Month guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in April
What April is really like in Colombo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 25°C (77°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 12.3 hours of daylight. Inter-monsoon thunderstorms in the afternoons; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closes many shops for several days.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Sea temperature
- 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 2nd-warmest month in Colombo: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 25°C (77°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 30 days. Compared with March (32°C (90°F)), April is about as warm; by May highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:02
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 18:19
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F)
Dry season (December–March). Sunny days, calm seas and peak season on the west and south coasts; book hotels ahead for Christmas and January.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year (13–14 April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Nature · Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Beddagana Wetland Park
Near the parliament in Kotte, this restored marshland has boardwalks, a bird-watching tower and paths where you can spot kingfishers, herons, monitor lizards and sometimes otters within the city limits.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Religious site · Kotahena
Sri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil
Remove shoes and, for men, sometimes shirts, as worshippers do; ask the priests before photographing inside.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
Religious site · Slave Island
Gangaramaya Temple
One of Colombo's most important Buddhist temples mixes Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles, with a bodhi tree, a vihara full of Buddha statues and an eclectic museum of gifts, from vintage cars to clocks.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Cinnamon Gardens
National Museum of Colombo
Allow time for the mask gallery and the regalia room, then walk across to Viharamahadevi Park.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
The sea averages 29°C (84°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Colombo.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 25°C and 14 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Colombo?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Colombo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a shoulder-season month. Inter-monsoon thunderstorms in the afternoons; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closes many shops for several days.
+How warm is Colombo in April?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Colombo in April?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.