However, the beaches themselves aren’t really that good, and the climate in Sri Lanka is warm and humid, so getting a place with a pool is essential. Whether you are looking an upscale stay with an infinity pool, something more basic or just a hostel, this guide will sort you out.
Where is the Best Place to Stay in Negombo Town
As I mentioned, Negombo town has plenty of great accommodation options, and after digging through the choices and their reviews, these are my top picks for a calm and refreshing start to your Sri Lanka Trip. Start by checking the map below to get an overview of the recommended areas to stay.
How to Use the Map: Click the top-left corner to view and select map layers. Learn more about each area by clicking its area or sidebar entry. Use the map to get an overview of Negombo’s popular areas.
Best Luxury for Price in Negombo | Sentido Heritance
Sentido Heritance Negombo is a 5‑star hotel with ocean‑view rooms, an outdoor pool, free Wi‑Fi, and several dining options, including seafood on the lawn and the See Lounge upstairs. It offers the best luxury‑for‑price value in Negombo town.
View on Booking.comBest Hostel in Negombo | Ceylon Lodge
Set in nature, Ceylon Lodge has a calm, welcoming feel. You can enjoy the jacuzzi pool, play a round at the pool table, and make use of the small gym during your stay. The downside is that it sits a bit further inland.
View on hostelworldMost Popular Hostel in Negombo | Marine Tourist
It has a 24‑hour reception. Just 100 meters from Negombo Beach, Marine Tourist Guest House offers a friendly, comfortable stay in a great location — though there’s no pool, but it’s one of the top-rated hostels in Negombo.
Best Guesthouse in Negombo | Holiday Fashion Inn
I stayed at Holiday Fashion Inn, a small family‑run place with a pool that made morning swims the perfect start before exploring. It’s in Kudapaduwa, close to the beach and plenty of places to eat and drink. The family running it was very friendly and genuinely hospitable.
Negombo’s Best Areas to Stay
On a Budget
Negombo Town (City Center)
Local markets, cheap eats, and the lowest accommodation prices. Not by the beach, but great value and full of everyday Sri Lankan life.
For the Convenience
Lewis Place (Negombo Beach Road)
The main tourist strip with cafés, bars, and direct beach access. Super convenient for short stays and first‑timers.
Balanced Location
Kudapaduwa
Easy access to restaurants, shops, and transport without the noise of the main strip.
Quiet and Relaxed
Porutota Road
A calmer stretch of the beach road with guesthouses and boutique hotels. Ideal if you want space and a slower pace. This section begins just after Lewis Place and continues north along the coast.
Nature and Lagoon Views
Lagoon Area
Fishing villages, mangroves, and boat tours. Peaceful and scenic, away from the tourist crowds. A 5-minute tuk-tuk ride from the main strip.
Negombo isn’t huge, but there are a few distinct areas worth considering depending on what you want from your stay. The city center works well if you’re on a tight budget, with plenty of cheap accommodation and lots of affordable places to eat.
The main strip, Lewis Place, is ideal for short stays. You get direct beach access and all the popular cafés, bars, and restaurants right on your doorstep.
For a quieter and more relaxed base, look at Kudapaduwa. It’s a calmer stretch at the far end of the strip, giving you easy access to everything with a bit more breathing room.
North of Kudapaduwa is Porutota Road, a beachside area with small guesthouses and boutique hotels. It’s still part of the main strip, but the vibe is softer and works well if you prefer a slower start to your trip.
The lagoon side is the final area to consider — peaceful, scenic, and perfect if you want a calm, gentle beginning to your Sri Lanka travels.
Negombo’s Five Best Areas to Stay in
You’ll probably stay only a couple of nights in Negombo since the town isn’t that big. But choosing the right area for your vibe and budget makes those nights a lot better.
Negombo Town (City Center)
The city center has the cheapest accommodation, plus markets and local restaurants where the locals actually eat, so it’s great value. Just know it’s not near the beach, and the area can feel hectic but at the same time more authentic.
