Hotels in Colombo
Anarva
Siddhalepa Anarva is a hotel in Mount Lavinia, on the southern edge of Colombo, from the Sri Lankan Ayurveda brand Siddhalepa. It is a quiet base for business (...)
Best Western Elyon Hotel
Best Western Elyon is a city hotel away from the busiest part of Colombo, with views over the city. It is about 3 km from the Royal Colombo Golf Club, and (...)
Cinnamon Grand Colombo
Cinnamon Grand is a leading luxury hotel in the heart of Colombo and part of the Cinnamon Hotels chain, popular with business travellers and families. It is (...)
Cinnamon Lakeside
Cinnamon Lakeside is a well known luxury hotel in Colombo, on the banks of the Beira Lake in Slave Island and close to Galle Face Green. Crescat Boulevard and (...)
Cinnamon Red
Cinnamon Red is a contemporary city hotel in central Colombo, with bold, stylish interiors. It is a short walk from Viharamahadevi Park, the Beira Lake and the (...)
Galle Face Hotel
The Galle Face Hotel stands beside Galle Face Green on the Colombo seafront. Built in 1864 and refurbished in 2015, it is one of the oldest hotels in Sri Lanka (...)
Hilton Colombo
Hilton Colombo is in the business district of the capital, popular with business and leisure travellers on short stays. It has a bridge connecting it to the (...)
Mandarina Colombo
Mandarina Colombo is a modern, centrally placed hotel close to Colombo's main sights, such as the National Museum, Colombo Fort and the shopping malls. It (...)
Jetwing Colombo Seven
Jetwing Colombo Seven is a boutique hotel on the site of a former family home. It rises above the city with wide views, and is close to the main sights, which (...)
Movenpick Hotel
Movenpick Hotel Colombo is a modern high-rise hotel in the centre of the city, with 24 floors. It is a few minutes' drive from Galle Face Green, Colombo Fort (...)
Ocean Edge Suites
Ocean Edge Suites is an all-suites hotel in Colombo, set on the coast with views over the Indian Ocean. It suits travellers who want more space than a standard (...)
OZO Colombo
OZO Colombo is a modern city hotel in Wellawatte, on the southern side of Colombo, a short walk from Wellawatte beach. Its rooftop pool and bar are its best (...)
Taj Samudra
Taj Samudra is a five star hotel run by Taj Hotels, facing Galle Face Green with views over the Indian Ocean.
Shangri-La Hotel Colombo
Shangri-La Hotel Colombo is an international luxury hotel in the business and finance district, between the Galle Face Green promenade and the Beira Lake. Its (...)
The Kingsbury Hotel
The Kingsbury is a large hotel on the seafront at the edge of Colombo Fort, between the World Trade Center, the Old Dutch Hospital and Galle Face Green. Its (...)
Platinum One Suites
Platinum One Suites is an all-suite hotel in Colombo, near the coast, made up of fully serviced apartments. With multi-bedroom suites, it suits families (...)
Tintagel Colombo
Paradise Road Tintagel is a boutique hotel in one of Colombo's most exclusive residential areas, Cinnamon Gardens. It is run by Paradise Road, the design brand (...)
Fairway Colombo
Fairway Colombo is a city hotel in Colombo Fort, opposite the World Trade Center and behind the Old Dutch Hospital. It is popular with business travellers and (...)
Villa Raha
Villa Raha is a boutique villa in Colombo with a stylish interior and easy access to the main sights of the city. There are six bedrooms, each with a minibar (...)
Mount Lavinia Hotel
Mount Lavinia Hotel is one of the best known historic hotels in Sri Lanka, on a headland above Mount Lavinia Beach, a short drive south of central Colombo. The (...)
Residence by Uga Escapes
Residence by Uga Escapes is a 19th century Victorian townhouse, renovated with modern interiors while keeping its old world charm. It is a high end boutique (...)
Black Cat Cafe & Stay
Black Cat Stay is on the first floor above the Black Cat cafe in Colombo, offering affordable rooms for a stay of a few days. It suits travellers on a budget (...)
The main areas
Galle Face, Fort and Slave Island
Most of the big international hotels sit along the seafront between Fort and Galle Face Green: Shangri-La, The Kingsbury, Hilton, Taj Samudra and the Galle Face Hotel, which has been on its site since the 1860s. Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon Lakeside are a few minutes inland, the second on Beira Lake. Fairway Colombo is a smaller mid-range option next to the Dutch Hospital. This is the easiest base for a first visit: Fort, Pettah and the Galle Face promenade are all close.
Kollupitiya, Colombo 7 and the old residential streets
A little south and inland, Cinnamon Red and the high-rise Mövenpick sit near Gangaramaya Temple and Viharamahadevi Park. Further in, Colombo 7 is the leafy part of town. Here you will find Tintagel, a former Bandaranaike family residence, the 11-suite Residence by Uga Escapes in a Victorian townhouse, Jetwing Colombo Seven, and Black Cat Cafe and Stay, the simplest and cheapest room on our list.
Bambalapitiya and Wellawatte
Down Galle Road the hotels get more practical. Mandarina, Ocean Edge Suites and Platinum One Suites all offer larger rooms or full apartments, which suits families and longer stays. OZO Colombo has a rooftop pool and is a short walk from Wellawatte beach.
Mount Lavinia
About 12 km south of Fort, the Mount Lavinia Hotel is a colonial-era beach hotel with a long history. Siddhalepa's Anarva nearby is a smaller Ayurveda-focused stay.
At a glance
| Hotel | Area | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Galle Face Hotel | Galle Face | Heritage luxury, sea-facing |
| Shangri-La / Kingsbury / Hilton | Fort and Galle Face | International luxury |
| Cinnamon Grand / Lakeside / Taj Samudra | Galle Face and Beira Lake | Large five-star |
| Fairway Colombo | Fort | Mid-range |
| Cinnamon Red / Mövenpick | Kollupitiya | Modern mid-range and luxury |
| Tintagel / Residence by Uga | Colombo 7 and Union Place | Boutique |
| Jetwing Colombo Seven | Colombo 7 | Mid-range |
| Black Cat Cafe and Stay | Colombo 7 | Budget |
| Mandarina / Ocean Edge / Platinum One | Bambalapitiya | Suites and apartments |
| OZO Colombo | Wellawatte | Mid-range |
| Best Western Elyon | South-east of the centre | Mid-range |
| Mount Lavinia Hotel / Anarva | Mount Lavinia | Beach and Ayurveda |
Which to choose
For a short stopover with sightseeing, stay near Galle Face. For a quieter, more personal stay, look at Colombo 7. Families who need space do better with the suite hotels on Galle Road. If you land late and fly out early, remember the airport is about 32 km north, which is 30 to 60 minutes by expressway.
Read our Colombo travel guide for what to see, or browse things to do in Colombo. If you would rather stay near the airport, see hotels in Negombo.
Quick picks
- Couples: Tintagel or Residence by Uga Escapes for a quiet, personal stay
- Families: Platinum One Suites or Ocean Edge Suites for space and kitchens
- Business: Hilton, Shangri-La or The Kingsbury, close to the World Trade Centre
- On a budget: Black Cat Cafe and Stay, or Fairway Colombo for mid-range comfort in Fort