Colombo
Sri Lanka · Country profile
Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, a hot, low city of the Indian Ocean where the colonial-era buildings of the Fort district, the huge markets of the Pettah and the leafy suburbs of the lakeside mix in a jostling, friendly whole. The modern face of the city has risen fast along the seafront, and the old feels still close at hand, with the red temples, the main streets and the train station carrying the everyday rush. The sea, the canals and the lake of Beira shape the city around the water, and the coast road south reaches the beaches and the tourist towns of the island.
About Colombo
Colombo is a city in Sri Lanka. The city's documented population is around 752,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) and Sinhala and Tamil are spoken; the dialling code is +94. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Bandaranaike International Airport.
The Fort, the Lake and the Markets of the Pettah
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s business heart, a hot, busy, low-lying city that most travellers use as a first or last stop rather than a destination on its own. The Fort and the Pettah pack the commerce, the grand colonial buildings and the giant markets behind the harbour, and the leafy southern suburbs hold the cafes, the galleries and the hotels. It is a city of quick impressions, of the sea and the trains, and the day trips to the beaches and the coast run easy from it. It rewards a city stroll, a ride on the old trains and a full plate of the local food.
The Tuk-Tuks, the Temples and the Rain of the Seasons
The city is hot and humid all year, with the two monsoon seasons bringing the sudden downpours; the dry months are the best for the outdoors. The museum, the old posts of the Fort and the waterfront are the classics, and the train to the south, the famous coastal line, is best booked for the seat side of the sea. The currency is the rupee, and the three-wheeler taxis work best when you agree the fare before the ride. The street food of the Pettah and the fish market of the harbour are the local theatre, and the dress for the temples covers the shoulders and the knees. Book the top hotels ahead in the season.
The Coast Road, the Trains South and the Seafood of the Harbour
The three-wheeler taxis, the tuk-tuks, are the everyday transport, but always agree the price before climbing aboard, and the app-based ones take the guesswork out of it. The Pettah market is the essential experience of the old city, and the old lighthouse and the temple of the Gangaramaya sit a short walk from the centre. The Beira lake and the canal network give the city its watery character, and the waterfront avenue of the night holds the food stalls and the fisher boats. The rail station to the south runs the famous line to the beaches of Galle and the bent rails of the coast, and the morning trains set the pace. It is a friendly, honest city, and a good place to buy the small books and the spices of the island.
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- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Population
- 752,000
- Coordinates
- 7.1808, 79.8841
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
- Languages
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Calling code
- +94
- Country code
- LK
Entry requirements for Sri Lanka
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Sri Lanka for tourism.
Getting to Colombo
Airports we list for Colombo:
Cities in Sri Lanka
Other cities we cover in Sri Lanka:
Frequently asked questions
Is Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka?
No — the capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
What currency do I need in Colombo?
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Languages spoken in Sri Lanka include Sinhala and Tamil.
What is the dialling code for Sri Lanka?
The international dialling code for Sri Lanka is +94.
Which airport should I fly into for Colombo?
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the airport we list for Colombo.
Do I need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (e-visa), Canada (e-visa), India (e-visa), Japan (e-visa) and Morocco (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Colombo? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.