Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and home to over 25% of the country’s population, but is it actually worth visiting as a traveler?
We had the same question! So, to kick off our two-month trip to Sri Lanka, we spent about 4 days in Colombo to find out for ourselves.
Ultimately, there were some really cool things to see, like Jami Ul-alfar, Gangaramaya Temple, Viharamdevi Park, and a couple of great cafes. But it wasn’t nearly as beautiful or exciting as the other tourist hotspots around the country.
Therefore, we would skip Colombo altogether if you have 2 weeks or less in Sri Lanka.
Here’s our hot take on why it’s not worth visiting for the average traveler, along with a list of the city’s most overrated spots and a few places that we genuinely enjoyed (in case your itinerary is already set in stone).
Is Colombo Worth Visiting?
Colombo is not worth visiting for the average traveler.
It’s primarily a commercial city, so it doesn’t have much to offer tourists. The city was just hot, crowded, and a little boring.
Of course, that’s our opinion, and it’s possible we just didn’t go to the right spots. But the main reason why we tell people not to go to Colombo is that there are so many other awesome places in Sri Lanka that are definitely more worthwhile!
Cities/Towns like Kandy, Ella, Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Arugam Bay, Hiriketiya, Mirissa, Nuwara Eliya, and Anuradhapura are all better than Colombo, so you should make time for them first!
The only exception is if you’re looking for nightlife because Colombo is the only place in Sri Lanka with a wide variety of cocktail bars and nightclubs.
Also, if you have a month or two in Sri Lanka like we did, starting or ending your trip in Colombo without sacrificing time elsewhere is easy. You’re likely already flying through Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), just over 30 minutes from the city.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Colombo?
Honestly, one to two days is plenty of time to see everything in Colombo. We spent four days here, and it was far too long.
Even the locals agreed. We had numerous conversations with local Sri Lankan people that went like this;
Them: “How many days will you be in Colombo?”
Us: “About four days!”
Them: “Really? Why? That’s way too long!”
Although there may be a few cool things to see in Colombo, it is too congested and noisy for more than a day or two.
When is the Best time to visit Colombo?
December to March is the best time to visit Colombo. This is the only time of year when it isn’t affected by either monsoon season (yep, Sri Lanka has two), and the heat drops from an average high of 32ºC (95ºF) to 28ºC (85ºF).
Either way, you should expect hot and humid weather and pack accordingly. Also, bring a rain jacket unless you visit in January or February.
What to see In Colombo
For those still planning to spend a few days in Colombo, these are the places we really enjoyed!
Most of the things to see in Colombo are pretty close to one another and don’t require much time, so it’s possible to see a few of these attractions in a single day.
Jami Ul-Alfar
Jami Ul Alfar is an amazing piece of architecture in the Pettah district of Colombo. The candy-striped building is an active Mosque that’s nearly 100 years old.
This building is totally free to visit, and the best time to go is right after sunrise (before the crowds).
Two sides are visible from the street. One side occupies most of the block, where you’ll find the main entrance. But if you walk around the corner, you’ll see another (private) entrance, which is a beautiful backdrop for photos.
Gangaramaya Temple & Park
We really enjoyed Gangaramaya (a.k.a. Gangarama Sima Malaka), a floating temple built over Beira Lake in the late 20th century.
The entry fee is only 300 LKR ($1.00), and the contrast of the modern cityscape with the historic temple and its numerous Buddha statues was super cool.
Adjacent to the temple is Gangaramaya Park, which is on a small island out in the lake. It’s totally free to visit, and walking over the small bridge is actually the most picturesque part!
Colombo National Museum
The Colombo National Museum is worth visiting if you’re particularly interested in Sri Lankan history.
Sri Lanka only gained independence from the British in 1948, and it’s been a rocky road ever since, with a 30-year civil war between the two major ethnic groups (Sinhalese and Tamil) that only ended in 2009.
The past decade has been spent rebuilding the country and creating better infrastructure.
Today, about 75% of the population is Sinhalese, and 11% is Tamil. They live in peace, but the communities still speak different languages, follow different religions, and usually live on separate sides of the country (Northern = Tamil / Southern = Sinhalese)
The Colombo National Museum depicts all of Sri Lanka’s checkered history and is a great place to learn more while visiting Colombo!
Viharamhadevi Park
Viharamhadevi Park is a beautiful park in the heart of Colombo, with lots of green space. The main attraction is a massive golden Buddha statue at the entrance.
It feels quiet and refreshing amid a chaotic city. You can walk along the trails, grab a snack from the cafeteria, see ponies, or even take pedal boats onto the lake.
