History · Colombo · Sri Lanka
8 historic sites to see in Colombo
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Charaka Ranasinghe, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Gangaramaya Temple, National Museum of Colombo and Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque). Together the 8 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 6 areas; 6 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 6
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Slave Island, Cinnamon Gardens and Pettah
Historic sites in Colombo
Religious site · Slave Island
1.Gangaramaya Temple
It organises the Navam Perahera procession each February.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Cinnamon Gardens
2.National Museum of Colombo
It gives useful context before travelling to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa or Kandy.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Pettah
3.Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)
It towers over the crowded market lanes of Second Cross Street.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Historic site · Fort
4.Old Dutch Hospital
It now houses restaurants, bars and shops, including the well-known Ministry of Crab.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Food
- After dark
- Free
Landmark · Cinnamon Gardens
5.Independence Memorial Hall
The surrounding Independence Square has walking paths popular with joggers, and the restored Arcade Independence Square next door has cafés and shops.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
Religious site · Kelaniya
6.Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Its image house is covered with 20th-century murals by Solias Mendis depicting Sri Lankan history, and the Duruthu Perahera procession is held here each January.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Pettah
7.Wolvendaal Church
It is one of the most important Dutch colonial buildings in Sri Lanka.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Kotahena
8.Sri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil
Daily pujas are accompanied by drums and pipes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Slave Island | Gangaramaya Temple | 1 hour |
| Cinnamon Gardens | National Museum of Colombo and Independence Memorial Hall | 1.5–2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Pettah | Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque) and Wolvendaal Church | 30 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Fort | Old Dutch Hospital | 1–2 hours |
| Kelaniya | Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara | 1–1.5 hours |
| Kotahena | Sri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 6 free, 2 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is National Museum of Colombo; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Slave Island, Cinnamon Gardens and Pettah): Gangaramaya Temple → National Museum of Colombo → Independence Memorial Hall → Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque) → Wolvendaal Church, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Fort, Kelaniya and Kotahena): Old Dutch Hospital → Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara → Sri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds. Changeable weather with heavy showers; the quietest time for hotels.
- June: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 17 rainy days, quiet crowds. Wet and windy, with showers most days; good time for the east coast instead.
- May: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 18 rainy days, quiet crowds. The south-west monsoon arrives, bringing the heaviest rain of the year and rough seas on west-coast beaches.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Fort — Colonial-era business district of banks, port views and restored landmarks
- Galle Face and Kollupitiya — Seafront hotels, Galle Road restaurants and the Green
- Cinnamon Gardens — Leafy Colombo 7 of museums, parks, embassies and boutiques
- Slave Island — Old multicultural quarter between Beira Lake and new towers
More of Colombo
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Colombo?
Gangaramaya Temple. One of Colombo's most important Buddhist temples mixes Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles, with a bodhi tree, a vihara full of Buddha statues and an eclectic museum of gifts, from vintage cars to clocks.
+Which of these are free in Colombo?
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque), Old Dutch Hospital, Independence Memorial Hall, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Wolvendaal Church and Sri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil.