Email Anytime
latourslanka1@gmail.com
Call Anytime
Email Anytime
Call Anytime
La Tours
Are you planning to visit Sri Lanka? Colombo is a great place to start your trip. Colombo serves as both the executive and judicial capital of Sri Lanka, and stands as the nation's most populous city. There is so much to explore in Colombo, from history, culture, and modern energy for everyone. Stunning hotels, mouthwatering food, busy markets, and scenic waterfronts add to Colombo's beauty. Before visiting this majestic city, learn everything you need to know about Colombo in this article.
Colombo has everything for tourists. The urban vibe, with influences from Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, and colonial cultures, you've got it all here. Not just one place, you can see this throughout the city’s buildings, food, and neighborhoods. That is not all. Colombo serves as Sri Lanka’s commercial hub and leads the way to explore Sri Lankan beaches, hills, and wildlife areas. Colombo attracts tourists, celebrities, and even presidents and prime ministers with historical landmarks like the Gangaramaya Temple, the lively Pettah Market, and scenic Galle Face Green.
The Colombo airport location is about 20 miles (32 km) from central Colombo in Katunayake. The airport connects to over 50 destinations with more than 30 international carriers. You will meet with three terminals at the airport: Terminals 1 and 2 handle international flights, while Terminal 3 is for domestic ones. You will find duty-free shops (electronics, teas, handicrafts) and lounges like the Lotus Lounge for Priority Pass holders. You can also use SIM card kiosks for major Sri Lanka network providers like Dialog, Mobitel, or Hutch here.
Any tourist can reach Colombo easily from many places around the world. Looking for flights London Colombo Sri Lanka? You can fly directly with Sri Lankan Airlines in about 10-11 hours. One-way tickets usually cost $400-$600, depending on the season. Looking to visit from Japan to Colombo? You can take flights via Tokyo or Osaka with carriers like Japan Airlines or Sri Lankan Airlines, taking 9-12 hours, tickets starting at $500-$800. Looking to visit from the USA to Colombo? There are no direct flights, so you will connect through hubs like Doha, Dubai, or Singapore. These trips take 18-24 hours, and tickets start at $800-$1,200. Book early for deals, especially during off-peak seasons (Apr – Jul).
Colombo operates on Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST), UTC+5:30. The city does not have daylight saving time, so the time difference stays the same all year. For example, London is 4.5 hours behind Colombo, Japan is 3.5 hours ahead, and New York is 9.5 hours behind. Check the time difference before planning calls or your arrival.
Colombo has plenty of places to stay for tourists. Whether you are looking for an affordable guesthouse or a luxurious 5-star hotel, Colombo caters to every tourist’s needs.
This 5-star hotel, located near Colombo centre, has 541 rooms and offers tons of amenities. Tourists can book deluxe rooms, suites, and serviced apartments with city or ocean views as they wish here. As for amenities, you will find a large outdoor pool, spa, gym, several dining options, high-speed Wi-Fi, event space, and excellent city access. The Colombo Shangri La hotel offers an unforgettable experience with its broad price range for stays.
Starting from around $150 - $250 per night. These rooms are typically around 452 sq ft.
Guests in these rooms receive exclusive Horizon Club Lounge access, along with complimentary daily high tea, happy hour, and canapés.
Prices generally start from $320 - $350+ per night.
Executive Suites - Starting from around $450 - $500+ per night. Includes Horizon Club privileges.
One-Bedroom Apartments - Starting from around $450 - $500+ per night.
Two-Bedroom Apartments - Prices will be higher, likely starting from $600+ per night, depending on occupancy and views.
Specialty Suites - These are more luxurious suites, so the prices can be significantly higher, starting from $700+.
Shangri-La Suite - This is the top-tier suite.
This popular 5-star hotel located in Colombo 2 has 501 rooms, from deluxe to premium suites. It features 7 restaurants (including the highly regarded Lagoon seafood and Nuga Gama village experience), two pools, a spa, fitness centers, and shops. The Lagoon is great for seafood, and Nuga Gama offers village-style dining. Cinnamon Grand Colombo offers an unforgettable experience with their broad price range for stays.
Starting from around $80 - $120 per night for standard or king/double rooms.
Executive rooms might range from $175 - $200+ per night, often including executive lounge access.
Suites (Premium, Executive, Premier) can go from $200 upwards, with Presidential Suites being considerably more expensive.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is another popular 5-star hotel located in Colombo 2. This hotel offers over 300 rooms, including club rooms and lake-view suites with lounge access. It features multiple restaurants, tennis courts, a large pool, a gym, a spa, and a serene setting by Beira Lake. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo offers an unforgettable experience with their broad price range for stays.
Starting from around $70 - $120 per night. These rooms offer city or lake/pool views for tourists.
These rooms offer access to an executive lounge, including benefits like complimentary breakfast, evening cocktails, and private check-in/out.
Prices for Executive Rooms usually start from $170 - $270+ per night.
Junior Suites - These are larger rooms that come with lounge access. Prices can start from $250 - $350+ per night.
Cilantro Suites - These are more spacious rooms that come with executive lounge access and may feature a balcony or terrace. Prices will be higher, likely starting from $350 - $600+ per night.
This 4-star hotel is located in Colombo 3, right by the beach. Marino Beach Colombo offers over 300 rooms, including ocean-view suites and family rooms. Visitors can enjoy an infinity pool, gym, and restaurants serving Sri Lankan and international food here. Marino Beach Colombo offers an unforgettable experience with their broad price range for stays.