There are usually some local vendors around the edge of the park, and we even came across a local snack charmer who let us hold his Python!
Cafe hopping
Another part of the city that we loved was the coffee scene in Colombo.
Sri Lanka may be primarily known for Ceylon Tea, but the coffee from Ceylon’s hills is impressive, too. The coffee is almost always fresh, too, since most cafes in Colombo use local beans grown less than 100 miles (160 km) from the city.
Some of our favorite cafes in Colombo were the Department of Coffee, Cafe Kumbuk, and Black Cat Cafe.
Independence Square & Memorial Hall
Independence Square is another city park in Colombo. The Memorial Hall is a national monument commemorating Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule.
It’s a stunning building, and we loved that it felt much less touristy than other places in Colombo. It was more of a gathering place for Colombo locals to hang out and host events!
Overrated Place in Colombo
While we enjoyed some of the places to visit in Colombo, we did not enjoy other areas of the city as much as we expected.
Galle Face Green
Galle Face is a coastal park in the Fort District of Colombo. It is very crowded in the evenings, but there is not much to do. The park looks out over the Indian Ocean, but there is only 10-15 feet of sand between the park and the ocean.
Also, the view is slightly hindered by the Port City Project, which could be incredible when finished, but it’s currently just an eyesore of construction on the skyline.
Lotus Tower
Lotus Tower is a massive structure in the middle of Colombo. At 356 meters (1160 feet), it is the tallest free-standing structure in South Asia. The design of a lotus flower symbolizes the purity of Sri Lankan culture, and the structure is used practically as a telecommunications and radio tower.
At the top, there’s a 5-star rotating restaurant, which makes for a pretty awesome date night.
However, most people want to go up to the observation deck for a view of the city, and $20 per person is a steep price for the view.
Just stay at Cinnamon Red, and you’ll get a skyline view 24/7 from their rooftop pool!
Pettah Floating Market
We love going to Asian markets, from Malaysia to Bali and Thailand. So, we were honestly pretty excited about the floating market in Pettah.
However, we found the market disappointing. It felt like we were repeatedly walking through the same stalls with the same tacky souvenirs. Everything felt cheap, and nothing was genuinely handmade.
Beira Lake
The Pettah Market, Gangaramaya Temple, and Lotus Tower are all set along Beira Lake, so we got to see it from about every angle you could.
But outside of these few attractions, there isn’t much to do.
At one point, we walked around half of the lake, hoping to find a cute cafe or restaurant on the water, but there was nothing. Sweaty and disappointed, we decided to call it quits and grab a coffee elsewhere.
Beaches in Colombo
Sri Lanka is well-known for its coastline, and you should absolutely spend a large chunk of your time in Sri Lanka on the beach.
But don’t waste your time at the beaches around Colombo. They aren’t necessarily bad, but there are way better beaches elsewhere. Some of our favorite beach towns were;
- Trincomalee
- Arugam Bay
- Mirissa
- Hiriketiya
- Hikkaduwa!
Where to Stay in Colombo
As the largest city in Sri Lanka, Colombo has many accommodation options, but they tend to be more expensive than the other towns.
We stayed in incredible guesthouses all over Sri Lanka for $10-20/night, but finding a nice place in Colombo for less than $50 was difficult.
Here are two places with great value in our favorite neighborhood – Cinnamon Gardens.
Lavonca Boutique Hotel
Check Availability and Current Prices HERE!
Lavonca Boutique Hotel takes less pride in being ‘grand’ and emphasizes being ‘homey.’ The beds are very comfortable and clean, and the deluxe rooms even have a private balcony.
But even if you get one of their basic rooms, you’ll still get free breakfast in each room, and they have a small two-tiered rooftop with seating and a pool to relax in the evening.
Cinnamon Red Colombo
Cinnamon Red Hotel is a luxurious hotel that’s affordable compared to similar properties in Colombo.
The rooms are pretty typical hotel rooms, but the best part is the rooftop infinity pool and lounge area with a view of the city! It’s also within walking distance of three of our favorite places in the city – Viharamdevi Park, Colombo National Museum, and Gangaramaya Temple.
Final Thoughts
While there are a couple of decent cafes, restaurants, and other cool attractions, we don’t think Colombo is worth visiting unless you have extended time in Sri Lanka.
It’s a very commercial city with little to offer travelers/tourists unless you’re willing to take a day trip!
So, if you only have a week or two in Sri Lanka, you should honestly skip it altogether and spend more time in places like Sigiriya, Ella, Kandy, or the beach towns along the south coast!