Hotel Swanee Grand | Best Quality in the center
Swanee Gand is known as a lovely place to begin a trip to Sri Lanka, with a beautiful villa, warm and welcoming staff, and peaceful garden surroundings. Guests often praise the excellent breakfast with fresh fruit, and the property also features a fantastic pool that adds to the relaxing atmosphere.
Still Waters Artistry Sri Lanka | Atmospheric Guesthouse with Super Reviews
Still Waters Artistry Sri Lanka is often described as an atmospheric, family‑run guesthouse with warm hospitality and thoughtful attention to detail. Guests frequently praise the beautifully designed rooms, peaceful setting, and the overall sense of care that goes into the property, making it a place many are eager to return to.
Wattle Inn Negombo | Quiet & Affordable Place
Wattle Inn Negombo offers fantastic value for money on a quiet street in Negombo. Guests often praise the welcoming hosts, the spacious rooms, and the convenient location near a supermarket and several restaurants. It’s also within easy reach of the airport, making it a practical and peaceful place to stay.
Krishan Villa | Great price
Krishnan Villa is known for its warm, attentive hosts and elegant setting, with ornate gardens, ponds, and comfortable rooms. About 20 minutes from the airport and set a bit inland from the center, it offers in‑house meals, nearby delivery options, and a peaceful, convenient base for a stay.
Lewis Place Aka the Strip
This is the main tourist strip in Negombo with quick access to the beach, bars and tourist restaurants. Prices run higher than elsewhere in town, and the area stays busy throughout the day. Stay here for convenience, nightlife and the cluster of cafés serving smoothie bowls, avocado toasts and simple healthy lunch bowls built around fresh fruit, veg and grains.
Earl’s Regent Negombo | 4-star Hotel At the Beach With Infinity Pool
A modern 4‑star beachfront hotel with a sleek infinity pool overlooking the ocean. It’s a good fit if you want resort comfort without going fully high‑end, offering spacious rooms, a calmer atmosphere, and easy access to the beach road.
Great reviews from over 1,000 reviewers.
Fun Whales Rest House | Family-run & Budget-friendly
A friendly, family‑run budget stay with an unbeatable location. It’s simple but comfortable, offering great value for money if you want to stay close to the beach without stretching your budget. No pool though, but plenty of high reviews.
BlissFam Villa & Hostel | Budget-friendly & Great Reviews
A budget‑friendly guesthouse with consistently great reviews. It has a welcoming, homely feel, plus a garden, shared lounge, and a rooftop terrace. A solid choice if you want an affordable stay before beginning your trip.
Kudapaduwa
Located at the northern end of the main tourist strip, easy access to the beach and the main strip for bars restaurants without the noise. Stay here if you want to be close to everything, but still prefer quiet nights.
Holiday Fashion Inn | Best Guesthouse in Negombo (I stayed here)
I stayed at Holiday Fashion Inn, which had a pool and was run by a great host family. It was incredibly refreshing to start the day with a swim before heading out to explore.
Sentido Heritance | 5‑star hotel with ocean‑view rooms
A stylish 5‑star beachfront hotel with bright, modern rooms facing the ocean. It’s one of the best luxury‑for‑price options in Negombo, offering resort‑level comfort, great facilities, and a prime stretch of beach without the ultra‑premium price tag.
Porutota Road
Further north of Kudapaduwa is the start of Porutota Road, lined with guesthouses and small boutique hotels. It’s a quieter, more residential stretch with fewer crowds and a slower pace than the main strip. Stay here if you want space, calmer evenings and an easy walk to the beach without being tied to the tourist buzz of Lewis Place.
Hotel Villa Kapuru | 3-star Hotel with Pool
A well‑rated 3‑star hotel with a year‑round outdoor pool and a peaceful, homely atmosphere. It’s located just over 1 km from Negombo Beach Park and offers simple, comfortable rooms—some with views of the river or garden. The 24‑hour reception and on‑site bike rental make it easy to get around.
