Season guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in the first inter-monsoon
April: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; New Year festivities close many businesses for a few days. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 14 rainy days across April.
Key facts
- Months
- April
- Temperatures
- 25°C (77°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 14
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the first inter-monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 14 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 14 of the year's roughly 150 rainy days fall in these 1 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the first inter-monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Sinhala and Tamil New Year (13–14 April)
Good choices for the first inter-monsoon
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
Religious site · Slave Island
Gangaramaya Temple
Keep your ticket; it also covers Seema Malaka on Beira Lake, a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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
Day trips in the first inter-monsoon
- 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.
- Bentota and Lunuganga (About 1.5 hours by road or train) — Bentota has a golden beach between the river and sea, water sports and river safaris.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the first inter-monsoon a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; New Year festivities close many businesses for a few days. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Colombo in the first inter-monsoon?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 14 rainy days over the season.