We spent two days in Colombo, starting and finishing our week visit to Sri Lanka in the capital city. We spent the first day exploring the Fort area and the second with a stroll along Galle Face Green and around Beira Lake. Note: Colombo is hot, with an average daily high of 31 °C (88 °F). Sightseeing needs to be done at a leisurely pace with plenty of opportunities to rehydrate.
How to get to Colombo
Colombo is situated on the east coast of the island of Sri Lanka. The country’s main airport, Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, is actually 20 miles north of Colombo, close to the coastal city of Negombo. It is possible to reach Colombo from the airport by regular bus and express bus. As our flights were late at night, we opted for a taxi. The drive takes around 40 minutes and costs approximately $20-$30, depending on the traffic and time of day. You can book a taxi in the arrivals hall.
Getting around Colombo
My two day itinerary consists of two walking routes. Day 1 is a circuit which covers just under two miles – a pleasant, if rather sweaty walk. However, there are plenty of bars at the Dutch Hospital for a cooling drink. Day 2 consists of another two mile walk along the seafront and round the lake. From here, we completed our journey by flagging down a tuk tuk.
Where to stay in Colombo
We stayed at the Fairway Colombo, which is conveniently situated opposite the Dutch Hospital precinct with its plethora of bars and restaurants. The hotel is wonderfully clean and very comfortable – an oasis of cool and calm in a hot, hectic city. In addition, since our visit, the Fairway has even introduced its own robot for more efficient room service!
Colombo in 2 Days Itinerary
| Day 1 | Old Parliament Building Colombo Lighthouse Sambodhi Pagoda Temple Colombo Fort Clock Tower Dutch Hospital Dinner at King Crab Accommodation – Fairway Colombo |
| Day 2 | Galle Face Green Beira Lake Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre Gangaramaya Park Colombo Lotus Tower Dinner at the Dutch Pub |
Colombo Day 1
Old Parliament Building
The grand Old Parliament Building dates from the 1930s and the British Colonial era. It now houses the Presidential Secretariat.
Colombo Lighthouse
On to Colombo Lighthouse, which was built in the 1950s. Now somewhat further inland than it used to be, the lighthouse is constructed on a 12 metre concrete base, which you can climb for a panoramic view of the surrounding port area and the Indian Ocean beyond.
Security here is tight – a man with a rifle told us we couldn’t take photos because we were near the naval base.
Sambodhi Pagoda Temple
Sambodhi Pagoda Temple is a Buddhist shrine overlooking Colombo Harbour. It was built in the 1950s by the Colombo Port Authority and sits on a concrete platform, reached via a 123 step walkway, so that it was visible to sailors offshore.
Colombo Fort Clock Tower
The Colombo Fort Clock Tower was built in 1857. It used to serve as a lighthouse, but more recent development has obscured the view.
Theoretically we have walked 3 sides of a square so it should be a short walk back to our hotel by the Dutch Hospital. However, the road passes police headquarters and a man with a rifle won’t let us pass. I can’t face the long walk back so try begging and pointing out how sweaty I am. The guard takes pity and lets us through.
Dutch Hospital
The 17th Century former Dutch Hospital complex has been restored and converted into bougie shops, restaurants and bars. A great place to relax and escape the heat of the day.
Dinner at King Crab
After a pitcher of beer to cool down, we have dinner; a Sri Lankan curry from King Crab, which is incredibly hot. Then it’s time to head to the hotel to pack for tomorrow’s rail extravaganza.
Accommodation – Fairway Colombo
We return to our hotel; the very pleasant Fairway Colombo. After a long shower, we settle down to sleep in our pristine sheets.
Colombo Day 2
Galle Face Green
After breakfast, we take a walk along Galle Face Green. It’s a British style seaside prom. There’s even a memorial from its opening by Sir Henry Ward in 1859, in which he recommends the prom ‘to his successors in the interest of the ladies and children of Colombo’.
Unfortunately, Henry would be turning in his grave if he could see it now; it’s a filthy mess of garbage which makes me long for the beaches of Bournemouth.
Beira Lake
Next, we head for Beira Lake, in theory. In practice, the old man has counted that it’s 4th on the left on the map, but upon walking, he only counts the major roads. So we massively overshoot and have to double back. It’s very hot, so the extra walking is not appreciated.
The artificial lake date back to the 16th Century, when it was constructed by the Portuguese as part of the city’s defences. Under Dutch occupation, the lake was enlarged and under the British, the land around the shores was developed (and the crocodiles removed). The lake is pretty – if you can look past the line of rubbish around the edge- and has two islands; one is contains a Buddhist Temple and the other, a park.
Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre
Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre is a temple which was built in 1985. The temple sits on the lake, linked to the mainland by three floating platforms connected by bridges. The first platform holds a meditation room surrounded by bronze Buddhas. The second holds important Buddhist texts and may only be accessed by monks. The third platform has a courtyard centred around a sacred tree.
Gangaramaya Park
Gangaramaya Park is a small park set on an island, reached by a suspension bridge. It’s a nice place to sit in the shade and take a moment to relax and rehydrate.
Colombo Lotus Tower
Beira Lake is actually in two parts. Across the other side of the lake is Colombo Lotus Tower. At 351 metres tall, is South Asia’s tallest self-supported structure and the 19th tallest tower in the world. When we visited, the tower was still under construction, so we had to make do with admiring the distinctive green and purple tower from below.
You can now visit the the tower, which has 5 floors in the Base and a further 8 floors in Tower House (the pink bit at the top). In between is the Tower Body, which contains lifts including three that travel at 7 metres per second! You ascend from the Ground Floor, which contains a Food Court and Digital Art Museum, up past offices, a gaming arena, children’s play area, theatre, bar, revolving restaurant and apartments to the Observation Deck.
The tower is actually 1.5 miles away. It is possible to reach it by bus (or two buses, changing in Pettah), but it’s easier to just flag down a tuk tuk. We caught a tuk tuk back to the Dutch Hospital for refreshments.
Dinner at the Dutch Pub
We stop for a while at the Dutch Pub for a pitcher of beer to cool down and rehydrate and a snack.
- Trip Taken: April 2018
- Updated: November 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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