Things to Do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo is Sri Lanka's largest city, in Western Province. Here are places to see in and around Colombo, with distances measured in a straight line from the town centre. Road journeys are longer, so check current travel times before you go.

Places to visit near Colombo

• Colombo Lotus TowerIn town
• Beira LakeIn town · A historic lake in central Colombo surrounded by major city landmarks and urban…
• Pettah Floating MarketIn town · A market complex beside Beira Lake and the Pettah area, combining small shops, food and…
• Gangaramaya TempleAbout 1 km away · A well-known complex in central Colombo with museum-style collections and eclectic…
• Seema MalakaAbout 1 km away · A calm lakeside meditation pavilion on Beira Lake, designed by Geoffrey Bawa and linked…
• Pettah MarketAbout 2 km away
• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)About 2 km away
• Galle Face GreenAbout 2 km away · A seafront urban promenade in central Colombo used for walking, recreation and enjoying…
• Colombo National MuseumAbout 2 km away · Sri Lanka’s oldest national museum, established in Colombo in 1877, with collections…
• Arcade Independence SquareAbout 2 km away · A restored colonial-era complex at Independence Square containing shops, restaurants and…
• Wolvendaal ChurchAbout 2 km away · A historic Dutch-era church in Colombo dating from the Dutch colonial period.
• Independence Memorial HallAbout 2 km away · A national monument in Colombo’s Independence Square, built to commemorate Sri Lanka’s…

Best time to visit

• Colombo Lotus Tower: Late afternoon into sunset, timing the observation deck visit to see the city transition from daylight into its lit-up night skyline.
• Beira Lake: Early evening, when the walking path along the water cools down and city lights start reflecting on the surface.
• Pettah Floating Market: Weekday mornings for a calmer shopping experience, or early evening when the boardwalks fill with locals out for a stroll.
• Gangaramaya Temple: Weekday mornings, before the grounds fill with tour groups.
• Seema Malaka: Early morning or late afternoon, when the light on the lake is soft and the platforms are quieter.

Plan it your way

Add these places to your own trip and arrange them into days with the Ceylon Loop travel planner. See also the best time to visit Sri Lanka and how many days you need.

Opening hours and fees can change, so please verify them before you travel.