Top 10 Things to Do in Colombo

This eclectic and enormously popular Buddhist temple beside Beira Lake is a fascinating blend of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural influences, and houses one of the most unusual collections of Buddha images, antique automobiles, and devotional objects in Asia. The weekly Vesak poya ceremony here draws thousands of worshippers.

Colombo's oldest and most frenetic bazaar district is an overwhelming sensory experience — each street specializes in a different commodity, from electronics and fabrics to spices, jewelry, and fresh fish. The 18th-century Dutch-built Pettah market hall at its center is one of the finest colonial market buildings surviving in South Asia.

Just 12 kilometers south of central Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the capital region's most beloved beach suburb, with a golden stretch of sand, excellent seafood restaurants, and the legendary colonial-era Mount Lavinia Hotel as its centerpiece. Watching the sun sink over the Indian Ocean from a beachside restaurant here is an essential Colombo experience.

One of the oldest colonial buildings in Colombo, this former 17th-century Dutch East India Company hospital has been beautifully restored into a premium dining and shopping precinct in the heart of the Fort district. Its breezy colonnaded corridors house some of Colombo's finest restaurants and boutiques.

Founded in 1877, Sri Lanka's national museum houses the world's finest collection of Sinhalese art and royal regalia, including the sword and throne of the last king of Kandy, taken by the British in 1815. Its collection of temple bronzes, ceremonial masks, and prehistoric artifacts makes it essential for understanding the island's extraordinary cultural heritage.

One of the three most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Kelaniya on the banks of the Kelani River is believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself on his third visit to the island. The recently renovated frescoes inside the main hall depicting scenes from the Jataka tales are among the finest examples of Sri Lankan Buddhist art.

The tallest tower in South Asia at 356 meters, the Colombo Lotus Tower dominates the city skyline with its striking lotus-blossom-inspired design in national flag colors. The observation deck and revolving restaurant at the top offer unprecedented 360-degree views across the city to the ocean and green hills beyond.

The colonial heart of Colombo contains some of the finest British-era architecture in Asia — the Old Parliament, the Grand Oriental Hotel, the Customs House, and the still-functioning Chatham Street lined with gem merchants. Guided heritage walks through the Fort reveal a layered history of Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule that shaped the city.

Colombo's oldest and largest public park is a beautifully maintained green space in the heart of the city, featuring a giant reclining Buddha, ornamental ponds, a children's amusement park, and avenues of ancient trees. The park was named for Queen Viharamahadevi, mother of King Dutugamunu, and remains the city's most cherished urban lung.

This eclectic and enormously popular Buddhist temple beside Beira Lake is a fascinating blend of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural influences, and houses one of the most unusual collections of Buddha images, antique automobiles, and devotional objects in Asia. The weekly Vesak poya ceremony here draws thousands of worshippers.

Colombo's oldest and most frenetic bazaar district is an overwhelming sensory experience — each street specializes in a different commodity, from electronics and fabrics to spices, jewelry, and fresh fish. The 18th-century Dutch-built Pettah market hall at its center is one of the finest colonial market buildings surviving in South Asia.

Just 12 kilometers south of central Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the capital region's most beloved beach suburb, with a golden stretch of sand, excellent seafood restaurants, and the legendary colonial-era Mount Lavinia Hotel as its centerpiece. Watching the sun sink over the Indian Ocean from a beachside restaurant here is an essential Colombo experience.

One of the oldest colonial buildings in Colombo, this former 17th-century Dutch East India Company hospital has been beautifully restored into a premium dining and shopping precinct in the heart of the Fort district. Its breezy colonnaded corridors house some of Colombo's finest restaurants and boutiques.

Founded in 1877, Sri Lanka's national museum houses the world's finest collection of Sinhalese art and royal regalia, including the sword and throne of the last king of Kandy, taken by the British in 1815. Its collection of temple bronzes, ceremonial masks, and prehistoric artifacts makes it essential for understanding the island's extraordinary cultural heritage.

One of the three most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Kelaniya on the banks of the Kelani River is believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself on his third visit to the island. The recently renovated frescoes inside the main hall depicting scenes from the Jataka tales are among the finest examples of Sri Lankan Buddhist art.

The tallest tower in South Asia at 356 meters, the Colombo Lotus Tower dominates the city skyline with its striking lotus-blossom-inspired design in national flag colors. The observation deck and revolving restaurant at the top offer unprecedented 360-degree views across the city to the ocean and green hills beyond.

The colonial heart of Colombo contains some of the finest British-era architecture in Asia — the Old Parliament, the Grand Oriental Hotel, the Customs House, and the still-functioning Chatham Street lined with gem merchants. Guided heritage walks through the Fort reveal a layered history of Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule that shaped the city.

Colombo's oldest and largest public park is a beautifully maintained green space in the heart of the city, featuring a giant reclining Buddha, ornamental ponds, a children's amusement park, and avenues of ancient trees. The park was named for Queen Viharamahadevi, mother of King Dutugamunu, and remains the city's most cherished urban lung.