Many of you might not know this, but I was born and raised in Colombo Sri Lanka. I spent most of my life, as of now, in that country before moving away.
While my upbringing was exciting, a bit dangerous and unique, we often struggled with trying to figure out what to do in Colombo. There are no real Colombo attractions or proper tourist spots that I was aware of growing up there.
READ MORE: A pictorial essay of Geoffrey Bawa’s iconic country estate – Lunuganga
Well, to help travellers find something to do when they visit the city, we decided to put together a simple and easy-to-navigate list of things to do in Colombo in 2022.
These are all based on our community in Sri Lanka sharing their best suggestions from a local perspective.
So without further ado, let’s jump into it.
Experience the authentic local side of Colombo
One thing I always remember from my time in Sri Lanka was taking a weekly trip to my Dad’s shop in the heart of the business district. While everyone talks about the hustle and bustle of a busy city, I feel like there’s no comparison to the almost non-stop activity in Pettah.
You can buy almost anything from Pettah and will most likely buy something with so many touts and merchants trying to sell you things. It is easy to get lost, but in doing so, you’ll see some of the most interesting things you’ve ever seen.
Make sure you take a tuk-tuk or trishaw to get there. I know these aren’t unique to Sri Lanka, but there is no greater thrill than going 40 KMPH in a vehicle that probably shouldn’t go over 20 KMPH with no shock absorbers and absolutely no signalling. It is fun, but not for the faint-hearted.
There are so many things to do, but spending a day just wandering the city and experiencing life as a local would, is quite an experience.
Try out the local cuisine
I personally feel that Sri Lankan food does not get its just dues for some reason I cannot fathom. It is delicious, flavourful and a great Instagram post – a classic recipe for success in today’s world.
From seafood to local rice and curries, you cannot go wrong. In fact, I don’t want anyone to ever contradict that statement. Sri Lankan food is hands down one of the best cuisines in the world.
READ MORE: We actually did a list of the best cuisines in the world
Here are some of the favourites for you to try:
- Get your crab fix at the Ministry of Crab. Started by cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara as well as renowned chef Dharshan Munidasa, they have taken the brand global with restaurants in 5 countries now.
- Seafood from anywhere along the coast. This is a tough one, because there are amazing restaurants that are tiny, small shacks by the beach that cook some of the freshest fish for you. One favourite of mine is Beach Wadiya – the best place to grab a fresh grilled fish, hot buttered cuttlefish and a ice cold beer. Otherwise, I strongly recommend taking a trip to Mount Lavania beach and looking for restaurants by the beach. They all get fish straight from the boat to your table.
- There is no visit Sri Lanka unless you try the kotthu or simply translated chopped up flatbread. It is a deliciously simple dish that is a mix of chopped prata (roti or flatbread) with curry and usually chicken that is heated on a hot plate and chopped together to mix it. It was my late night favourite and is easily found around the city – though (I will get flamed in the comments by many Sri Lankans) you may want to visit one of the many Hotel De Pilawoos that are in every district.
Get to know Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage
One thing that Colombo has no shortage of is reminders and homages to Sri Lanka’s really diverse history. This was a land born from war and ruled by kingdoms and foreign nations, giving rise to a melting pot of cultures that have permeated into modern-day Sri Lanka across all major facets of life.
If you want to explore some of these amazing aspects of the city, I highly recommend visiting the Colombo National Museum. The museum was established in 1877 and founded by the then British Governor. And today it is one of the biggest storehouses of historical Sri Lankan artefacts as well as a great way to learn about the country’s history.
You can discover the history from the local kings up to the British rule Galleries are neatly organized by different periods. It is quite breathtaking.
There’s no visiting Sri Lanka and Colombo for that matter without seeing that they love cricket. You might want to learn a bit more about the gentleman’s game at the Colombo Cricket Museum. It houses the history of the local team and sport in Sri Lanka through the ages.
Always be safe
Before you book your trip for a trip to remember, try to note that it isn’t always safe over there in Sri Lanka. Pickpockets are common and there is always an argument for travelling with a friend or two for safety in numbers. It might be smart to rent a car even for a short time if you’re driving around to avoid tourist scams and touts, so be sure to get your international driving license for Sri Lanka as well.
However, it is also not as bad as you might think. So, as long as you use some common sense and stay away from trouble, visiting Colombo will be fun and a great time.
Let us know if we forgot any of your favourite places and we’ll make sure to add them to the list. We would love to find out more about Colombo attractions because it is such a diverse and beautiful city.
