Season guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in the dry season
December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: A-wiki-guest-user, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Sunny days, calm seas and peak season on the west and south coasts; book hotels ahead for Christmas and January. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F), with about 29 rainy days across December–March. December–March are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–March
- Temperatures
- 22°C (72°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 6 | 11.8 h | 5/5 |
| February | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 | 11.9 h | 5/5 |
| March | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 | 12.1 h | 4/5 |
| December | 30°C (86°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 | 11.7 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 150 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya temple (January full moon)
- January: Thai Pongal — Tamil harvest festival (mid-January)
- February: Navam Perahera at Gangaramaya (February full moon)
- February: Independence Day (4 February)
- December: Christmas decorations along Galle Road and in the malls
Make the most of the weather
Waterfront · Galle Face and Kollupitiya
Galle Face Green
This 500-metre seafront lawn and promenade, laid out by the British in 1859, is where Colombo comes to relax.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Park · Cinnamon Gardens
Viharamahadevi Park
Visit in the late afternoon when it is cooler; the trees are full of flowering colour from March to May.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Landmark · Cinnamon Gardens
Independence Memorial Hall
Built to commemorate independence from Britain in 1948, this columned hall is modelled on the royal audience hall of Kandy.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
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
Beach · Mount Lavinia
Mount Lavinia Beach
Colombo's nearest swimming beach, 12 km south, is a golden strip backed by seafood restaurants and the Mount Lavinia Hotel, a former governor's mansion.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
Day trips in the dry season
- Galle Fort (About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train) — A walled Dutch fort town on a headland, with ramparts for sunset walks, a lighthouse, churches, boutique hotels and cafés in colonial houses.
- Negombo (About 1 hour by road) — A fishing town near the airport with a long beach, a Dutch-era canal, a lively fish market and lagoon boat trips.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Colombo?
Yes: December–March are among the best months. Sunny days, calm seas and peak season on the west and south coasts; book hotels ahead for Christmas and January.
+What is the weather like in Colombo in the dry season?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.