Season guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in the south-west monsoon
May–September: 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
Heavy rain peaks in May and June, then turns showery; rough seas close west-coast swimming, but prices are low. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 72 rainy days across May–September.
Key facts
- Months
- May–September
- Temperatures
- 25°C (77°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 72
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the south-west monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 | 12.4 h | 2/5 |
| June | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 17 | 12.5 h | 2/5 |
| July | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 12 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| August | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 11 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| September | 30°C (86°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 14 | 12.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 72 of the year's roughly 150 rainy days fall in these 5 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the south-west monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- May: Vesak — lanterns, illuminated pandals and free food stalls (May full moon)
- June: Poson Poya (June full moon)
- July: Esala Perahera in Kandy (July or August)
- August: Esala Perahera in Kandy (some years)
- August: Vel festival — chariot procession between Hindu kovils (usually July or August)
Good choices for the south-west monsoon
Religious site · Slave Island
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Cinnamon Gardens
National Museum of Colombo
Allow time for the mask gallery and the regalia room, then walk across to Viharamahadevi Park.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Viewpoint · Beira Lake
Lotus Tower
At about 350 metres, the lotus-shaped Colombo Lotus Tower is the tallest structure in South Asia.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Architecture · Kollupitiya
Number 11 (Geoffrey Bawa's house)
Combine it with lunch at the Gallery Café on Alfred House Road, Bawa's former office.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Day trips in the south-west monsoon
- 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.
- 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.
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 south-west monsoon a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a trade-off: Heavy rain peaks in May and June, then turns showery; rough seas close west-coast swimming, but prices are low. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Colombo in the south-west monsoon?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 72 rainy days over the season.