Comparison · Colombo vs Maldives · Sri Lanka / Maldives
Colombo vs Maldives
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Colombo for Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Maldives for Overwater villas and House-reef snorkelling. Colombo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 767 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 767 km
- Less expensive
- Colombo
- Best time for Colombo
- December–March
- Best time for Maldives
- December–April
Side by side
| Colombo | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka | Maldives |
| Known for | Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple and Pettah markets | Overwater villas, House-reef snorkelling and Manta rays |
| Best time to visit | December–March | December–April |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $70–$160 | $250–$500 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | March, 32°C (90°F) | April, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Mount Lavinia | Hulhumalé beach |
| Airports | CMB | MLE, GAN, DRV, VAM, KDO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Colombo for…
Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Colombo is Sri Lanka's commercial capital and main gateway, a long seafront city stretching south from the old Fort district and the market lanes of Pettah along Galle Road. Portuguese, Dutch and British rule left churches, warehouses and grand hotels, while…
Choose Maldives for…
Overwater villas and House-reef snorkelling. The Maldives is a chain of about 1,190 low coral islands grouped into 26 natural atolls that stretch across the equator in the Indian Ocean. Almost every visitor lands at Velana International Airport beside the capital, Malé, then continues by speedboat to…
Top sights compared
| # | Colombo | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galle Face Green | Hanifaru Bay manta rays |
| 2 | Gangaramaya Temple | Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll |
| 3 | Seema Malaka | Banana Reef |
| 4 | National Museum of Colombo | Maaya Thila and Fish Head |
| 5 | Viharamahadevi Park | Lankan Manta Point |
Food compared
| Colombo | Maldives |
|---|---|
| Rice and curry | Mas huni |
| Hoppers | Garudhiya |
| Kottu roti | Mas riha |
| Lamprais | Roshi |
Which is cheaper?
Colombo is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$160 per person there, against $250–$500 in Maldives (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Colombo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 767 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Colombo or Maldives cheaper?
Colombo is usually less expensive: about $70–$160 a day mid-range against $250–$500 (estimates).
+Is Colombo or Maldives better for a first trip?
Pick Colombo for Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Maldives for Overwater villas and House-reef snorkelling.
+How far is Colombo from Maldives?
About 767 km in a straight line.