Colombo
Colombo is a wonderful blend of a rich ancient culture, astounding natural beauty and colonial era heritage. The place brims with incredible religious sites, cascading waterfalls, sun kissed beaches, mesmerising architectural wonders as well as contemporary facilities. A plethora of travellers looking for perfect vacation book flights to Colombo. The vivacious Pettah market with wonderful traditional items, chic restaurants with scrumptious cuisines, and world class hotels with incredible service and amenities all come together to make Colombo truly a top class destination.
Best Time to Visit Colombo
The best time to visit Colombo is generally considered the period between December to March. The weather is perfect for outdoor sightseeing as well as enjoying time on the beaches. However, since it is the peak time for tourism in the city, cheap flights to Colombo can be a bit hard to come by. On the other hand those who can brave the heavy rains are sure to be inundated with special off-season discounts that may land them up with cheap flights to Colombo.
Top Tourist Spots in Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial epicentre is an incredible tourist destination that is a mesmerising blend of new and old. Perfect for leisure travellers, Colombo offers many opportunities to the travellers to enjoy the wonderful Buddhist and colonial architecture as well as remarkable natural wonders like brilliant beaches and natural reserves. Colombo is indeed an attractive city that has been beguiling tourists from all over the world. From art galleries to religious sites, the city features a real plethora of tourist attractions to travellers who book air tickets to the destination.
- The National Museum of Colombo
- Colombo Zoological Gardens
- The Natural History Museum
- Wolvendaal Church
- Dehiwala Zoo
- Independence Memorial Hall
Shopping Attractions in Colombo
As the country’s business and financial centre, Colombo is not devoid of wonderful shopping options. Featuring both traditional and contemporary items on its shopping menu, Colombo is really the place to be for all those looking for ‘shop till you drop’ experience. Apart from the shopping arcades in different hotels, Colombo features a number of specialty shops catering to various tastes and budget ranges.
- Pettah
- Laksala
- Barefoot
- Paradise Road
- Odel
- Colombo Jewellery Stores
- Liberty Plaza
- Majestic City
Eating out in Colombo
Food is one of the major highlights of Colombo and features big on holidays to Sri Lanka. Colombo features a wide selection of eating joints that are sure to please even the most astute of foodie. The place brims with restaurants, fast food joints and coffee shops that serve a variety of Sri Lankan, South Asian, Western and fusion cuisines.
- Chutney’s
- The Gallery Cafe
- Chesa Swiss
- The Lagoon
- Navaratna
- London Grill
- Regina Margherita
Hotels in Colombo
Colombo is frequented by tourists all year round and thus the city has sprouted a number of hotels that suit every kind of budget and taste. The abundance of cheap hotels in Colombo makes it very convenient for the backpackers to enjoy their stint in the nation’s commercial centre. Some of the popular hotels are:
- Casa Colombo Hotel
- Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo
- Galadari Hotel Colombo
- Hilton Colombo Hotel
- Hilton Residence Hotel Colombo
- Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo
Airports in Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport, also known as the Colombo International Airport, is Sri Lanka’s only international airport and every international flight to Colombo lands up here. It is located at a distance of nearly 35 km north of Colombo. The airport is the hub of SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier as well as Mihin Lanka, the low-cost airline of Sri Lanka. Bandaranaike International Airport offers a range of facilities for its passengers like parking spaces, hotels, bars, duty-free shops and a VIP lounge.
Getting around in Colombo
Colombo offers a range of options as far as public transportation is concerned. Taxis are one of the better modes of conveyance for the tourists with number of companies operating taxi services. The most common mode of transport in Colombo is tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled automobile. It is a wonderful ride that adds fun and colour to your journey. However, travellers are advised to make sure that they decide upon a fare before staring upon the journey. For budget travellers, bus is the best option to move around in the city as they are extremely cheap but overcrowded.
Colombo Travel Tips
Colombo itself is generally safe for tourists but there are certain parts in Sri Lanka that are considered dangerous for tourists. Contact FCO for more up to date information regarding the situation in Sri Lanka.
While violent crimes against foreigners are pretty rare however it helps to take basic safety precautions and measures.
Women should not travel alone in the night. Even couples should avoid travelling in the night and must keep to areas that are crowded and well lit.
Colombo is a popular tourist destination and thus has its own share of pitfalls and one of them is touts. Train stations are favourite hang-outs for touts and scam artists who may approach foreigners to ask for their help or donation.
(Note: This destination guide is based on information gathered from reliable resources available on the internet and provides only general information about the destination. Southall Travel holds no responsibility for any misrepresentation of facts and shall not be in any way liable for any kind of eventuality such as damages, loss, additional costs etc arising from the use of information given in this guide).
