Is Colombo worth more than a layover? I'm going to say yes, and I'll show you why. A lot of people land in Sri Lanka, sleep one night in Colombo and run straight for the beaches or the hill country. And I get it. But in three days here, I saw the Indian Ocean for the first time, got lost in Pettah Market, ate some of the best food I've had in a long time for a few dollars, and had a five-star night at the Taj. That's not a layover. That's a trip.
These are the best things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka, mixing what I actually did (I'll tell you when it's firsthand) with the big sights worth adding, plus the best tours and day trips you can book. Want the day-by-day version? Here's my 3-day Colombo itinerary.
In a Rush? Here’s Where I’d Stay in Colombo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Taj Samudra – Where I splurged, on Galle Face – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shangri-La Colombo – Ocean-view pool – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Granbell Hotel – Mid-range with a rooftop pool – Click here for rates & availability
🏝️ Colombo Beach Hostel – Where I slept on a budget – Click here for rates & availability
The Best Things to Do in Colombo
1. Get Lost in Pettah Market
Pettah is Colombo's big, loud, crowded market district right next to Fort, and it was one of my favorite parts of the city. Streets of shops, dried fish stacked in crates, purple and white eggplant, mangoes, fruit stands on every corner, tuk-tuks everywhere and buses driving like they're in an action movie. Don't come looking cute. Come hungry and ready to sweat. (Did it.)
2. See the Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar)
Right in the middle of Pettah is the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, which everyone calls the Red Mosque. It's red and white striped like a candy cane and one of the most photographed buildings in Colombo. You'll spot it from down the street. Dress modestly if you plan to go inside. (Did it.)
3. Spot the Hindu Temples in Pettah
Pettah also has Hindu temples with towers covered in brightly painted carved figures. Even if you just see them from the street, stop and look up, because the detail is wild. (Did it.)
4. Take a Tuk-Tuk City Tour
If you want to see a lot of Colombo in one go, a private tuk-tuk tour with a local guide is one of the top-rated things to do in the city. You'll zip between Pettah, the temples, Galle Face and more without dealing with traffic or haggling with drivers.
5. Eat Your Way Down Aluthkade at Night
Aluthkade is Colombo's street food street, on the edge of Pettah and Fort, and it comes alive after dark. I went on a rainy night and let the locals pick my dinner: beef bone soup at Nahila Soup Cafe, tandoori chicken with roti, a chicken kottu so big it fed me for a whole day, and a 700-rupee tiramisu at Coco Cafe that I'm still thinking about. (Did it.) Full breakdown in my Colombo street food guide.
6. Do a Colombo Food Tour
Not ready to wing it with the street food? A food tour with a local is a great first-night move, so someone else can tell you what's spicy before you find out the hard way.
7. Eat Rice and Curry at a Local Spot
Rice and curry is THE meal in Sri Lanka. I walked into a random local restaurant, ordered the fried chicken rice and curry, and got a plate of fried chicken, spicy lentil curry, okra and carrot curry for 1,380 rupees, about $4. The whole restaurant watched me eat it. 10 out of 10. (Did it.)
8. Drink a King Coconut
Those bright orange coconuts piled up everywhere? That's king coconut, and the vendor will chop one open for you right there. I paid 200 rupees for my first one. In that heat, it's a must. (Did it.)
9. Get a $3 Haircut
Okay, this one's a little random, but hear me out. I got a haircut and beard trim in Colombo for 900 rupees, about $3, at a spot I picked because it had ONE review. The lady there asked if I was trying to sell my hair, and I could not stop laughing. If you need a cut on your trip, it's a fun little local experience. (Did it.)
10. Watch the Sunset on Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green is the long oceanfront promenade in the middle of the city, and in the evening, it's where all of Colombo comes out to eat street food, fly kites and watch the sun go down over the Indian Ocean. It's free, it's lively and it's the classic Colombo sunset.
11. Visit Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya is one of Colombo's most important Buddhist temples, near Beira Lake. It's a whole complex, with a museum and an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architecture. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and expect to take off your shoes.
12. See Seema Malaka on Beira Lake
Part of the Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malaka is a peaceful temple that sits on Beira Lake. It was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's most famous architect. It's small but beautiful, especially around sunset.
13. Go Up the Lotus Tower
You'll see the Lotus Tower from all over the city. At 356 meters, it's the tallest structure in South Asia, shaped like a lotus bud, and the observation deck gives you 360-degree views of Colombo and the ocean. Tickets for foreign adults are $20, plus VAT, and it's open late, until 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on weekends.
