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Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka

5 days in Colombo

Colonial charm, ocean drives and a spicy food scene. Here's how to spend 5 days in Colombo: a realistic day-by-day plan you can copy and tweak. The best time for this 5 days Colombo trip is February, March and August. Budget roughly $130/person/day before flights.

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Length
5 days
Best time
February, March, August
~Cost/day
$130
Currency
USD
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Your 5 days Colombo itinerary, day by day

1

Day 1

09:00
Pettah, Sri Lanka~$18
Pettah (Sinhala: පිටකොටුව, Tamil: புறக்கோட்டை is a neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, located east of the city centre Fort, and behind the Colombo Port. The Pettah neighborhood i
12:30
Kayman's Gate
Kayman's Gate was an entrance to the former Colombo Fort located at the foot of the Wolvendaal Hill in the Pettah district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A historic free-standing bell towe
16:00
Gaffoor Building~$18
The Gaffoor Building is a prominent four-storey wedge-shaped building located on the corner Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha and Leyden Bastian Street, Colombo Fort.
2

Day 2

09:00
Fort railway station bombing~$18
The Fort railway station bombing was a suicide bombing of a commuter train while it was stopped at the Fort railway station, the main station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 3,
12:30
Fort railway station~$18
Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Statio
16:00
The One (Colombo)~$5
The One is a tri-tower US$650 million mixed-use development project in Colombo, Sri Lanka, estimated to be the 10th largest of its kind in the world. It comprises the Ritz-Carlton
3

Day 3

09:00
Colombo Central Electoral District~$5
Colombo Central electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the city of Colombo in Colombo Distric
12:30
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque (Sinhala: කොලඹ කොටුව රතු පල්ලිය, romanized: Kolomba Kotuwa Rathu Palliya, Tamil: மஸ்ஜிதுல் ஜாமிஉல் அஃபார் அல்லது சம்மாங்கோடு பள்ளிவாசல், romanized: Sammankodu
16:00
Lloyd's Building, Colombo~$18
Lloyd's Building is a prominent five-storey 19th century building located on Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha, Colombo Fort.
4

Day 4

09:00
St. Peter's Church, Colombo
St. Peter's Church is one of the oldest continuously functioning churches in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is located on Church Street in Colombo Fort, on the northern side of the Grand O
12:30
1996 attack on Colombo Harbour~$5
On 12 April 1996 a suicide attack was carried out by six Sea Tigers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Colombo Harbour, which is the primary commercial port in Sri L
16:00
Republic Building, Colombo~$18
The Republic Building is the building that houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in southern wing and the Cabinet Office in its northern wing. It is located in Colombo Fort in clo
5

Day 5

09:00
Former General Post Office, Colombo~$18
The former Colombo General Post Office, at 17 Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo Fort, was the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Post and the office of the Postmaster General for over one h
12:30
Old Colombo Dutch Hospital~$18
The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital is considered to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era in Sri Lanka. It is now a heritage building a
16:00
Pettah Market~$10
The Pettah Market also called Manning Market is an open market in the suburb of Pettah in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

A starting point, not a script. Reshuffle it in the planner →

What 5 days in Colombo costs

What this trip costs

$1,243
Flights$45036%
Stay$23419%
Activities$16914%
Food$19516%
Local transport$786%
Shopping$524%
Buffer$655%
$249/day

Estimates for planning, so check live prices before you book.

Have more or less time in Colombo?

2 days in Colombo 3 days in Colombo 4 days in Colombo 1 week in Colombo Full Colombo guide

5 days in Colombo: FAQ

Is 5 days enough for Colombo?+

5 days is a comfortable amount of time to explore Colombo, with room for day trips and a slower pace. The plan above balances the must-sees with time to wander.

What should I do on day 1 in Colombo?+

Start with Pettah, Sri Lanka, Kayman's Gate and Gaffoor Building. The full first day is mapped out above.

How much does 5 days in Colombo cost?+

Budget around $130 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and activities), before flights, so roughly $650 per person for 5 days. The cost breakdown above splits it by category.

When is the best time to visit Colombo?+

The best months to visit Colombo are February, March, August and December, when the weather suits sightseeing best.

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