Negombo Holidays

If you want to shake off jet lag on a beach or finish your Sri Lanka tour in an ocean-facing hotel, Negombo is the place to be.

Just a fifteen-minute drive from the airport, the beachfront hotels in Negombo are a great place to relax after a long-haul flight or stay for a few days as a last leg of your Sri Lanka holiday. Golden sands and watersports are the main draws of this lively fishing city and it’s a wonderful introduction to coastal life. See fishermen in traditional sarongs hauling in delicacies from the ocean and take boat tours across the serene lagoon.

Most people come to throw down a towel, dip into a glimmering pool and swing in hammocks along the strip of beachfront restaurants. But the town also has the nickname ‘Little Rome’ thanks to a strong Catholic community and diverse collection of churches. St. Sebastian's and St Mary's cathedral are two that stand out.

Our handpicked Negombo hotels are plush beachfront affairs, offering calm escape before exploring Sri Lanka and acting as a sweet rest stop ahead of returning home.

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Negombo Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Negombo

Sentido Heritance Negombo

This modern hotel, with beautifully landscaped grounds beside a broad golden beach, is an invitin...

Jetwing Sea

This stylish hotel offers a warm welcome, amazing food and an excellent beachfront location.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress (car & driver and stay-put excursion)

One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic landmarks, Sigiriya Rock is a sight to behold, towering 200 metres above the surrounding jungle. Formed from magma of an extinct volcano, the fortress was created over 1500 years ago by King Kashyapa and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, discover the vast history of the plateau at the onsite museum before making the climb up the vertiginous staircases to the summit passing impressive frescoes and the famed Mirror Wall and colossal Lions Platform as you go. From the top, explore the ruins of the ancient civilisation through the remnants of the palace and vast gardens and soak up the panoramic vistas of the jungle covered central plains.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Sigiriya, Kandalama, Kandy and Trincomalee hotels
• Available as a day trip for guests staying at hotels in Negombo

Good to know
For the most pleasurable experience we recommend organising this excursion first thing in the morning or after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day. While suitable for all, the climb to the summit requires a good degree of physical fitness.

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Dambulla Cave Temple

A fantastic stopping off point when travelling between Habarana or Kandalama and Kandy, the famous cave complexes of Dambulla are a haven for those interested in Sri Lanka’s rich history. Dating back to the first Century BC, this ancient cave temple has been a pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus for 22 centuries and is still a place of holy importance to this day. There are over 80 documented caves at the site, but with around an hour to explore, this excursion will guide you through the major highlights which are spread over just five of them. Adorned with statues of Gautama Buddha and ornate ceiling paintings, the iconic temple is brimming with artefacts depicting the island’s glorious past and is not to be missed.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Kandalama, Kandy and Passikudah hotels
• Available as a day trip for guests staying at hotels in Negombo

Good to know
Legs and shoulders must be covered, and shoes will need to be removed when exploring the temples.

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Kandy’s Highlights

Whether time is of the essence or you’re after an introduction to this vibrant city that’s brimming with history and culture, this half day excursion will ensure you don’t miss any of Kandy’s major attractions. Discover one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines at the golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth, where the relic tooth of Buddha is housed and explore the spectacular Royal Palace complex – the perfect backdrop for some holiday snaps. Dating back to 1821, finish your trip with a meander through the delightful Royal Botanical Garden where you’ll find over 100 endemic plants before exploring the rest of the city at leisure or returning to your hotel to unwind.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Dambulla, Habarana, Kandalama, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya and Kandy hotels
• Available as a day trip for guests staying at hotels in Beruwela, Kalutara, Bentota & Negombo

Good to know
This trip is suitable for all, but legs and shoulders must be covered, and shoes will need to be removed when entering the temple.

