Colombo

168 Seafood Palace

Serves excellent Chinese food and seafood dishes. Prices start at Rs 250. but some prices depend on weight (e.g. crabs). The service is very good.

Arunthathee Vihaar Vegetarian Family Restaurant

Vegetarian-only Indian Restaurant in Downtown Colombo. Serves authentic Indian food at very good prices.

Every day 7:00-22:00

Attidiya Bird Sanctuary

A beautiful marshland, rich with natural biodiversity and a resting place for many types of birds. The vegetation is dominated by sedge and grasses including Rhyuchospora rubra and Panicum repens. Around 43 species of waterfowl live in the area. Most common among them are Indian Shag (Phalaerocorox fuscicollis), and the Blue breasted Banded Rail (Rallus striatus). If you are an enthusiastic bird watcher or an eco friend, then it is worthwhile to spend sometimes in the Attidiya bird sanctuary.

Barefoot

This handicraft shop has a wide range of good quality souvenirs and handmade items: clothes, bags and children toys, from some of the most beautifully-coloured fabric you've ever seen. While the biggest outlet is at Galle Road, there are smaller outlets at the Dutch Hospital and 41 Pedlar Street.

Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka

A Roman Catholic church with basilica status. The church is home to the venerated statue of Our Lady of Lanka.

California Grill

This is a fine dining restaurant on the rooftop level of the hotel. It offers panoramic views of the Galle Face marina. The food, mostly US-style grills and premium seafood, is excellent too.

Caveman Redux

A tranquil boutique dedicated to natural health, beauty, and wellness. Caveman Redux offers an extensive selection of essential oils, base oils, floral waters, plant extracts, dietary supplements, and raw natural ingredients for homemade skincare and wellness rituals.

9AM-8PM

Central Bank Currency Museum

Established on 20 April 1982 at the Central Bank Head Office in Colombo Fort. The Central Bank Currency Museum traces the history of the usage of coins and notes in Sri Lanka since 3 BCE and has on display a large number of old coins and notes.

Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4PM except public and bank holidays·free

Church of St Anthony

It is beside the sea where Sea Street and St Anthony’s Mawatha meet.

Colombo Lighthouse

Used to look out over the pretty coastline, but now it's hemmed in by the urban centre of Colombo to the east and the new Colombo International Financial City built from reclaimed land to the west, such that it looks like an anachronism if there ever was one.

Daily 9AM-6PM

Colombo Racecourse

In 2012 it was redeveloped as the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex to become the first International rugby union ground in Sri Lanka to host all the national rugby union side's home matches.

Colombo Zoological Gardens

Dehiwala Zoological Garden

Colombo's zoo has a wide variety of animals, birds, and reptiles from all over the world. See lion show, every day 4-4:15PM; elephant show, every day 4:30-4:55PM.

Daily 8:30AM-4PM·For overseas visitors: adult Rs 2000, child Rs 1000, video cameras Rs 500. Other fees: elephant ride, adult Rs 200, child Rs 100; pony ride for children under 12 Rs 25

Crescat Boulevard

An up-market shopping mall. Though it is fairly small, it contains a food court on the basement floor.

Galle Face Green Promenade

Visit at sundown for a spectacular view. The ½-km-long promenade stretches between Galle Road and the Indian Ocean; it tends to attract children, teenagers, vendors, lovers, kite flyers, merrymakers, and families. Usually on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the land is filled with day-trippers, food vendors, and people picnicking which make it very crowded. It is also the largest open space in the city.

Free

Gangaramaya Temple

One of the most important temples in Colombo. The temple's architecture is an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles. And adjoining it just to the west is the Seema Malaka, another Buddhist temple complex that sits upon Beira Lake, along with Gangamaraya Park. Some urban and eccentric views of the surrounding skyline can be had from here, including looking back on the Altair Sri Lanka apartment tower that looks like one building falling on another.

Ginza Hohsen

A Japanese restaurant with a sushi bar, tatami rooms and teppanyaki.

Gordon Gardens

About 16,000 m². The gardens have an amazing variety of trees.

Graze Kitchen

Features an array of ethnic cuisine like Chinese, Japanese, Sri Lankan, and Italian served in an interactive fashion.

Daily 6AM-10:30PM

Independence Memorial Hall

(also Independence Commemoration Hall)

is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the establishment of Dominion of Ceylon on 4 February 1948. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.

9AM-5PM·Child Rs 150, adult Rs 300 (2013)

India House

The official residence in Colombo for the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. Built in 1926-27 for the Imperial Bank of India and taken over by the Government of India in 1956. It is a colonial style villa/bungalow, with large gardens along Thurstan Road. It is guarded by personnel from the Border Security Force.

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque

This historic mosque is a popular tourist site. Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque was built in 1909 by the Pettah Muslim community to fulfill their required five-times-daily prayer and Jummah on Fridays. It is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo.

Kalani Raja Maha Viharaya.

Located about 9 km away from Colombo, the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. The temple had been built more than 2,000 years ago and contains images of reclining and preaching Buddha along with frescoes depicting incidents from his life.

Lakpahana

A non-profit organization run by the craftsman association of Sri Lanka with assistance from the government. Offers all handicrafts and gemstone jewellery. Unique metalware, wood carvings, silver jewellery, batik, textile products and other crafts.

Liberty Plaza

Similar to Majestic City but smaller. You can find various items such as clothing, CDs and DVDs.

Lotus Tower

Distinctive Colombo telecommunications tower that offers great views. At night, it is shining with the colours on the flower changing every few seconds.

$20 USD for foreigners, Rs 500 for Sri Lankans

Majestic City

In Kollupitiya on Galle Road has a wide variety of clothing outlets, including a sub-branch of Odel, at very good prices, as well as various electrical goods and toy shops. It's pleasantly air-conditioned and includes a food court on the ground floor.

Mango Tree

One of the finest restaurants in the city. North Indian Cuisine, full of innovative dishes. Service is occasionally slow.

Daily noon-3PM, 7PM-11PM·Full meal: Rs 1,000 per person

New Yarl Eat House

It serves traditional Jaffna style rice and curries with excellent value for money crabs.

A lunch for one including a full crab costs around Rs 400

Nihonbashi Main Restaurant

There are three Nihonbashi outlets in Colombo. A sushi bar at Odel and an outlet at the Hilton Colombo Residence are the other two. The main restaurant is an airy and spacious restaurant with a blend of modern and traditional in design consisting of 8 private dining rooms also a dine-in wine room. Nihonbashi is owned and run by Tokyo-born Dharshan Munidasa, a self-taught chef.

Odel

A stylish department store, with its very own Delifrance outlet, clothing, houseware, sporting goods, books and movies, as well as Delight – for sweet indulgences from chocolates to exotic nuts.