2 days in Colombo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Galle Face Green and Gangaramaya Temple

   Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malaka and National Museum of Colombo, then Old Dutch Hospital in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Galle Face Green

      Kites fill the sky on windy afternoons, families stroll at sunset, and food stalls at the southern end fry isso vadai, a lentil fritter topped with whole prawns.

   2. Late morning

      Gangaramaya Temple

      It organises the Navam Perahera procession each February.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rice and curry

      Lunchtime 'hotels' (local eateries) across the city, many serving buffet-style until early afternoon.

   4. Afternoon

      Seema Malaka

      It is especially calm at dusk when the lights come on.

   5. Late afternoon

      National Museum of Colombo

      It gives useful context before travelling to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa or Kandy.

   6. Evening

      Old Dutch Hospital

      Book Ministry of Crab or another restaurant here for dinner, and arrive early to explore the courtyards.

2. Day 2: Viharamahadevi Park and Independence Memorial Hall

   Viharamahadevi Park, Independence Memorial Hall, Pettah markets and Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque), then Lotus Tower in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Viharamahadevi Park

      It is busy with families at weekends.

   2. Late morning

      Independence Memorial Hall

      The surrounding Independence Square has walking paths popular with joggers, and the restored Arcade Independence Square next door has cafés and shops.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hoppers

      Evening hopper stalls and local restaurants; many places make them only for breakfast and dinner.

   4. Afternoon

      Pettah markets

      Handcarts and tuk-tuks squeeze through the crowds, and the area holds the Red Mosque, Hindu kovils and the old Dutch Museum building.

   5. Late afternoon

      Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)

      It towers over the crowded market lanes of Second Cross Street.

   6. Evening

      Lotus Tower

      Go around sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark on the same ticket.

If it rains

• Swap in Number 11 (Geoffrey Bawa's house) (Kollupitiya): Combine it with lunch at the Gallery Café on Alfred House Road, Bawa's former office.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–13 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.7 hours in December to 12.5 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Tuk-tuk. Three-wheelers are everywhere; many in Colombo have meters, and app-booked tuk-tuks show the fare in advance.

More or fewer days

• One day in Colombo
• 3 days in Colombo

Questions travellers ask