Sri Lanka’s largest city is a colourful, energetic introduction to the island – equal parts colonial history, modern commerce and street-level charm. Most visitors pass through en route to the rest of the country, but Colombo rewards a day or two of exploration in its own right.
The Fort district, once the seat of Portuguese and Dutch trading power, now mixes historic landmarks with Colombo’s business core, while the nearby Pettah bazaar bursts with colour, spices and everyday commerce. Culture lovers should visit the Colombo National Museum, the lakeside Gangaramaya Temple, and the striped red-and-white Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, before winding down at Galle Face Green for an oceanfront sunset.
- Colombo Fort and its colonial architecture
- The Colombo National Museum’s vast collections
- Gangaramaya Temple beside Beira Lake
- Galle Face Green’s seafront promenade