Private Half-Day Colombo City Tour
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Colombo, Sri Lanka
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Learn about the history and culture of Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city, on this half-day private tour. Visit key landmarks including the Old Parliament building, Vihara Buddhist Temple, and St Lucia's Cathedral to learn more about the unique history and culture of Sri Lanka. Enjoy personalized attention and a flexible itinerary on this private tour, including private hotel transportation, for just you and your party.
- Discover the best of Colombo on a half-day tour
- Gain insight into the history of the city from your guide
- Feel free to customize the itinerary to your preferences
- A private guide and vehicle ensure a personalized experience
What's Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Parking Fees
- All Entrance Fees
- Tips, gratuities and expenses of personal nature
- Foods and drinks
- Port entrance fee $ 20 USD per tour payable directly to the guide
- Airport pickup fee 15 USD. Pickup & drop off after tour 25 USD
- Entrance fee - Colombo City Tour
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
All guest houses, homestay units and AirBnB.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Itinerary
Old Parliament Building (Pass By)
Beira Lake (Pass By)
1
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Pettah
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Pettah Floating Market (Pass By)
5
New Kathiresan Kovil
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
St Lucia's Cathedral
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
7
Premadasa & Co. (Jewellers) Ltd
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Old Kathiresan Temple
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise TOUR START TIME you prefer would like to secure at the time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 128 reviews
rob_s, Feb 2026
Shiraz, our guide, was excellent. He is very knowledgeable on all topics and offered a perfect experience. He treated us to coconut and snacks. As a native of Colombo, he shared great knowledge. Recommend him as your guide
JoAnn_S, Feb 2026
Had a great half day driving tour, particularly because of our tour guide Kuma. He was exceedingly knowledgeable about every site we visited and gave us a tour. He was also very flexible with the changes we wanted to make.
Eric_H, Jan 2026
Perera was fantastic - a wealth of information along with all of the sights to go with it. We came in at 12PM, he picked us up with a sign at arrivals, and took us out on a great adventure. We were back to the airport at 6PM, right on time for our next flight.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're delighted your layover turned into a memorable adventure with our knowledgeable guide and seamless timing.
We truly appreciate your recommendation—it helps fellow travelers discover Sri Lanka's magic. Looking forward to hosting you again!
Warm regards,
Pathum
AnneMaree_D, Aug 2025
Excellent tour. Godfrey our driver was so knowledgeable & kept us informed with much history & local knowledge. Adapted the day to suit our interests. Perfect introduction to Colombo.
Zohra_P, Apr 2025
This was an excellent trip. Shimaz was an excellent guide. And the most amazing person to go on a tour with. He was very generous and accommodating, and we loved every minute of it. We highly recommend using him.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad you had a great trip with Shimaz and enjoyed your time. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Nancy_H, Mar 2025
I was hoping for a good tour guide and I got a great one! Shimaz was very knowledgeable and spoke English proficiently. He showed us everything the tour description listed and then some additional sites which were absolutely outstanding. He even included a stop for local ice cream and a local textile venue. Thank you!
Lesley_C, Feb 2025
Driver was so pleasant. Vehicle was clean and air conditioned and he tailored the trip to places of interest that we would like to see. Shared information with us too. Highly recommended.
martyn_B, Feb 2025
Fantastic tour by Maz and driver. Superb morning with excellent knowledge of Colombo, its heritage and traditions. Car was air conditioned with water available. Not to be missed. Five star service.
Rick_B, Jan 2025
The car was comfortable, our guide knowledgeable and that combo made the tour a great experience.
Colombo has a lot to offer and our guide was wonderful at presenting it to us
Chris_H, Dec 2024
Good content on this trip for overview of old and new Colombo. Guide was great. Flexible tour so could stop longer where you wanted.
Sachin_S, May 2024
Shimaz was an excellent tour guide. He was extremely friendly, has lived in the UK so is completely fluent in English and is an official government registered tour guide which was clear to see by the quality of the tour. He was very knowledgable about Sri Lanka and its history and very flexible on timings and itinerary options. We would thoroughly recommend to anyone looking for a great tour of Colombo!
Hector_L, May 2024
We had a great tour experience. The tour guide/driver, Rajeewa, was punctual and the vehicle was clean. He did an outstanding job showing providing us insightful information about Colombo.
Carissa_D, Mar 2024
My guide Tharaka was so knowledgeable and really made the experience great! He knows so much about the history of Sri Lanka and Colombo, it was a great first day to start my trip!
scott_e, Mar 2024
Our Guide Ushan was excellent. Gave us a great overview of the city , its people and their culture. Highly recommend
Gillian_E, Feb 2024
We chose a private tour of Colombo and our tour guide was Ushan from Sri Lanka Car. It proved to be a wise decision as Ushan was a perfect tour guide and his car was a wonderful cool oasis. We either visited or drove past the usual spots, Independence square, the Lotus Tower, Khan clock tower, world trade centre, Old Dutch hospital, St Lucia's church, Berla Lake and the Red mosque. But the highlight was the Gangaramaya Temple which was magnificent, so much to see, so much history and we learnt so much from Ushan. A great tour, thank you.
