Itineraries for Your Trip to Colombo
1 Day in Colombo for First Timers
Sri Lanka’s capital buries its notable landmarks inside a vast urban sprawl, making it hard for newbies to spot the gems. Yet while "pretty" isn’t the word for this hectic city, its charms creep up on you—something I’ve learned over return trips to what is, officially, my hometown. Several homestays and sightseeing jaunts have seen me fall in love with Colombo’s best bits: its endless happy people, incredible hospitality, and the calm of its temples, leafy suburbs, and lush parks. Add its sea-battered beaches, grand colonial-era hotels, and amazing food, and this is one metropolis that deserves a closer look. If you can only give Colombo a day, here’s my itinerary for sampling this boundlessly welcoming city.
In the May-September monsoon, Colombo’s rains hit at random times of day, so always carry an umbrella.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Pettah Market.
Colombo’s traffic is notoriously heavy, so the best way to see the sights is by tuk-tuk. The chauffeured, if rattly, 3-wheeler cuts through the congestion quickly. However you travel, most city tours include door-to-door transport and cover the highlights in a few hours, showcasing must-sees like the lakeside Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square, Colombo Fort district, and Galle Face Green in one fun morning foray. Some tours stop at state-run gift stores like Laksala, injecting souvenir shopping into your schedule.
Now that you’re more attuned to the city, it’s time to delve deeper. One of the most evocative ways to get under Colombo’s skin is via its food scene. Book a market-and-cooking tour to its busiest shopping haunt—Pettah Market. You'll be guided around its noisy produce halls to watch locals shop and buy culinary staples. You’ll spend the rest of the afternoon in a cooking class, learning how to prepare a classic Sri Lankan dish like curry and rice from the ingredients and spices purchased at the market.
Food and socializing go together in Colombo, so finish with a tour of street snacks. Join an evening tuk-tuk food tour and admire the illuminated sights en route to markets and stalls in lively nightlife areas. Sample everything from homegrown Ceylon coffee to gooey cheese kottu. End at the nightly street food market at Galle Face Green to try fish curry and paratha bread as the sun sets over the ocean.