Serendib Village Negombo | 3-star with pool
A cosy guesthouse just a 4‑minute walk from Negombo Beach, offering an outdoor pool, free private parking, and a leafy garden. Guests can relax in the shared lounge or on the terrace, and the on‑site restaurant and 24‑hour reception add to the convenience.
Dickman Resort | Adults‑Only Boutique Hotel
An adults‑only boutique hideaway just 100 m from Negombo Beach, known for its relaxed vibe and excellent pool. Despite the name, it’s a charming, intimate spot with colourful rooms, friendly service, and a peaceful garden setting—ideal if you want quiet comfort close to the beach.
Lagoon Area
Set back from the beach, the Lagoon Area offers a quieter, more local feel with views over the water and easy access to boat tours and mangrove trips. It’s a good fit if you prefer very calm surroundings and want to be away from the tourist strip. If you need the beach or restaurants, just hop in a tuk‑tuk and you’ll be there in minutes.
Jetwing Lagoon Wellness | A 5‑Star Eco‑Luxury Resort With Stunning Design
This 5‑star resort offers elegant, eco‑friendly rooms and suites, each with a private balcony and a bathtub. The property runs partly on solar energy and features outstanding facilities, including a 100‑meter outdoor pool, five dining venues (plus a wine cellar), and a full spa.
Guests love the spectacular rooms with their beautiful “outdoor‑style” showers and toilets, the gorgeous pool area, and the excellent, beautifully presented food. The complimentary foot massage is a much‑appreciated extra touch. It’s the kind of hotel where you happily stay longer than planned.
Hiru Lagoon Negombo | Pool with ocean view
A peaceful lagoon‑side stay with an outdoor pool overlooking the water. Located 8 km from the Lewis Place strip, Hiru Lagoon offers free private parking, a garden, and a terrace, plus room service and a 24‑hour reception. It’s a quiet, scenic base if you prefer staying slightly outside the busy beach strip.
Villa Hundiraz – Negombo | Boutique Villa
A beautifully designed boutique villa set by the Negombo Lagoon, surrounded by lush greenery and just a short walk from the sea. The property features two outdoor pools, a peaceful garden, and spacious rooms with air‑conditioning and private bathrooms—some with cosy seating areas and lagoon views.
It’s a calm, harmonious retreat with genuinely warm hospitality, flavourful food with a local touch. Perfect for slow, relaxing days by the water.
FAQs About Where to Stay in Negombo
For luxury at a great price, Sentido Heritance is an excellent pick. It’s located right at the beach in Kudapaduwa, at the end on the popular Lewis Place walking strip, it gives you easy access to the lively strip — close to the action, but without the late-night noise.
The best hostel in Negombo depends on what you need. If you require 24‑hour reception for late check‑ins, go with Marine Tourist. Otherwise, Ceylon Lodge is the better pick thanks to its pool and small gym.
Yes — Sri Lanka is generally a safe country. Violent crime is low, but you might fall victim for scammy prices Negombo. Beyond that, t’s a peaceful, welcoming place to explore.
Yes — you can rent a tuk‑tuk in Negombo. I rented one here myself and drove it across the whole country, covering more than 1000 km. It’s an easy place to arrange a rental and a good spot to practice driving before heading into busier parts of the island. Read more about it in my Sri Lanka Tuk-Tuk Guide.
I recommend staying two nights in Negombo or more if you want to take it slowly.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Negombo
Negombo has plenty of good accommodation options, from social hostels to family-run guesthouses and full-on luxury stays — including several 5‑star hotels at surprisingly affordable prices..
If I would return to Negombo, I’d probably stay in Holiday Fashion Inn again. It has a great pool and sits close to the strip while still being far enough from the noise to stay peaceful.
Wherever you choose to stay, pick a place with a pool and you’ll start your Sri Lanka trip on the right foot.
No comments yet, be the first one!
I appreciate hearing from you. If you have any suggestions, questions, or feedback, please leave a comment below. Your input helps ensure the information stays relevant and up to date for everyone.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!