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Colombo city tour itinerary
The Colombo city tour itinerary is a short program specially designed for travellers, who can allocate only 5 hours for Colombo city tour itinerary. Colombo city tour starts at 0800 hrs from the hotel in Colombo (however the pick-up location and time are flexible). Colombo city tour itinerary is planned such a way that it covers all major historical, religious and natural attractions as well as shopping areas withing 5 hours.
History of Colombo
In the novel Gamperaliya, veteran novelist martin Wikramsinghe’s Colombo is a place of glamour and destitution – a small city where spectacular wealth and poverty live side by side. This lethal combination develops a thriving underbelly, which Martin Wickramasinghe brings to life in the small portion of his novel that he dedicates to talking about Colombo. However, Martin Wikramsinghe did not highlight the fascinating blend of history and modernity in the city, which makes a fascinating blend visible to any travellers on the first glimpse of this metropolis.
History and modernity, wealth and poverty all are converging in this populated city, which is also home to many interesting tourist attractions, luxurious hotels, shopping malls, and places for recreational activities. Foreign governments around the world advised their citizens to avoid Colombo during the thirty years of civil war, which ended in 2009. Colombo was a dangerous place to hang around due to the unexpected bomb blasts. Business folk, tourist, Gangsters, drug dealers, and civilians rub their shoulders in this populated neighbourhood.
Colombo city had been a well-known city in the region among the Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Roman traders as early as the pre-Christian era. Sri Lanka is located on the East-West sea route and is visited by traders in order to exchange their goods with local traders. Even though Colombo was a well-known city among the ancient traders 2,000 years ago, the capital city of the country had been Anuradhapura. There was an Arabian settlement in the city of Colombo at the mouth of the Kelani River.
Arab traders were exporting goods from the port of Colombo. Goods such as Cinnamon, ivory, gems, and elephants were exported by the king of Kotte with the help of Arabs. With the beginning of the British colonial period, Colombo city received a prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978 until the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
Visiting cinnamon garden on Colombo city tour itinerary
The Colombo city tour takes the visitors through bustling Pettah to Colombo 7 better known as Cinnamon garden, the neighbourhood of the rich Colombo residents, where stupendous mansions and beautiful gardens take the centre stage. The fame of the cinnamon garden began with the arrival of British colonial rulers, who built their living quarters in the Cinnamon garden. Majority of toruist attractions are concentrated in and around the Cinnamon garden.
Now, you might be imagining a cinnamon garden within Colombo that spredas over a huge area. No, it is a cinnamon island sans cinnamon, (If you like to visit a cinnamon garden please book Bentota tour to Madu river safari) you don't see cinnamon plants, because cinnamon island existed during the British colonial era and later it was converted to the living quarter of rich pooepl in Sri Lanka. However, the area is still called cinnamon island.
Is Colombo city tour itinerary right for you?
- The entire trip is private (transfers and sightseeing), only you and your associates take part in the journey.
- This one-day trip packs a lot in. It’s one of the most popular Sri Lanka tours, we run in our Original style, perfect for those, who look for a one-week trip and a desire to do the most with it. If you are after a more leisurely trip in Sri Lanka or a shorter trip please check our other tour itineraries.
- Sri Lanka can get extremely hot in the summer. While we aim to do our walking tours, early in the morning or afternoon, when it’s cooler, there may be instances that we have to do the walking tour during the mid-day due to time constraints, remember to keep water on you and to bring a hat, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt, and anything else that will protect you from the sun.
- Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. We visit a number of temples on this trip and to enter them you must have clothes that cover to wrists and below the knee. Sometimes you have to remove the head covers and shoes upon entering the temple. Please click here to know more about the rules and regulations pertaining to Sri Lanka temple visits.
Place included in Colombo city tour itinerary
- Colombo National Museum
- Simammalaka
- Gangarama temple
- Hindu temple
- Old Parliament
- Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo 7
- Galle face green
- Independence memorial hall
- Hindu temple
- Beira Lake
- Majestic City, Odel and Lakmedura handicraft
- Pettah and Dutch hospital shopping precinct
Inclusions of Colombo city tour itinerary
- All Entrance fees and activity costs as per the tour itinerary
- Pickup and drop-off port of the hotel in Colombo
- All sightseeing tours as per the tour itinerary
- Entire ground transportation by an air-conditioned private vehicle
- Service of an English-speaking chauffeur-guide for the entire tour
- Mineral water during sightseeing tours and overland trips
Exclusions of Colombo city tour itinerary
- Gratuities
- Meals and drinks
Cancellation policy
Cancel five days prior to arrival for a full refund
Choose your payment method
We offer you mainly three payment options credit card payments, bank transfers or payment on arrival. You can choose whatever is the most convenient payment option for you. If you opt for payment on arrival we will collect a 10% advance payment from you as a guarantee, once the booking is confirmed.
