Season guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in the second inter-monsoon
October–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Frequent, heavy afternoon and evening storms; one of the wettest periods of the year in Colombo. Expect highs up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 35 rainy days across October–November.
Key facts
- Months
- October–November
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 35
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the second inter-monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 30°C (86°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 19 | 12 h | 2/5 |
| November | 30°C (86°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 16 | 11.8 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 35 of the year's roughly 150 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the second inter-monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Deepavali (October or November)
- November: Deepavali (some years)
Good choices for the second 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 second inter-monsoon
- Kandy (About 3–3.5 hours by train or road) — 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.
- Kalutara (About 1–1.5 hours by train or road) — Kalutara's Gangatilaka Vihara is a vast white stupa that is hollow inside, its walls painted with scenes from the Buddha's life.
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 second inter-monsoon a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a trade-off: Frequent, heavy afternoon and evening storms; one of the wettest periods of the year in Colombo. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Colombo in the second inter-monsoon?
Highs of up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 35 rainy days over the season.