Visit the Gangaramaya temple and the Simamalaka Shrine

Take a spiritual break at the city’s biggest Buddhist temple! With the country being of Buddhist majority, these two cultural highlights are a major hotspot for the locals as well as visitors. In fact, you could take part in the ritual of offering fresh flowers just as how the locals would. Walk through the many Buddha statues and marvel at the craftsmanship, which comprises a mixture of Sri Lankan, Thai and Chinese architecture at the Gangaramaya temple.

A little further away and a more notable attraction is the Simamalaka Shrine, which is built on a man-made lake accessible through a pontoon boardwalk. Here, you could just sit back and relax as you overlook the lake while staying away from the busy life of Colombo.

Excite your taste buds with a spicy cheese Kottu

Sri Lanka in general is known for its spicy food and one dish that you should not miss is the “cheese Kottu”. This popular dish is made of diced roti mixed with a wide array of vegetables and local spices making it a favorite amongst the locals. It’s best served hot as it helps melt the cheese making it very flavorful and appetizing too. They are a very popular street food and you can find them at many street food joints but get your local guide to take you to some of the best ones in Colombo. If you’re not a major fan of spicy food, you could request for a milder version with less chilly and pepper. If you are a foodie, be sure to check out all the Colombo food tours!

Visit the National Museum of Colombo

Sri Lanka is a country rich in history and of course, one of the best things to do in Colombo is to pay a visit to the National Museum of Colombo. Being the largest museum in Sri Lanka, it showcases relics from different parts of the country such as Kandy and Anuradhapura, some dating back to the 11th Century. It provides a good introduction to the country and could help you relate to the many cultural rituals present in today’s time too.

Glance through the several kingdoms that were present, going all the way back to the 4th Century B.C. also known as the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Yes, that’s right! Civilization in Sri Lanka has existed for so long and paying a visit to this museum will really open your mind to understanding how it has developed to a modern economy overtime.

Let off some steam at the Viharamahadevi Park

Being a tropical country, Colombo can be very humid so why not take a refreshing break from the heat at the Viharamahadevi park, the largest in the city. Explore the park leisurely and you will likely come across very active squirrels, the lazy bats lurking around the trees and maybe some colorful parrots too.

Bring out the kid in you by swinging on the ancient vines, which are believed to be almost 1,500 years old! Whether you are alone or with your kids, it’s a wonderful way to spend your evening and is one of the best things to do in Colombo. This is a good chance for you to interact with the locals as you get many of them coming to the same park as well.

Grab some street food at Aluth Kade

“Aluth Kade” literally means “New shop” – no relevance to its meaning though! It’s an area popular to serving some of the best Sri Lankan street food. Most of the shops open once the sun sets, and it’s better if you go with a local guide who is already familiar with the area. This place is lined with tiny food joints serving various types of authentic Sri Lankan street food which you cannot experience anywhere else.

Friendly tip: It’s advised that you take change money along with you as food here is cheap and of course no one accepts cards. The streets can be very lively at night during the Muslim’s Ramazan season as most of the residents in the area are Muslims. Tell your local guide to add this to your personalized tour because this is definitely one of the best things to do in Colombo!

Play street cricket with the kids in Slave Island

The narrow streets surrounding Union place are lined with colorful buildings in one of Colombo’s ancient neighborhoods called Slave Island. Here, you can see children playing street cricket by the side of the road with their very own set of rules of the game. They would love to have you take part too!

So, if you do happen to show them some of interest in their game, don’t be surprised if one of the kids extend you an invitation. Isn’t there a better way to spend time with the locals than by playing a sport they love together?

Go on a fun ride in a tuk-tuk

Fancy a thrilling ride in Colombo? If so, you should go on a ride in one of the “tuk-tuks”, this is definitely an exciting thing to do in Colombo.

This three-wheeled vehicle is very popular here in Colombo mostly because it’s cheap way to get from point to another in no time. Make the ride more exciting by trying to spot a more pimped up tuk-tuk with bling decors in the interior sometimes equipped with a loud sound system too. Most drivers speak English so chat away if you’re in the mood for it. Don’t be surprised if they come up with some amazing local insights and recommendations about the top things to do in Colombo. They know best!

Watch the sunset as you enjoy the street food in Galle Face.

Galle Face is not known just for its street food but about the setting itself. It is located at the hub of the capital where on one side you get the luxury hotels and apartments whereas on the other is an area open to the public.

Sit on one of the benches there with the famous prawn-topped patty (“isso-wade” as the locals call it) in your hand, as you watch the sun go down. It’s as if you are in a grand stage watching it along with the people in the rooftop bars & hotels that are around - making it a truly unique thing to do in Colombo.

Stroll through the fruit and vegetable market in Kollupitiya

Enter into one of the oldest market in Colombo that offers you a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It can get very exciting, especially once you see the wider variety of tropical fruits such as mangoes, papaya and rambutans – yes, it’s actually a name of a fruit!

This market boasts a line full of vendors trying to convince you to buy their produce and this is where you need put your negotiation skills to best use. Be polite and act like you know it all so you won’t be tricked into being quoted unreasonable prices. Haggling is an art and your local guide can teach you all about it.

Relax at the beach in Mount Lavinia

Drive down Mount Lavinia to hit one of the most beautiful scenic beaches around Colombo. Grab yourself a beach chair and just enjoy the sea breeze while drinking off a King Coconut to help you cool your body down.

The best time to visit would be when the sun is about to set, as it provides an amazing view of the pastel-colored horizon. You could also take a dip in the sea as they are usually calm. There is no doubt that there’s any better way to spend the evening on a tropical island.