Colombo Tourist Attractions

Tourism in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is multiplying. The city is a popular destination for leisure and business travelers, and the number of visitors has increased steadily in recent years.

There are many reasons for this growth, including the city's convenient location, rich culture and history, and improved infrastructure.

The city of Colombo is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, making it a convenient gateway to the country. It is also a relatively short flight from many major Asian cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

As a result, Colombo is becoming increasingly popular with travelers from all over the world. In addition to its convenient location, Colombo is also a fascinating city with a rich history and culture.

The town was founded by the Europeans in the 16th century and later became an important trade center for the Dutch East India Company. Colombo's colonial heritage can be seen in its architecture and street layout.

The city also has a lively arts scene, with numerous theaters, museums, and galleries.

Colombo's infrastructure has also been improving in recent years, making it easier to get around and enjoy all the city offers. New hotels are being built to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

For more information about tourism options in Sri Lanka, please visit getyourguide.com.

Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari

Udawalawe National Park is home to a large population of Sri Lankan elephants. It boasts some of the world's few remaining unspoiled natural environments. Witness several elephant herds, water buffalo, wild boar, spotted deer, jackal, and more.

Learn about a region that spans 30,821 acres and captures the essence of a tropical paradise. Experience the ideal hideaway for bird watchers while viewing diverse vegetation and fauna.

Observe a wide variety of migratory and native bird species. The Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl, the Spur Fowl, and the Green Pigeon are just a few birds you might see on your Udawalawe safari.

Yala National Park All-Inclusive 2-Day Safari

Take a night in a treehouse in Sri Lanka's second-largest national park and go on a wildlife safari in the evening and early morning. Take advantage of having a game ranger as your private guide.

Day 1

After being picked up from your hotel the next day, you'll head to Sri Lanka's Yala National Park. Check into one of the posh Leopard Nest campground treehouses as soon as you arrive in Tissamarama.

Rest and unwind after a hearty lunch at the campsite's main restaurant or one of the many outdoor spots.

On a nighttime game drive, you can observe wild animals like leopards in their native habitat. Get cleaned up and ready for the campfire party with drinks and snacks. The camp's evening meal will be served around the compound.

Day 2

Have breakfast in peace by the lake and take in the sounds of the birds and the breeze. Get out and explore the dense underbrush until you reach a path leading to a stunning lake with excellent birdwatching.

Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip from Colombo

Leave Colombo and ride together in a small group to the city of Sigiriya, where you'll visit the famous Sigiriya Rock immediately. The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle The Culavamsa claims that King Kasyapa chose this enormous column of granite as the location of his new capital.

Inside the rock stronghold, you can see murals of historical royalty and their attendants, and then take a break for lunch. Then, you'll get to see and learn about local specialties before you go, like batik fabrics and carved wooden bowls.

Get back on the road to Colombo by Dambulla, Sri Lanka's most extensive and best-preserved cave temple complex. Explore the beautiful Buddha statues and rock paintings dating back to the 2nd century B.C. and the Kandyan period in the 18th century.

Galle and Bentota Day Tour From Colombo

After being collected from your accommodation, you will:

• Explore the Madu River by embarking on a Madu Ganga Mangrove boat safari and going through the mangroves.
• Explore the marshlands and mangrove woods that can be found on either side of the river.
• Visit a cinnamon garden and sample some of the region's renowned cinnamon while you're there.

A thriving cinnamon business may be found in the Madu Ganga River valley, which is also home to some of the highest-quality cinnamon anywhere in the world. After that, be amazed at the fishermen who patiently wait for their catch while sitting stoically atop enormous branches planted in the middle of the water.

Continue to the nearby Turtle Hatchery, where your guide will acquaint you with the enormous array of turtle species native to the region. Your trip will end with a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galle Fort.

From the 16th through the 19th century, the unique interplay of European architecture with South Asian traditions may be seen in this fort, which serves as an example.

Sri Lanka: Five-day Multi-City Sightseeing Tour

The Golden Temple of Dambulla, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, undulating tea plantations in Ella, and the opportunity to observe wild elephants in the Udawalawe National Park are some of the highlights of this trip of the best of Sri Lanka.

This fantastic vacation package will take care of everything for you, including your hotel accommodations, meals, and breakfasts:

Day 1: The first day of your trip begins with a warm greeting from your guide at the Colombo International Airport, after which your guide will drive you to your accommodation in the city of Colombo.

Day 2: After receiving the news that your tests returned negative and having a hearty breakfast, you will depart from Colombo and make your way to Sigiriya. Pay a visit to the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the cave temple complex in Sri Lanka that is the largest and best preserved. Relax for a little while before going to the old rock fortress of Sigiriya, having dinner, and sleeping at a four-star hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 3: After a delicious breakfast on Day 3, you will embark on your journey to Kandy, where you will see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, home to the most significant Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka. Relax and take in the sights at your accommodation before venturing to explore the beautiful plants in the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. Have dinner at a four-star hotel in the evening, then spend the night there.

Day 4: After that, have a hearty breakfast and then drive to Ella to go for a stroll through the verdant tea estates there. Discover more about the country's fascinating colonial past while taking in the breathtaking scenery of Sri Lanka. After supper, you should retire to the hotel where you are staying in Ella to get some rest.

Day 5: On the fifth day, after breakfast, you will go to Udawalawe National Park, where you can observe elephants in their natural environment.

The True Essence of Colombo: Private Highlights & Hidden Gems

Colombo, the city that serves as the capital of Sri Lanka, is a vibrant and exciting place to spend some time. With the help of your host, you will take in this city's lively sights, sounds, and fragrances.

The best must-sees, hidden jewels, and regional delicacies are just around the corner. Therefore, climb aboard a vibrant Tuk Tuk and allow your private guide to transport you from one major attraction to the next.

