Colombo Travel Guide: Best Things to Do in One Day

I ended my Sri Lanka trip here and spent a couple of days exploring before flying out. My conclusion: Colombo is worth visiting, but one full day (two nights) is enough.

Beware of scams: In central areas, especially around Pettah and Galle Face, you may encounter friendly “guides” who try to lead you to shops or tuk‑tuk drivers offering “special tours.” A polite but firm “no, thank you” works best.

If you want an organized tour with a tuk-tuk, consider booking one through Klook or GetYourGuide.

The Perfect 1-day Itinerary of Colombo

Lunch

• Beira Lake
  A quieter break after Pettah. You can grab lunch nearby and enjoy the lakeside views before continuing. Option: There’s a nearby skyscraper with a 360-degree viewing deck called Lotus Tower, offering a full panorama of Colombo and its surroundings.

Things to Do in Colombo

National Museum

The National Museum offers insight to the Sri Lanka’s history, culture and the ancient kingdoms. Inside, you’ll find ancient statues of Buddha and Hindu gods, along with traditional weapons, coins masks and tool that showcase how people lived in the past.

If you enjoy history, it’s definitely worth a visit.

• Opening Hours: Tue– Sat 9 AM–5PM
• Cost: $5 USD for adult / $2.5 USD for children

Pettah Market

Pettah Market is one of Colombo’s busiest and most chaotic open‑air markets. It’s colorful, loud, crowded, and full of energy — vendors calling out prices, carts squeezing through the crowds, and the smell of street food, spices, and fruit drifting past as you walk.

Here you can find anything you need and then some: fabric sold by the meter, fake Gucci bags, fresh produce, spices, and electronics. I didn’t see many traditional souvenirs, though, as the market caters primarily to locals. Still, it’s an excellent place to wander, bargain, and watch everyday life. There are plenty of restaurants as well, and because they serve mostly locals, they’re very affordable.

• Opening Hours: If you’re just exploring and not planning to buy produce, you can visit at any time from morning to late evening. If you want to buy fresh fruit or vegetables, come in the morning when the produce is at its best.

Visit the Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque)

The Red Mosque — formally called Jami Ul‑Alfar Mosque — was completed in 1909. It isn’t particularly old, yet still making it one of the oldest mosques in Colombo. What makes it worth a stop is it’s unique white and red candy-striped facade.

• Opening Hours: The mosque is open to tourists from 9:30 AM–11:30 AM and 4:00 PM–5:30 PM, Saturday to Thursday. On Fridays, visiting is limited to 4:00 PM–5:30 PM. Visitors must use the designated tourist entrance.
• Dress code: Men must wear full-length pants, and women should cover their hair, arms, and legs.
• Cost: Free

Beira Lake area for Lunch

Beira Lake was once home to many crocodiles, reportedly introduced by the Dutch to prevent enslaved people from escaping across the water. Today it sits right in the middle of the capital and makes a calm spot to grab a coffee and take a break — though it also serves as a reminder of how brutal the colonial period was. There used to be a floating market here, but it has mostly disappeared, leaving only a few tired‑looking shops aimed at tourists.

• Cost: ~$2 USD
• Dress code: Men and women must cover their shoulders and knees. Long trousers or long skirts are required, and sleeveless tops should be avoided. Remove shoes.

Lotus Tower

Lotus Tower is the highest skyscraper in Sri Lanka. Its observation deck offers a 360‑degree view of the city, the Indian Ocean and the lush inland landscape. It sits along the banks of Beira Lake and it’s striking to look at from a distance if you’re not keen on taking the elevator up, as the ticket price is on the higher side.

• Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–11 PM
• Cost for foreigners: $20 USD for adults / $10 USD for children between 3-10 years / Free for children under 3.

Tickets include access to the observation deck and the digital art space called Pixel Boom.

Gangaramaya Temple

Along the edge of Beira Lake lies Gangaramaya Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo. Completed in the late 19^th century and is considered one of the city’s most significant Buddhist temples. Its mix of modern and traditional architecture, along with its museum‑like collection of statues and relics, makes it a fascinating place to explore.

Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil

If you’re already at Gangaramaya, it’s only a short tuk‑tuk ride to Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil. This is one of Colombo’s oldest and most atmospheric Hindu temples, even though — like most religious sites in the city — it’s only a couple of hundred years old.

The temple is dedicated to the gods Ganesha and Shiva, and its South Indian influence is immediately clear. The exterior is covered in an enormous number of colourful statues and carvings, while the interior is filled with more sculptures and detailed murals. It’s a vibrant contrast to the Buddhist temples nearby and well worth the stop.

Sunset at Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green is a lively oceanfront stretch of grass, right beside the Indian ocean. It’s one of the city’s popular spots for evening walks, street food, kite flying, and simply unwinding by the water.

The food stalls are half the fun. You can graze your way through shrimp cakes like Isso Wade, piles of Kottu, and all sorts of sweets. I’m always curious to try everything, and I remember buying one colorful mystery sweet from an older gentleman. It looked beautiful — bright, sugary, colorful — but underneath the sugar was what felt like actual tree bark. That caught me off guard. I gave it a fair attempt, but in the end I spat it out. I’m adventurous, but I’m not a beaver. Later I learned that what I was eating was most likely made from the Caryota urens palm.

A large modern mall is also nearby if you feel like doing some shopping before or after the sunset. It’s mostly international brands though.

• When to visit: Evenings and weekends are the best time, when the sea breeze is cool and the promenade comes alive with people.

Dinner at Old Dutch Hospital

A popular spot near Galle Face for dining and shopping. It’s one of the oldest colonial buildings in Colombo, originally built to care for Dutch East India Company staff. The restored courtyards now house cafés, restaurants, and boutiques, making it a relaxed place to spend time.

• When to visit: Any time during the day, though it becomes especially lively in the evening. Perfect time would be after sunset at Galle Face Green.

Summary

Colombo is easily explored in a single day, and this itinerary follows the highlights in a natural rhythm — beginning in a calm neighbourhood, stepping into the city’s busy heart, and ending by the ocean at sunset before grabbing dinner in one of the oldest colonial buildings. It blends culture, markets, and history without feeling rushed, and everything is simple to navigate on your own using the PickMe app for quick rides between areas.

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