West
Colombo
The island's cosmopolitan gateway.
Most journeys begin and end here, and the city rewards the hours you give it. Colombo is a working port capital where colonial arcades, Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and glass towers share the same few streets.
A half-day is enough for the essentials; a full day lets you eat properly, browse the design shops and watch the sun go down over the Indian Ocean from Galle Face Green.
Highlights
What you do here.
Pettah and the old quarter
A guided walk through the market district, the Red Mosque and the spice-scented lanes behind the harbour.
Colombo by table
Hoppers for breakfast, a curry lunch at a family kitchen, and a modern Sri Lankan tasting menu after dark.
Sunset on the green
Kite-flyers and street food along Galle Face, ending with a drink looking out over the water.
