Month guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in August
What August is really like in Colombo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: A-wiki-guest-user, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 25°C (77°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 12.3 hours of daylight. Showery but often bright between downpours; seas remain rough on the west coast.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in August
August is the 8th-warmest month in Colombo: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 25°C (77°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with July (30°C (86°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:05
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 18:26
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
First inter-monsoon (April). Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; New Year festivities close many businesses for a few days.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August 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 August
- Esala Perahera in Kandy (some years)
- Vel festival — chariot procession between Hindu kovils (usually July or August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Cinnamon Gardens
National Museum of Colombo
Sri Lanka's largest museum, opened in 1877 in a white Italianate building, holds the throne and crown of the last king of Kandy, ancient Buddhist bronzes, traditional masks and colonial-era paintings.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Viewpoint · Beira Lake
Lotus Tower
Go around sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark on the same ticket.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Architecture · Kollupitiya
Number 11 (Geoffrey Bawa's house)
Sri Lanka's most influential architect created his Colombo home by joining four small bungalows on a quiet lane off Bagatelle Road.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Galle Face and Kollupitiya
Galle Face Green
Arrive about an hour before sunset, eat from the stalls near the southern end, then walk to the Galle Face Hotel's verandah for a drink.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- Outdoors
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Colombo.
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 25°C and 11 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Colombo?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Colombo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a shoulder-season month. Showery but often bright between downpours; seas remain rough on the west coast.
+How warm is Colombo in August?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Colombo in August?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.