Colombo itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Colombo, day by day: the National Museum, Independence Memorial Hall, Gangaramaya Temple, Beira Lake and Galle Face Green first, then Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, St. Lucia's Cathedral, Pettah Market and Viharamahadevi Park as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Colombo in 1 day
Day 1
National Museum of Colombo
Sri Lanka's largest museum, in a colonial building in Cinnamon Gardens, with the Kandyan throne, regalia, masks and ancient sculptures.
Independence Memorial Hall
Monument in Independence Square marking Sri Lanka's independence in 1948, modelled on the Kandyan royal audience hall.
Gangaramaya Temple
Buddhist temple and cultural complex by Beira Lake with a museum of gifts, Buddha statues and the Seema Malaka meditation hall.
Beira Lake
Large urban lake in the centre of the city with the Seema Malaka platform, boat trips, and views of skyscrapers.
Galle Face Green
Oceanside promenade stretching for about 500 metres beside the Indian Ocean, popular for evening walks, kites and street food.
Colombo in 2 days
Day 1
National Museum of Colombo
Sri Lanka's largest museum, in a colonial building in Cinnamon Gardens, with the Kandyan throne, regalia, masks and ancient sculptures.
Independence Memorial Hall
Monument in Independence Square marking Sri Lanka's independence in 1948, modelled on the Kandyan royal audience hall.
Gangaramaya Temple
Buddhist temple and cultural complex by Beira Lake with a museum of gifts, Buddha statues and the Seema Malaka meditation hall.
Beira Lake
Large urban lake in the centre of the city with the Seema Malaka platform, boat trips, and views of skyscrapers.
Galle Face Green
Oceanside promenade stretching for about 500 metres beside the Indian Ocean, popular for evening walks, kites and street food.
Day 2
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Buddhist temple north-east of the centre, said to have been visited by the Buddha, with colourful murals and a white stupa.
St. Lucia's Cathedral
Neoclassical Roman Catholic cathedral in Kotahena, the seat of the Archbishop of Colombo, with a large dome and twin towers.
Pettah Market
Busy market district beside the Fort, with crowded streets of stalls selling clothing, spices, electronics and street food.
Viharamahadevi Park
The city's largest public park in Cinnamon Gardens, with lawns, shaded paths, a gilded Buddha statue and a children's play area.
Watch: Colombo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Colombo
The driest, most comfortable months are December to March, with warm days and little rain, though it is hot and humid all year. Rain arrives with the south-west monsoon from May to September, and a second wet period comes around October and November. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year in mid-April and Poya days each month bring festivals and crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Colombo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Colombo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Colombo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Sri Lanka from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Colombo with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Colombo
- Dress modestly at temples such as Gangaramaya and Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara: cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats; a small donation or fee may be asked.
- Galle Face Green is at its best in the late afternoon, when families fly kites and street stalls sell snacks beside the sea.
- The National Museum of Colombo stands in Cinnamon Gardens close to Viharamahadevi Park, so the two combine easily on foot.
- Traffic in Colombo can be heavy; ride-hailing apps and three-wheelers are the easiest way between sights, while the old Fort and Pettah are best explored on foot.
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is about 8 km from the centre; go outside rush hour, and note that Poya (full-moon) days draw large crowds and close shops.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Beira Lake: Mayakaru at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- Galle Face Green: Mayakaru at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- Gangaramaya Temple: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Independence Memorial Hall: Charaka Ranasinghe, CC BY 2.0
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara: AtulaSiriwardane at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- National Museum of Colombo: Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne, Public domain
- Pettah Market: Azeez Abubakr, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Lucia's Cathedral: Bevan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Viharamahadevi Park: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
