Local Experts
Destinations
of Wanderlust
Colombo & Negombo
Colombo and Negombo capture two very different sides of Sri Lanka’s west coast. In Colombo, British, Dutch and Portuguese architecture sit side by side with vibrant and photogenic markets (such as Pettah Market) and centuries-old Buddhist and Hindu temples. This is a diverse city and one of striking contrasts; on one side you have Galle Face Green with its tranquil promenade, and elsewhere you’ll find intricate mosques tucked in between historic buildings. Luxury hotels, chic boutiques, and world-class restaurants have in recent years helped reshape the capital into a more forward thinking and cosmopolitan centre. However, Colombo has still maintained its charm; colourful tuk-tuks weave in and out of traffic and speed past Victorian architecture, Dutch churches, and British-built institution, some of which have been turned into stylish galleries, boutique stays, and rooftop bars. Just north of Colombo, Negombo offers golden beaches and a slower pace of life, with local fish markets and Dutch canals. Negombo, for some, provides a good place to start or end a tailor-made journey to Sri Lanka as its close proximity to Sri Lanka’s international airport.
