min to Colombo Fort Railway Station. We would recommend to go from the airport to the Colombo center by tuk-tuk or taxi which you can order from PickMe App. Alternatively you can also arrange the PickMe transfer from the PickMe point in the airport. You should be careful about the random tuk-tuk or taxi drivers, who are constantly insisting in the airport. They always give higher price than PickMe.
Where to see in Colombo?
Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo. It has a unique architecture, a mixture of Sri Lankan, Indian, Thai and Chinese. The temple is not only a place of worship, but also a sanctuary of cultural preservation. Moreover, you can find ancient handmade items, rare coins and statues in the museum existing in this temple. One of the most interesting part is the stepped wall containing several Buddha statues.
Before entering the temple, you should cover your shoulders and knees, take out your hat and shoes. You can place your shoes in the boxes just in front of the entrance of the temple. Also it is not possible to enter with your backpack to the temple. However, you can store your backpack in the lockers in the entrance. This is also the place where you need to buy the entrance ticket for the temple. It costs LKR 400 per person (EUR 1,23).
Google Maps: Gangaramaya Temple
Pettah Floating Market
Pettah Floating Market is one of the attractions you should not miss in Colombo. It is located in the Bastian Mawatha Street which links the Kotuwa bus station and Colombo Fort railway station. It is only 8 min away by walking from the railway station. In this floating market, you can find local food and handcrafts such as clothes and souvenirs. This place is good for having breakfast or cold drink on the Beira Lake. As it is very close to the railway and bus station, it is a perfect spot to spend some time before leaving Colombo.
Google Maps: Pettah Floating Market
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque is a unique mosque with its red colored and unconventional architecture. It is located in Pettah district. Therefore once you visited Pettah Floating Market, you can also include this mosque to your plan.
Google Maps: Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green is a park facing the Indian Ocean and is known as the largest open area in the city. Unfortunately there are no trees in this area. Therefore, we would highly recommend to visit this park early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Otherwise it is too hot. It is a great place for a picnic.
Google Maps: Galle Face Green
Where to eat?
The Sizzle
The Sizzle Colombo is a great Sri Lankan restaurant, offers delicious local food. Our favorites are Mongolian Rice Chicken and Kottu Roti Chicken. You should be aware that the meal size is quite big. So if you order one of these meals, you can share it with another person.
Google Maps: The Sizzle Colombo
Park Street Mews
Park Street Mews is created by restoring the old warehouses. It consists of restaurants and bars. There are even different events organized in this street like live concerts or local bazaars.
Google Maps: Park Street Mews
Where to stay?
Cozy 1-Bedroom Studio Airbnb
This Airbnb is located in the area of Liberty Plaza. The room was clean and the host was very supportive. We had a pleasant stay in Airbnb of Parwaiz, so we can recommend. You can walk to Gangaramaya Temple in 18 min and Galle Face Green in 30 min by walking. There are also several restaurants and shops nearby.
Our article for The Best Places to Visit in Colombo ends here. We wish you a enjoyable and safe trip! 🙂
Also read: The Ultimate Guide to See Sri Lanka: 3-Weeks Itinerary, The Best Place to Visit in Sigiriya: Pidurangala Rock, Sigiriya Lion Rock: Things You Need to Know
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