Hilton Colombo
A long-standing five-star hotel near Fort, with harbour and lake views, a pool deck and the popular Curry Leaf Sri Lankan restaurant.
- Upscale
Mövenpick Hotel Colombo
A modern five-star hotel in Kollupitiya with a rooftop pool and bar, stylish rooms and an easy walk to the city’s cafés and shops.
- Upscale
Shangri-La Colombo
Colombo’s landmark luxury tower on Galle Face, with Indian Ocean views, a huge spa, several pools and some of the city’s best restaurants.
- Luxury
Galadari Hotel
A long-running hotel opposite Galle Face Green with harbour and ocean views, a pool and family-friendly facilities.
- Mid-range
Fairway Colombo
A modern, good-value hotel in Fort with a rooftop pool and views towards Galle Face and the ocean.
- Mid-range
Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
A huge, futuristic integrated resort that opened in 2024, with 687 rooms, a dozen restaurants and bars, and views over the city and the ocean.
- Luxury
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo
A five-star hotel on the shores of Beira Lake, with a big pool, lake views and several well-known restaurants.
- Upscale
Cinnamon Grand Colombo
A big, buzzing five-star hotel on Galle Road with 500-plus rooms and some of Colombo’s best-known restaurants, including The Lagoon and Nuga Gama.
- Upscale
Mount Lavinia Hotel
A historic colonial-era hotel on a headland at Mount Lavinia, south of central Colombo, with its own beach and a famous seaside terrace.
- Upscale
Galle Face Hotel
Colombo’s grand colonial hotel, open since 1864, facing the ocean at the end of Galle Face Green, famous for sunset drinks on the verandah.
- Luxury
The Kingsbury Colombo
A seafront five-star hotel in Fort, with ocean views, a busy buffet restaurant and a lively bar scene.
- Upscale
Marino Beach Colombo
A modern seafront hotel on Marine Drive with a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.
- Upscale
Taj Samudra Colombo
A classic five-star hotel on Galle Face Green, set in landscaped gardens with ocean views and a range of restaurants.
- Upscale
ITC Ratnadipa
Colombo’s newest luxury landmark, opened in 2024 between the ocean and Beira Lake, with 352 rooms, a sky bridge bar and acclaimed restaurants.
- Luxury
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Colombo at a glance
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and biggest city, and the first stop for most visitors arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, north of the city. It rewards a day or two: colonial streets in Fort, the markets of Pettah, sunset on Galle Face Green and one of the most exciting café and food scenes in South Asia.
Neighbourhoods to know
- Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens): leafy and calm, home to the National Museum, Viharamahadevi Park and many of the city’s best cafés.
- Colombo 3 (Kollupitiya): central, close to the seafront and packed with restaurants.
- Fort and Pettah: historic buildings, the main railway station and busy markets.
Getting around
Tuk-tuks are everywhere. Using a ride-hailing app such as PickMe or Uber gives you a fixed, metered fare and saves haggling.
Good to know
Which area of Colombo is best for cafés?
Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens) and the neighbouring areas have the highest concentration of specialty coffee shops and brunch cafés, many within a short tuk-tuk ride of each other.
How far is Colombo from the airport?
Bandaranaike International Airport is in Katunayake, north of the city. Allow around an hour by car using the expressway, more at peak times.
How do I get around Colombo?
Tuk-tuks are the easiest option. Booking through an app such as PickMe or Uber gives you a metered fare upfront.