COVID-19 Special information
- No restrictions
Colombo City Tour
Itineraries
Time : 8:00 am
Colombo
Meet and greet by Seerendipity tours representative and start the tour, en-route visit,
COLOMBO
Colombo city had been a well-known city in the region among the Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, and roman traders as early as the pre-Christian era. Sri Lanka is located on the East-West sea route and is visited by traders in order to exchange their goods with the local traders. Even though Colombo was a well-known city among the ancient traders 2,000 years ago, the capital city of the country had been Anuradhapura. There was an Arabian settlement in the city of Colombo at the mouth of the Kelani River. Arab traders were exporting goods from the port of Colombo. Goods such as Cinnamon, ivory, gems, and elephants were exported by the king of Kotte with the help of Arabs. With the beginning of the British colonial period, Colombo city received a prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978 until the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
GALLE FACE
This had been a well-known Racecourse during the British colonial period in the country. This race course which is located bordering the Indian Ocean had to be abandoned later on due to the Sea crabs, which are making holes in the track. Afterwards, it was developed as a promenade for the city dwellers and named Galle to face green. Today Galle face green contains an open theatre, and spacious open space for picnics, sports and walking.
BUDDHIST TEMPLE GANGARAMA
It is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the country. Temple is one of the three places that Buddha visited in the 6th century B.C. well known Kelaniya dagoba is located within the border of the temple. Kalyani River, which flows next to the temple, adds more value to the scenic beauty of the temple. This temple holds a reputation for its attractive wall, which is considered to be the best painting of the Modern Era.
VIHARAMAHADEVI PARK
Viharamahadevi is located in Colombo 7 or Cinnamon gardens. It is the largest and most popular park in the city. It is believed that there had been a twenty-square-kilometre cinnamon plantation in the area. Today most of the palaces of wealthy people can be seen in the area and Colombo 7 is the most picturesque part of the city.
WOLFENDAAL CHURCH
The Wolvendaal Church is located In Fort and within walking distance from the centre of the city. It has a large collection of tombstones of important Dutch personalities. Fort is made at the highest point of the city and dates back to 1813. The church is built in the doric style of the period. In the form of a Greek cross, with five feet thick walls and the gables raised over. The transepts are roofed with brick barrel arches and a central dome.
AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE / INDEPENDENCE HALL / PETTAH AND BMICH
Facing the Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall stands a beautifully executed statue of the Buddha in a standing posture. The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo. It is a replica of the Avukana Statue on the banks of the Kalawewa Anuradhapura.
The City Tour will also include places of Tourist interest such as the Old parliament, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall, Devatagaha mosque, Pettah area, Galle face green, Cinnamon garden, Colombo museum, and Beira lake.
Shopping at Odel, House of Fashion, Barefoot and etc
Add a review
Yes, you can book the trip from beach hotels on the west or southern coast. You will be charged a transport supplement depending on the starting hotel. E.g return transfer from Bentota US$ 35 P.P based on 2 persons.
Darin– :
We had a great Colombo city tour with Rosha. He’s passionate about the history, culture of Colombo, knowledgeable and fun to talk with. We picked up food along the way and enjoyed it with a great bottle of Giger bear.
Dieter– :
We booked the Colobmo tour with Sirilak tours and had an amazing time. Our guide Amara is truly passionate about what Colombo has to offer to travelers. I would highly recommend Amara and Colombo city our.
ponesko ali– :
It was burning under the sun
Chian chiong– :
The trip is OK but we cust short of the walk in the city it was very hot.
Kamlela parker– :
The trip is OK, busy, chaotic, loud amidst the skyscrapers
Ketania Rao– :
This is our second-day tour with serendipity. The trip to Galle was fantastic and so that we booked teh Colombo trip with teh same company. It was very easy to book a trip with them and just need to make a call.
Galani mahboob– :
Gagarama was a fantastic temple, which has one part ion the lake and another part with calm and quiet surrounding on the mainland. The museum was fantastic.
Hans joshim– :
It is good to have the trip but nothing much to see in Colombo
Belinda moralos– :
Very good trip if you are aiming at buying goods
Menady manboob– :
Temples, shopping, historical sites, parks and a lot more. It was a nice break from teh hotel. A good vehicle with ample space and air-conditioning. Our guide “Sammy” was fantastic.