Nashmea_N, Feb 2024
The driver was very courteous and informative. He explained very clearly the history behind each sites and answered our questions. He was also very flexible with our requests and took us to an amazing gem store.
Andrew_P, Feb 2024
Complete tour with experienced and enthusiastic guide. Highly recommend this tour for everyone who has time limitations and wants to get to know the city's highlights.
Peter_D, Feb 2024
Our guide Tharaka M Perera picked us up from our hotel, our first stop the Aśōkārāma Temple. Tharaka told us about the history of Bhudism and how it came to Sri Lanka 2400 years ago, as well as the history of the temple. We also visited Independence Square and spent lots of time in the local markets - truly amazing. Tharaka never rushed us, was always helpful and showed his true love for Sri Lanka and its people the entire day. He is one of the best guides we've and highly recommend you request him by name if possible
Timothy_R, Jan 2024
Tour guide and driver not located at cruise ship or gate to port as noted in announcement by Viator. Tour never given or taken. Guide texted well after tour scheduled he/she was now at separate gate a long way from ship. Full refund requested and expected.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach the client via email, text, or WhatsApp messaging. We have documentation of these attempts, revealing no replies from the client.
While we deeply regret any inconvenience caused, we must emphasize that we cannot be held solely responsible for the your lack of communication.
Alex_H, Jan 2024
Another excellent Viator tour with John. Very informative with an excellent manner of describing what we were seeing. Definitely our man for any future visit to Colombo! Alex H
Ashling_B, Jan 2024
We had an awesome day with our guide Tharaka. He was lovely, knowledgeable and accomodating. He took us to a great spot for lunch and was able to fit in a lot in a short period of time. Would definitely recommend, Thank you😊
Cynthia_T, Jan 2024
Loved the Hindu temple. The colorful exterior was beautiful and unique. Gangarama was exquisite. Don’t miss it. Our guide Nelson did a very good
Job explaining things
Deborah_D, Jan 2024
Lotus Tower, temple, eating local ice cream. Our driver was knowledgeable and accommodating
He shared insider's knowledge of the city.
Nivya_M, Jan 2024
Our guide Shimaz was extremely professional and very knowledgeable. The tour was exceptionally well planned with many photo stops. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves
Mel_M, Dec 2023
Our guide Shimaz met us at the gate of the cruise terminal as arranged and together with his driver Jonathan we visited many of the key places to see and learn about in Colombo. Shimaz proved to be a really excellent guide with a good command of English, very knowledgeable and extremely personable.
If you want to see the highlights of Colombo, you couldn’t have a better guide and driver
Jan_H, Dec 2023
Diilan was a great tour guide, very pleasant and flexible, taking us wherever we wanted to go. He was knowledgeable and took us to a great Sri Lankan restaurant for lunch. certainly recommended
Deanne_M, Nov 2023
The food, temples, culture
Our guide was so informative friendly and fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble and we personalised this trip as we went along
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your delightful experience with your guide. It's heartwarming to hear that their knowledge, friendliness, and willingness to accommodate made your trip truly memorable. Personalized travel experiences have a special touch, and we're glad you had the opportunity to craft your own adventure. Embracing the local cuisine, immersing yourself in the temples' spiritual ambiance, and delving into the rich cultural tapestry must have been truly enriching. Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your Sri Lankan journey.
Renee_K, Nov 2023
Our guide did a wonderful time for us. Our ship was hours late but he waited for us! The temple was the highlight.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with your guide. It's heartwarming to hear that he went the extra mile to accommodate your delayed arrival, ensuring that you didn't miss out on the enriching experience of visiting the temple. His dedication to providing exceptional service despite unforeseen circumstances is truly commendable. We appreciate your kind words and will ensure that he continues to receive recognition for his outstanding commitment to our guests.
Lorraine_H, Nov 2023
Guide was very knowledgeable and helpful as we wanted to add on specific visits. His English was excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with your guide. We are delighted to hear that you found him to be knowledgeable, helpful, and accommodating. His excellent English skills undoubtedly enhanced your understanding and overall experience. We appreciate your feedback and will ensure that he continues to receive recognition for his exceptional service.
Matthew_T, Nov 2023
John was an outstanding tour guide - all 6 of us were very satisfied - he was knowledgeable and very helpful epecially to our disabled lady. He is an asset - highly recommended.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with your tour guide John. It is heartwarming to hear that he made your Sri Lankan adventure enjoyable and memorable for all six of you. His knowledge, helpfulness, and attentiveness to your group's needs, especially the disabled lady, are truly commendable. We are delighted that John's dedication to providing exceptional service contributed to a positive and memorable experience for everyone. Your kind words and high recommendation of John are greatly appreciated. We are honored to have been a part of your remarkable Sri Lankan experience.
regards,
team #srilankabycar
From $60.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Half-Day Colombo City Tour
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