Colombo City Tour

Colombo rewards a day with a guide. The main sights are spread out across the city, traffic is heavy, and it helps to have someone who knows which order to see them in. This full-day tour covers the essentials, with lunch, and finishes in time for some shopping or a sunset by the sea.

The National Museum

You start at the Colombo National Museum, opened in 1877 and the largest museum in the country. Its collection runs from ancient stone carvings and bronze statues to masks, weapons and the regalia of the Kandyan kings. The museum is closed on Mondays, so we plan the tour for another day.

Gangaramaya and Beira Lake

Next is Gangaramaya Temple, one of the busiest Buddhist temples in Colombo, full of statues, carvings and gifts from donors around the world. A short walk away, Seema Malaka sits on platforms in Beira Lake. It was redesigned by Geoffrey Bawa in the 1970s and is one of the quietest spots in the city.

Colombo Fort

The Fort is the old colonial core. Here you see the Old Parliament building, the clock tower that once served as a lighthouse, the Lloyd's building and St Peter's Church, among others. Lunch is a Sri Lankan buffet in the city.

Independence Square and Viharamahadevi Park

In the afternoon you visit Independence Square, built to mark independence from Britain in 1948, with its memorial hall and shady park. Viharamahadevi Park, the city's largest, is close by, facing the white domed Town Hall.

Galle Face Green and shopping

The day ends on the seafront at Galle Face Green, where families gather in the late afternoon, followed by time for shopping. Your guide can suggest places for tea, clothes, handicrafts or spices depending on what you are after.

Good to know

• The tour runs for about eight hours and covers roughly 20 km of city driving.
• Cover your shoulders and knees for the temples, and expect to remove your shoes.
• Pickup and drop-off are at your hotel in Colombo.

For more on the city, read our Colombo guide, or add a morning in the markets with the Pettah walking tour.

Make a day of it

If you want to see the city from above, you can add the Lotus Tower at the end of the day; the hour before sunset is the best time.