01
Galle Face Green
A wide grass promenade between the colonial city and the Indian Ocean. Walk it at dusk, when the kite sellers come out and families gather for shoreline picnics.
06°56′ N · 79°50′ EColombo · Sri LankaEdition 01 / 26
A luxury city guide
Things to Do in Colombo
From colonial verandahs and quiet temples to rooftop bars and design-led galleries — the city, considered.
02
Dutch Hospital Precinct
The city's most considered restaurant address — a restored 17th-century Dutch courtyard now home to fine dining, cocktail bars, and boutique shops.
03
Gangaramaya Temple
An active Buddhist temple of unusual eclecticism — courtyards, library, and a museum of donated curiosities. Visit during evening puja for the full sensory effect.
04
Seema Malaka
Three open-air pavilions floating on Beira Lake. A meditation platform designed by Geoffrey Bawa — quiet, modern, and quietly extraordinary.
05
Colombo National Museum
Sri Lanka's principal museum, set in a white Italianate building in Cinnamon Gardens. Strong for Kandyan-era regalia, bronzes, and colonial-era manuscripts.
06
Geoffrey Bawa's Number 11
The Colombo home of Sri Lanka's most important architect, kept exactly as he left it. Visits are by reservation only and are worth planning around.
07
Pettah Market
Colombo's loudest, most kaleidoscopic neighbourhood — every street is a wholesale market for a different category. Best visited in the morning, on foot, with a guide.
08
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
The red-and-white striped mosque in the heart of Pettah, an enduring symbol of the city. Modest dress required; the courtyard is open to visitors outside prayer times.
09
Independence Square
A wide ceremonial square in Cinnamon Gardens, with a stone replica of the audience hall at Kandy. A favourite of early-morning runners and evening walkers.
10
Park Street Mews
A short, low-rise lane of restaurants, cocktail bars, and design shops behind a converted warehouse facade. Reliably the most relaxed dinner address in town.
11
Colombo Port City
The newest part of the city — a reclaimed waterfront under development, with planned promenades, marinas, and parks. Worth a walk for the scale alone.
12
Rooftop dining and sundowners
Colombo's best evenings tend to happen 20 storeys up. Try Sky on 14, the rooftop at NH Collection, or the bar at Jetwing Colombo Seven for a quieter view.
13
Luxury shopping and galleries
PR Colombo and Barefoot for textiles and design; Saskia Fernando Gallery and Paradise Road Galleries for contemporary art; ODEL for everyday Sri Lankan style.