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The Art of Creating Sri Lankan Tea

As well as its aromatic spices, Sri Lanka is famed for its tea production. Since the first plantation was established in the 19th Century, millions of kilograms of tea have been exported around the globe, to countries including the UK, the UAE and Turkey. You’ll visit one of the oldest tea producers in the country and learn all about the creation of the famous Ceylon loose-leaf tea from the plant to the cup via the refining and blending processes. You’ll also learn about the subtle differences in flavour of teas grown at different altitudes and how teas are blended for the tastes of their ultimate destinations around the world.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Daily departures from Colombo and Negombo hotels
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Street Food of Negombo

Spend an evening feasting on the delicious street food of Sri Lanka. As one of the leading cultivators and exporters of spices worldwide, the Sinhalese use their seasonings with utmost care. It's known for the sweetest cinnamon, peppercorns, tamarind, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and more. It can be sampled in its street foods, including flavoursome masalas topped with decadent meat and slow-cooked vegetables. Snackable dishes are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s diverse cuisine, and you’ll have a chance to taste plenty of dishes as you venture around Negombo.

• Duration: evening
• Daily departures from Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Colombo City Walk

Join a family-friendly tour to explore the Colombo neighbourhood of Pettah on foot in the company of a knowledgeable local guide. Your tour begins by exploring colourful and fragrant markets, including a floating market. You’ll have the chance to see a Dutch church dating to 1749, the Dutch Period Museum and the Red Mosque. Explore places rich in history and religion, such as the Gangaramaya Temple and the Colombo Museum.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures from Colombo and Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Golf at the Royal Colombo Club

Play a round of golf at the Royal Colombo, a leading 140-year-old private members club in Sri Lanka. The club is a sanctuary in the heart of Colombo, sitting in contrast to its surroundings. After your round, the clubhouse provides an airy, relaxing atmosphere and a beautiful place for members and visitors to unwind.

• Duration: full day
• Departs Monday to Friday from Colombo or Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Dinner Overlooking Negombo Lagoon

Dine on fresh seafood with a view over the Indian Ocean. Negombo Lagoon is an open-air dining space in the fishing village where you can choose from the freshest catch of the day from the seafood market and then ask the chefs to prepare it in a sauce or curry of your choice.

• Duration: evening
• Start time: 6pm
• Daily departures from Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Get to know Negombo and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +5½ hours

CURRENCY

Sri Lankan Rupee

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

Colombo 10½ hours

RELIGION

Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam & Christianity

LANGUAGE

Sinhala and Tamil

Where is Negombo?
On Sri Lanka’s west coast and a stone’s throw from the airport, Negombo sits at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon and is a 45 minute drive to Colombo.

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Beaches
You'll find palm tree lined golden sands and clear blue waters in Negombo. The main beach has a huge stretch of sand and a cluster of smaller beaches, but strong waves make it unsuitable for swimming. Browns Beach is a fantastic spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing and Morawala Beach, a fifteen-minute drive away, is a reef protected local favourite, that’s great for swimming.

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Fishing village heritage
Long before Negombo became a beach resort, it was, and remains a vibrant and super busy fishing town. Early morning at the western end of the beach it’s open-air fish market territory, a place locals refer to as Lellama. The fish market is worth a visit for the colourful commotion and skill you’ll see. The fishermen of Negombo still adopt ancient techniques, heading out on outrigger canoes carved from tree trunks and using traditional netting methods. On shore, fish is separated into dry and wet with everything from tuna, squid, shrimps, crab and lobster on offer.

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Food & drink
Seafood reigns supreme in Negombo and most restaurants cater to a Western palette. On the main street you’ll also find plenty of Sri Lankan fare and the staple of rice and curries where you generally get four or more curries to try in one serving. Beachside restaurants, crab and lobster shacks, rustic family-owned diners and downtown pubs with live music complete the look.

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Churches and temples
Negombo is home to many beautiful places of worship and has garnered the nickname ‘Little Rome.’ During the Portuguese invasion lots of Catholic churches were built and St Mary’s cathedral is one of its most beautiful. The city also houses the Buddhist Anangurukaramulla Temple and the Grand Jummah Mosque.

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Negombo Weather

Dec - Mar

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