Best time to visit · Colombo · Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Colombo
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Colombo is December to March, when the west coast is driest, seas are calm and sunsets are clear. April and July to September are workable with showers. May and October are the wettest months, with heavy downpours and rough seas.
Key facts
- Best months
- December–March
- Shoulder season
- April, June–September and November
- Warmest month
- March (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- June (avg high 30°C (86°F))
- Rainiest month
- October (~19 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–June and September–October
Seasons
Colombo is hot and humid all year, around 30–32°C by day. The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain from about May to September, with peaks in May and again in October and November between the monsoons; December to March is the driest and calmest period on the west coast.
December–March
Dry season
Sunny days, calm seas and peak season on the west and south coasts; book hotels ahead for Christmas and January.
April
First inter-monsoon
Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; New Year festivities close many businesses for a few days.
May–September
South-west monsoon
Heavy rain peaks in May and June, then turns showery; rough seas close west-coast swimming, but prices are low.
October–November
Second inter-monsoon
Frequent, heavy afternoon and evening storms; one of the wettest periods of the year in Colombo.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C | 22°C | 6 | 27°C | 11.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 31°C | 23°C | 5 | 28°C | 11.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 32°C | 24°C | 8 | 29°C | 12.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 32°C | 25°C | 14 | 29°C | 12.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 31°C | 26°C | 18 | 29°C | 12.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 30°C | 25°C | 17 | 28°C | 12.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 30°C | 25°C | 12 | 28°C | 12.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 30°C | 25°C | 11 | 27°C | 12.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 30°C | 25°C | 14 | 27°C | 12.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 30°C | 24°C | 19 | 28°C | 12 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 30°C | 23°C | 16 | 28°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 30°C | 22°C | 10 | 27°C | 11.7 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya temple (January full moon); Thai Pongal — Tamil harvest festival (mid-January) |
| February | Navam Perahera at Gangaramaya (February full moon); Independence Day (4 February) |
| April | Sinhala and Tamil New Year (13–14 April) |
| May | Vesak — lanterns, illuminated pandals and free food stalls (May full moon) |
| June | Poson Poya (June full moon) |
| July | Esala Perahera in Kandy (July or August) |
| August | Esala Perahera in Kandy (some years); Vel festival — chariot procession between Hindu kovils (usually July or August) |
| October | Deepavali (October or November) |
| November | Deepavali (some years) |
| December | Christmas decorations along Galle Road and in the malls |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–June and September–October, and the sights are quietest in May–June and September–October. Many visitors avoid May and October.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Dry season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| First inter-monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| South-west monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Second inter-monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Colombo?
The best time to visit Colombo is December to March, when the west coast is driest, seas are calm and sunsets are clear. April and July to September are workable with showers. May and October are the wettest months, with heavy downpours and rough seas.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Colombo?
Usually in May–June and September–October. The south-west monsoon arrives, bringing the heaviest rain of the year and rough seas on west-coast beaches.
+What is the rainiest month in Colombo?
October, with about 19 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Colombo get?
The warmest month, March, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 24°C (75°F).