See Negombo in a day, from the fish market and lagoon to the Dutch fort, churches and the canal, close to the airport.
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Highlights
Visit the Negombo Lagoon and its fishing life
See the day's catch at the fish market
Eat fresh seafood for lunch
Relax on Negombo beach
Watch the sunset over the sea
Overview
Negombo, on the west coast near Bandaranaike International Airport, is a fishing town with a strong Catholic heritage and a history shaped by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Its lagoon and canals make it a good first or last stop in Sri Lanka. A guided city tour covers the main sights in a day.
A typical route
The Lellama fish market: one of the largest fish markets in Sri Lanka, busiest in the early morning. You can watch auctions and see fish drying on the beach. Some tours let you buy seafood to be cooked for lunch.
The Hamilton (Dutch) canal: a boat or canoe ride along the canal built in the colonial period, past houses, fishing boats and birds.
The Negombo lagoon: mangroves, fishing canoes and traditional fishing methods.
The Dutch fort: remains of the fort and gate built by the Dutch in the 17th century.
Churches: such as St Mary's Church, with its painted ceiling. Negombo is often called "Little Rome" for its many churches.
How long it takes
Most tours take around six to eight hours with lunch.
When to go
Start early to see the fish market at its busiest. The west coast is driest from about November to April.
Getting there
Negombo is about 20 minutes from the airport and around an hour from Colombo by road.