Starting from around $75 - $120 per night. These rooms offer city, partial sea, or full sea views. Many of these rooms include a complimentary city tour and access to the beach lounge.
Signature Sea View Rooms - These rooms offer direct sea views. Prices generally start from $120 - $200+ per night.
Signature Plus Sea View Rooms – These larger rooms also offer sea views with many other benefits. Prices are typically higher, starting from $200 - $300+ per night.
Signature Sea View One Bedroom Suite - These are significantly larger rooms and offer expansive sea views for visitors. Prices for these suites can start from $330 - $400+ per night.
You'll find this modern 4-star hotel conveniently located close to the World Trade Centre. It offers 33 rooms, a rooftop terrace, a cocktail bar, and a restaurant. Colombo City Hotel offers an unforgettable experience with its broad price range for stays.
Standard Room - Around $33 - $42 per night.
Deluxe Room - Around $45 - $79 per night.
Double Room - Around $54 per night.
Are you planning a Colombo trip? Then you must visit these places.
Colombo 7, also called Cinnamon Gardens, is the city’s upscale residential area. Here you can explore leafy streets and old colonial buildings. The National Museum is one of the favorite spots among tourists in Colombo 7. If you are looking to spend some relaxing time, visit the Independence Memorial Hall. This place is very popular among joggers and couples. Colombo 7 also has Colombo's oldest and largest public park, Vihara Mahadevi Park. Visitors enjoy the peaceful walking paths and the lake in this green park.
South Colombo covers suburbs like Mount Lavinia and Wellawatte. Tourists visit Mount Lavinia to relax, sunbathe, enjoy its lovely sandy beach, and eat at beachside food stalls. Wellawatte is a lively area with shops selling textiles and jewelry. You can also find restaurants serving South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes here. If you are a budget traveler looking for local experiences and affordable shopping, this is the perfect area for you.
Western Colombo refers to the broader Colombo District, including the city and suburbs like Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. If you are visiting Western Colombo, you must visit the Dehiwala Zoological Garden and the scenic Galle Face Green. This large oceanfront park is a perfect place for evening walks, flying kites, or trying street food like isso wade (prawn fritters).
Colombo has every type of food to fill your taste buds.
In the city, visitors try delicious foods blending local Sri Lankan dishes and international flavors. Here are some must-try dishes for every visitor.
Hoppers (appa) and Kottu Roti – These signature Sri Lankan dishes are widely popular in Colombo. Hoppers are crispy, bowl-shaped pancakes, often paired with egg or curry. Kottu Roti is a chopped flatbread dish mixed with veggies, egg, and meat.
Rice and Curry - Common meal with spicy curries, sambols, and vegetables.
Watalappan - A creamy coconut custard dessert.
Seafood - Fresh crab, prawns, and fish are abundant, especially at renowned restaurants like Ministry of Crab.
Colombo Kitchen, located in Colombo 3, is a great spot for hoppers and kottu roti. It is a casual restaurant with bright, lively, and dish prices ranging from $3-$10. Visitors enjoy the authentic tastes and vegetarian options here.
Your Colombo trip will not be truly completed if you do not shop in Colombo. It is a unique experience every visitor must try at least once when visiting Colombo.
Colombo has a variety of places to shop. Pettah Market is at the top of this list with a maze of stalls selling spices, textiles, jewelry, and souvenirs. It’s perfect for bargain hunters. For a more modern shopping experience, you can visit Marino Mall in Colombo 3. Here you can find international brands, a food court, and Bellagio Casino. Looking for special souvenirs? Visit Barefoot, located in Colombo 4. This unique store and café got high-quality handicrafts, books, and textiles.
Just off the Galle Face promenade, this bold land reclamation project is set to evolve into a cutting-edge financial center. As of today, it is still under development, so tourist access is limited. But you can enjoy waterfront walks and see the upcoming Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, a 7-star hotel with amazing views here.
Colombo has a warm, tropical climate with temperatures between 25-32°C (77-90°F) all year. The city experiences two monsoon seasons.
May to August (southwest monsoon) brings heavy rain
October to January (northeast monsoon) has lighter showers.
The ideal time to explore Colombo is from January to March, when the days are sunny and dry. Humidity is high (70-90%), so bring light, comfortable clothes and an umbrella for unexpected rain.
Colombo is renowned for its colonial history, diverse culture, and role as Sri Lanka’s business and financial center. World-famous attractions like Gangaramaya Temple, Pettah Market, and Galle Face Green add to Colombo's popularity. Visitors also love Colombo for the great food, easily accessible beaches, and cultural sites in the city.
Colombo 1 to 15 are the city’s postal code zones, each representing a distinct neighborhood. These zones make it easier to explore the city.
Colombo is a safe city for tourists. Visitors love the friendly and lively atmosphere around the city. However, take normal precautions: avoid quiet areas at night, keep your belongings safe in crowded places like Pettah Market, and check local updates, especially during monsoon seasons when flooding can happen.
Colombo is a dynamic destination for tourists. Thanks to its deep-rooted history, cultural vibrancy, and modern vibe, Colombo is the perfect place to start your Sri Lanka trip. You can enjoy an experience you have never had before in your life in this awesome city. Grab some kottu roti by the sea at Galle Face, dive into Pettah's energetic markets, or relax at a 5-star hotel like Shangri-La, Colombo got it all. So, plan your trip, pack for the climate, and get ready for an amazing adventure in Colombo.
( 0 ) Comments