Negombo is a beach and fishing town on the west coast, about 7 km from Bandaranaike International Airport, making it the usual place to spend the first or last night of a trip. It has a long beach, a large lagoon with mangroves, a busy fish market, a Dutch fort and canal, and so many churches that it is sometimes called Little Rome.
Top things to do in Negombo
Lellama fish market
The fish market near the lagoon mouth is liveliest early in the morning, when boats unload their catch. Fish is also dried on the beach nearby.
Negombo Lagoon
Boat trips on the lagoon pass mangroves, fishing villages and traditional outrigger canoes, with birds such as kingfishers and herons.
Negombo Beach
A long, wide beach north of the town, lined with hotels and restaurants. Swimming is best from about November to April.
Muthurajawela wetlands
South of the lagoon, this marsh is the largest coastal wetland in Sri Lanka, with boat trips for birds, monitor lizards and crocodiles.
Dutch fort and canal
The Portuguese built a fort here and the Dutch rebuilt it in the 17th century; the gate and clock tower remain. The Dutch also extended the canal that runs through the town.
Angurukaramulla Temple
A Buddhist temple known for its dragon entrance and a large seated Buddha.
St Mary's Church
The large Catholic church in the town centre is known for its painted ceiling.
Hindu temples
The Munneswaram kovil near Chilaw, an ancient Shiva temple, and the Manavari kovil are linked to the Ramayana and can be visited on a day trip north.
Best time to go
The best beach weather is from about November to April. Rain falls mainly from about May to September and in October to November.
How long to spend
One night is enough for most visitors, but two days allow time for the lagoon, the fish market and Muthurajawela.
Getting around
Tuk tuks are the easiest way around town. The airport is 20 to 30 minutes by car, and Colombo about 45 minutes via the expressway.
Food
Negombo is known for seafood from the lagoon and sea, especially crab, prawns and cuttlefish, served in beachside restaurants along Lewis Place and Porutota Road.
Practical tips
Ask your hotel about airport transfers, which take 20 to 30 minutes. Early flights mean many visitors arrive late, so a hotel near the beach is convenient for a first night. Sea conditions change with the monsoon. Red flags, strong currents and rip tides are common from about May to September and lifeguards are few, so swim only where locals or hotel staff say it is safe.
Plan your visit
Negombo is a convenient first or last stop. For history, background and how to get there, see the Negombo travel guide, and for accommodation see hotels in Negombo.
Related posts
Negombo Beach
Negombo beach runs north from the town along the main hotel strip, 20 to 30 minutes from the airport. It is a convenient place to rest at the start or end of a trip.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Negombo Lagoon
The Negombo lagoon is a large estuary just south of the town. Boat trips pass mangroves, fishing villages and traditional outrigger canoes.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Muthurajawela wetlands
Muthurajawela is a large coastal marsh between Negombo and Colombo. Boat trips look for water birds, monitor lizards and crocodiles.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Negombo "Lellama'' Fish Market
Lellama is Negombo's main fish market, near the lagoon mouth. Come early in the morning when the boats unload and the auctions are at their busiest.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Angurukaramulla Temple
Angurukaramulla temple is the best known Buddhist temple in Negombo, with a dragon entrance and a large seated Buddha.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Negombo Dutch Fort
Negombo's fort stands near the lagoon mouth. Not much is left, but the gate and clock tower recall the Portuguese and Dutch periods.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
St. Mary´s Church
St Mary's Church on Grand Street is the best known church in Negombo, a town so Catholic it is called Little Rome. Its painted ceiling is the highlight.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Negombo City Tour
See Negombo in a day, from the fish market and lagoon to the Dutch fort, churches and the canal, close to the airport.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Manavari Kovil
Manavari is a Hindu temple north of Chilaw, an important stop on the Ramayana trail. Tradition holds that Rama installed a lingam here.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Munneswaram Kovil
Munneswaram, just east of Chilaw, is one of the most important Hindu temples in Sri Lanka, dedicated to Shiva. It draws large crowds at its festival in August or September.
Image Credit: ShutterStock