About Colombo

As the island’s commercial and administrative capital, there are plenty of things to do in Colombo. Especially if you have never been to this great city, one of the first things to do in Colombo is to hop on to the open double-decker bus and get a glimpse of the key places by joining the Colombo City Tour commencing from the Galle Face Hotel.

Shopping in Colombo is an interesting experience to say the least. The Pettah Bazaars are ideal if you are looking for a few knick knacks at terribly cheap prices. You may have to persist in bargaining, but it is worth it! There are plenty of other places for shopping in Colombo, though only a few malls including the Crescat Boulevard, Majestic City and Liberty Plaza. Other places to shop are Barefoot which is particularly popular among the tourist population, Odel, Avirate, Cotton Collection and Dilly’s.

Colombo offers some of the best spa experiences in the world. A traditional ayurvedic massage at the Siddhalepa Spa or a ritualistic aromatherapy massage at the Spa Ceylon is a must on your list of things to do in Colombo.

A stay in Colombo will not be complete without an experience of the dining in Colombo. There is a wide variety of options ranging from the Hotel De Pilawoos with local goodies such as cheese kottu rotti, string hopper biriyani or a masala rotti to the Gallery Café offering an exotic dining experience. Other dining options in Colombo include the Bars Café, Barefoot Garden Café, Cricket Club Café, Nuga Gama, Commons and Chesa Swiss. The Checkerboard at the Galle Face Hotel is an ideal spot to enjoy a drink in the evening, while enjoying the view of a glorious sunset.

Colombo nightlife is fairly decent too. Gaming is legal only for foreign passport holders and some of the popularly known casinos are Bally’s Casino and Bellagio Casino. Most of the dance oriented Colombo nightlife revolves around a few night clubs including A Museum, Silk and Karma.