14. Shop and Eat at the Old Dutch Hospital
The Old Dutch Hospital in Fort is believed to date back to the 1680s and is considered the oldest building in the Fort area. Today, it's a restored shopping and dining precinct with restaurants, cafés and bars in a colonial courtyard. It's a nice, air-conditioned break from the heat.
15. Splurge on Dinner at Navratna, Taj Samudra
For the luxury side of Colombo, book dinner at Navratna, the Indian restaurant at the Taj Samudra. Rasam, chutneys, cheese naan, a fish that cut like butter, and my first-ever biryani. It came out to over $100, and it was the best meal I'd had in a long time. Dress smart casual. (Did it.) Full review: Taj Samudra review.
Bonus: Chill at Mount Lavinia Beach
Mount Lavinia, about 30 minutes south of the city, is where I stayed and where I saw the Indian Ocean for the first time. It's not a postcard beach, but it's a nice slow morning, with fishing boats on the sand and the coastal train running right by. (Did it.) Torn between staying here or downtown? Read Mount Lavinia vs. Galle Face.
Bonus: Take a Sri Lankan Cooking Class
Want to take something home with you? A cooking class is a fun way to learn Sri Lankan dishes from a local chef.
Get Travel Insurance (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Look, I know insurance isn’t the sexy part of planning a trip. But I promise you do NOT want to be the person paying out of pocket for a hospital visit after a scooter accident, some bad street food, or a surprise trip to the ER in a country where you don’t speak the language. I use SafetyWing because it’s built for people like us who bounce from country to country, and you can sign up even after you’ve already left home.
Best Day Trips from Colombo
Colombo is a great base for day trips if you don't want to keep changing hotels. Here are the best-rated ones. And if you're heading inland on your own, here's how I got from Colombo to Sigiriya by train.
Sigiriya and Dambulla
See the famous Sigiriya Rock fortress and the Dambulla Cave Temple in one long day.
Galle by the coastal train
Ride the scenic coastal train down to Galle Fort, the old colonial town on the south coast.
Kandy
Head into the hills to Kandy, Sri Lanka's cultural capital, home to the Temple of the Tooth.
Elephants and a spice garden
Pair an elephant experience with a spice garden and tea factory for a full day out of the city.
Tips for Visiting Colombo
Use Uber or the PickMe app to get around, and if you take a street tuk-tuk, agree on the price before you get in. Dress modestly for temples and mosques. Bring cash in small bills for markets and street food. And plan for the heat and the rain: Colombo is hot and humid year-round, and when it rains, it POURS, so have a plan B.
Bring US dollars or use an ATM for rupees, and don't count on exchanging less common currencies. Learned that one the hard way with my Vietnamese dong. Here's what Colombo actually costs.
Where to Stay in Colombo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Taj Samudra – Across from Galle Face Green – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cinnamon Life – The new flex – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Marino Beach Colombo – Rooftop ocean pool – Click here for rates & availability
🏝️ Colombo Beach Hostel – Mount Lavinia, steps from the beach – Click here for rates & availability
Final Thoughts
Colombo surprised me. It's hot, chaotic and loud, and it's also friendly, delicious and way more fun than people give it credit for. Give it at least two or three days, eat everything, and do one splurge night. You'll see.
FAQ: Things to Do in Colombo
What is Colombo best known for?
Colombo is known for Pettah Market, the Red Mosque, Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, the Lotus Tower and its street food, especially on Aluthkade.
Is Colombo worth visiting?
Yes. Spend at least two or three days for the markets, temples, food and a sunset on Galle Face Green before heading to the rest of Sri Lanka.
How many days do you need in Colombo?
Two to three days is enough to see the highlights. I did three, and it felt about right.
What can you do in Colombo at night?
Eat street food on Aluthkade, watch the sunset on Galle Face Green, go up the Lotus Tower, or have dinner and drinks at a five-star hotel like the Taj Samudra.
What are the best day trips from Colombo?
Sigiriya and Dambulla, Galle by the coastal train, Kandy, and elephant and spice-garden tours are the most popular.
Is Colombo safe for tourists?
I felt safe. Use normal big-city common sense, use ride apps or agree on tuk-tuk prices up front, and watch your belongings in crowded areas like Pettah.
What should I wear to temples in Colombo?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and be ready to take off your shoes at Buddhist and Hindu temples and mosques.