Sri Lanka

Things to do in Colombo

19 places15 stories2 routes

Sightlore has 19 places to explore in Colombo, and 15 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.

Colombo's must-sees

The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.

  1. 1
    Pettah Market

    Pettah Market

    The Pettah Market also called Manning Market is an open market in the suburb of Pettah in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

  2. 2
    Lotus Tower

    Lotus Tower

    The Lotus Tower, also known as the Colombo Lotus Tower, stands at a height of 351.5 meters (1,153 feet) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has become a symbolic landmark for the country.

  3. 3
    Old Parliament Building, Colombo

    Old Parliament Building, Colombo

    The Old Parliament Building, is the building that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka.

  4. 4
    National Museum of Colombo

    National Museum of Colombo

    The Colombo National Museum, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, is a museum in Colombo and the largest in Sri Lanka.

    Read its story →
  5. 5
    St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade

    St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade

    St. Anthony's Shrine is a Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The church is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua.

  6. 6
    Galle Face Green

    Galle Face Green

    Galle Face Green is a 5 ha (12 acres) ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m (1,600 ft) along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka.

  7. 7
    Viharamahadevi Park

    Viharamahadevi Park

    Viharamahadevi Park is a 45 acre public park located in Cinnamon Gardens, in Colombo, situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall in Sri Lanka.

  8. 8
    Seema Malaka

    Seema Malaka

    Seema Malaka is a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The temple is mainly used for meditation and rest, rather than for worship. Situated in the Beira Lake, the temple was originally constructed in the late 19th century.

  9. 9
    Wolvendaal Church

    Wolvendaal Church

    Wolvendaal Church (Wolvendaalse Kerk) is located in Pettah, a neighbourhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch colonial-era buildings in Sri Lanka and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.

  10. 10
    Beira Lake

    Beira Lake

    Beira Lake is a man-made lake in the centre of the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The lake is surrounded by many large businesses in the city.

Discovery routes in Colombo

Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.

  • Colombo: Galle Face, Fort and Pettah

    From Galle Face Green to the Old Parliament Building, Colombo Lighthouse and the Currency Museum; then Pettah Market, the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Wolvendaal Church and St. Anthony's Shrine.

    Walking · 3 h · 5.6 km · 8 stops

  • Colombo: Lotus Tower, Beira Lake and Cinnamon Gardens

    From the Lotus Tower to Beira Lake and Seema Malaka, then to the Gangaramaya Temple; on to Viharamahadevi Park, the National Museum of Colombo and Independence Memorial Hall.

    Walking · 3 h · 5.2 km · 7 stops

Places to visit

Historic sites

  • Old Parliament Building, Colombo

    Old Parliament Building, Colombo

    The Old Parliament Building, is the building that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka.

    Has a story

  • Colombo Lighthouse

    Colombo Lighthouse

    Colombo Lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. It is located at Galbokka Point south of the Port of Colombo on the waterfront along the marine drive, in Colombo fort.

    Has a story

Museums

  • Currency museum

    Currency museum

    Economic History Museum of Sri Lanka (commonly known as the Currency museum or Money museum) is located in the Central Point building, 54 Chatham Street, Colombo Fort (the head office of Central Bank of Sri Lanka).

    Has a story

  • National Museum of Colombo

    National Museum of Colombo

    The Colombo National Museum, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, is a museum in Colombo and the largest in Sri Lanka.

    Has a story

Places of worship

  • Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

    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 Pallivasal, (known colloquially as the Samman Kottu Palli, Rathu Palliya, Red Masjid or the Red…

    Has a story

  • Wolvendaal Church

    Wolvendaal Church

    Wolvendaal Church (Wolvendaalse Kerk) is located in Pettah, a neighbourhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch colonial-era buildings in Sri Lanka and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.

    Has a story

  • St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade

    St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade

    St. Anthony's Shrine is a Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The church is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua.

    Has a story

  • Seema Malaka

    Seema Malaka

    Seema Malaka is a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The temple is mainly used for meditation and rest, rather than for worship. Situated in the Beira Lake, the temple was originally constructed in the late 19th century.

    Has a story

  • Gangaramaya Temple

    Gangaramaya Temple

    Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. Located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

    Has a story

  • St. Lucia's Cathedral

    St. Lucia's Cathedral

    St. Lucia's Cathedral, Sinhala: කොටහේන ශාන්ත ලුසියා ආසන දෙව්මැදුර Kothahena Santha Lusiya Asana Dewumædura) is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

  • Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

    Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

    The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. It is located 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of Colombo.

  • Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour

    Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour

    The Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour is located in Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 07) a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the primary Anglican cathedral, affiliated to the Church of Ceylon.

  • Isipathanaramaya Temple

    Isipathanaramaya Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Monuments

  • Lotus Tower

    Lotus Tower

    The Lotus Tower, also known as the Colombo Lotus Tower, stands at a height of 351.5 meters (1,153 feet) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has become a symbolic landmark for the country.

    Has a story

  • Independence Memorial Hall

    Independence Memorial Hall

    Independence Memorial Hall (also known as Independence Commemoration Hall) is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for the commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule, with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected…

    Has a story

Nature

  • Galle Face Green

    Galle Face Green

    Galle Face Green is a 5 ha (12 acres) ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m (1,600 ft) along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka.

    Has a story

  • Beira Lake

    Beira Lake

    Beira Lake is a man-made lake in the centre of the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The lake is surrounded by many large businesses in the city.

    Has a story

  • Viharamahadevi Park

    Viharamahadevi Park

    Viharamahadevi Park is a 45 acre public park located in Cinnamon Gardens, in Colombo, situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall in Sri Lanka.

    Has a story

Other

  • Pettah Market

    Pettah Market

    The Pettah Market also called Manning Market is an open market in the suburb of Pettah in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

    Has a story

Explore Colombo with your camera

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