Day trips · Colombo · Sri Lanka
5 best day trips from Colombo
Where to go when you want a day away from Colombo, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Colombo is Galle Fort (About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train). The closest option is Negombo, about 37 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Negombo (37 km)
- Most popular
- Galle Fort
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galle Fort | 120 km | About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train | Car via the Southern Expressway, or coastal train from Fort | First-timers, Couples, Culture |
| Negombo | 37 km | About 1 hour by road | Car or app ride via the airport expressway; trains and buses also run | Families, Beach, Budget |
| Bentota and Lunuganga | 65 km | About 1.5 hours by road or train | Coastal train or car via Galle Road | Couples, Beach, Culture |
| Kandy | 115 km | About 3–3.5 hours by train or road | Train from Fort station, or car | Culture, First-timers, Families |
| Kalutara | 45 km | About 1–1.5 hours by train or road | Coastal train or car | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
120 km · About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train
1.Galle Fort
A walled Dutch fort town on a headland, with ramparts for sunset walks, a lighthouse, churches, boutique hotels and cafés in colonial houses. Galle is a UNESCO World Heritage site and pairs well with the beaches of Unawatuna nearby.
- Getting there
- Car via the Southern Expressway, or coastal train from Fort
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Culture
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37 km · About 1 hour by road
2.Negombo
A fishing town near the airport with a long beach, a Dutch-era canal, a lively fish market and lagoon boat trips. Its seafood restaurants and beach hotels make it a convenient first or last night.
- Getting there
- Car or app ride via the airport expressway; trains and buses also run
- Best for
- Families, Beach, Budget
65 km · About 1.5 hours by road or train
3.Bentota and Lunuganga
Bentota has a golden beach between the river and sea, water sports and river safaris. Nearby, Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa's country estate, and the Brief Garden of his brother Bevis are open for guided visits.
- Getting there
- Coastal train or car via Galle Road
- Best for
- Couples, Beach, Culture
115 km · About 3–3.5 hours by train or road
4.Kandy
The last royal capital of Sri Lanka sits around a lake in the hills, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Peradeniya botanical gardens. It is a long day trip; most visitors stay a night or more.
- Getting there
- Train from Fort station, or car
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers, Families
45 km · About 1–1.5 hours by train or road
5.Kalutara
Kalutara's Gangatilaka Vihara is a vast white stupa that is hollow inside, its walls painted with scenes from the Buddha's life. It stands beside the Kalu Ganga river mouth on the main coast road south.
- Getting there
- Coastal train or car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Sit on the right side heading south for sea views; avoid rush hour, when carriages are packed.
- Red state buses and private buses run frequently along Galle Road and to most suburbs; they are very cheap but crowded and driven fast.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Colombo?
Galle Fort. A walled Dutch fort town on a headland, with ramparts for sunset walks, a lighthouse, churches, boutique hotels and cafés in colonial houses.
+How long does it take to get from Colombo to Galle Fort?
About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train — Car via the Southern Expressway, or coastal train from Fort, about 120 km.
+How long does it take to get from Colombo to Negombo?
About 1 hour by road — Car or app ride via the airport expressway; trains and buses also run, about 37 km.