You must visit Independence Square, as it is an excellent starting point for your tour. Take a stroll across the expansive green lawns and gaze in awe at one of the island's historic structures that have stood the test of time.

Your host can provide you with a wealth of information regarding the historical background of Sri Lanka as well as the transformation of the city into a modern metropolis.

Grab some beautiful hoppers and vegetable roti and do like the people of Sri Lanka do and do it their way. This delicious breakfast treat is a favorite among the locals, and it is trendy among those who are on their way to visit Colombo's largest park.

This park is a calm treasure away from the bustle of the city since it is filled with rich greenery, over-century-old trees, and a recreation of the White House. Make your way to some of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, located by a stunning lake.

Explore an incredible collection of Buddha statues, investigate a sacred tree, and marvel at a piece of Buddha's hair preserved as a relic. Feel free to grill your host on anything on your mind.

Visit one of the most active marketplaces and immerse yourself in the genuine way of life of the locals. Find out where the neighborhood residents go to purchase and sell everything from groceries to electronics.

Follow your nose as you make your way through the labyrinth of streets until you find a vendor selling cassava chips.

Watch as this delectable snack is prepared, and get ready to have your taste buds do a happy dance. Visit a market specializing in bananas and flavors as wide as your heart desires.

A trip to the prison cell where Sri Lanka's last King was held is another one of the island's unmissable experiences. While you're there, don't miss the opportunity to take in the breathtaking scenery atop the lighthouse.

What better way to wrap up your sightseeing adventure than with a visit to the ocean side of Galle Face? Enjoy a refreshing cocktail, a mouthwatering prawn cake, and the breathtaking view of the sun setting over the western coast of Sri Lanka while you unwind and rest.

From Colombo: Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari

You will be picked up from your hotel in Colombo early in the morning and then driven the approximately five hours to Udawalawe National Park.

This park was established in the 1970s to serve as a refuge for wild animals that had to be relocated due to the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River.

After arriving, you set off on a jeep safari to search for the robust elephant population that lives in its natural habitat.

As you explore the area, look for additional native animals such as buffalo, wild boar, sambhur, and hare. Udawalawe National Park, now the third most visited park in Sri Lanka, is also an important natural reserve home to fifty different kinds of butterflies and many other species of birds.

From Colombo: Full-Day Pinnawala and Kandy Tour

Your trip will begin at 0600 hours in Colombo and continue to Kandy, with a stop at Pinnawala for a tour of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage along the way.

Young elephants that were removed from their natural habitat in Pinnawala, located in the Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka, call this place their home. Pinnawala is now home to 70 elephants, making it the location with the world's most significant troop of captive elephants.

Next, you should go to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. These gardens are famous for their wide range of beautiful, decorative, and medicinal plants, totaling more than 4,000 different kinds. This garden is most famous for its extensive collection of orchids, considered the largest in all of Asia.

After that, you should see the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site constructed in the 16th century to serve as a place of worship and protection for the precious tooth of Lord Buddha.

Proceed through the ornately decorated hallways and corridors as you make your way through the building. Relax in the presence of intricately carved pillars while gazing in awe at the stunning golden statues. After that, there will be a lunch break at a chosen venue.

Attend a performance of the traditional Kandyan dance, which is performed to the accompaniment of stormy drumming. You will be led to the show. The snake dance, the mask dance, and the Ginisisila, which demonstrates control over fire, are some examples of the dances.

The one-of-a-kind fire-walking act highlights this frantic and colorful extravaganza as a whole. At approximately 9:30 p.m., you will finally embark on the adventure that will bring you back to your accommodation in Colombo.

You are going to have supper at Ambepussa, the restaurant of your choice, as you are traveling there.

2-Day Whale Watching & Southern Sri Lanka Tour

One of the most excellent spots to watch endangered blue whales is in the water off the coast of Mirissa, located between Galle and Matara. On this two-day tour, you can visit significant locations along the southern coastal belt, including the Galle fort, Unawatuna beach, a sea turtle hatchery, and other places.

First Day

On the first day of your tour, you will check in at your hotel in Mirissa after meeting your tour representative. Enjoy a Bentota and Galle sightseeing trip while you're on your way. Bentota beach is often considered the best beach to vacation on the island.

Galle was an essential stop along the Silk Route and is considered one of the oldest seaports in Sri Lanka. It wasn't until much later that it was found by the Portuguese, who immediately began construction on a fort. The Dutch eventually took over from the Portuguese and added more defenses to the structure.

UNESCO now recognizes this fortification as a World Heritage Site. Visit the Galle Fort, Bentota Beach, the Galle coastline area, the Galle lighthouse, Kande Vihara, Cinnamon Island, a handicraft center, and a mask carving facility of the Galle city trip.

You can see a sea turtle hatchery project at Matale and a spice garden. This is where the spices and herbs used in Sri Lankan food and medicine are grown.

Next, embark on a boat journey along the Madu Ganga to learn more about this Ramsar Wetland. You may peek at the wondrous underwater world and witness the species that live in the ocean's depths by visiting the Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary.

This sanctuary is in Sri Lanka. The world-famous coral gardens can be found in this area. Simply obtain a pair of goggles, some flippers, and a boat with a transparent bottom, and then jump into the water—a place to stay for the night in Mirissa.

Second Day

The second day is dedicated entirely to whale-watching activities. One of the most well-known locations for the world's most spectacular wildlife show—the feeding of humpback and blue whales on their lunge—can be found just off the coast of Mirissa in southern Sri Lanka.

After constructing giant circular fishing nets with bubbles to catch vast shoals of herring, groups of whales throw themselves high into the air with their mouths wide open to consume the herring they have seen. This behavior is most noticeable between November and April but can be witnessed at any time of the year.