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Colombo city tour itinerary
The Colombo city tour itinerary is a short program specially designed for travelers who can allocate only 5 hours for the Colombo city tour itinerary. The Colombo city tour starts at 8:00 a.m. from the hotel in Colombo (however, the pickup location and time are flexible). The Colombo city tour itinerary is planned in such a way that it covers all major historical, religious and natural attractions as well as shopping areas within 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 traveler on the first glimpse of this metropolis.
History and modernity, wealth and poverty are all 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, tourists, gangsters, drug dealers, and civilians rub their shoulders in this populated neighborhood.
Colombo 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 was 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 received a prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978, when the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
Visiting the Cinnamon Garden on the Colombo city tour itinerary
The Colombo city tour takes the visitors through bustling Pettah to Colombo 7, better known as Cinnamon Garden, the neighborhood of the rich Colombo residents, where stupendous mansions and beautiful gardens take center stage. The fame of the cinnamon garden began with the arrival of British colonial rulers, who built their living quarters in the cinnamon garden. The majority of tourist attractions are concentrated in and around the Cinnamon Garden.
Now, you might be imagining a cinnamon garden within Colombo that spreads over a huge area. No, it is a cinnamon island sans cinnamon. (If you like to visit a cinnamon garden, please book a Bentota tour to the Madu River Safari.) You don't see cinnamon plants because the island existed during the British colonial era, and later it was converted into the living quarter of rich people in Sri Lanka. However, the area is still called Cinnamon Island.
Is the 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. It’s one of the most popular Sri Lanka tours that we run in our original style, perfect for those who look for a one-week trip and have 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 out 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 midday 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 traveling 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 your 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.
Places included in the 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 handicrafts
- Pettah and Dutch hospital shopping precinct
Inclusions in the 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 from the 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.
Colombo City Tour
Itineraries
Time : 8:00 am
Colombo
Meet and greet by Serendipity tours representative and start the tour, en route visit,
COLOMBO
Colombo 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 racecourse, 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 theater 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. The well-known Kelaniya Dagoba is located within the border of the temple. The 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-kilometer 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 center 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-foot-thick walls and the gables raised over. The transepts are roofed with brick barrel arches and a central dome.
AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE/IINDEPENDENCE 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, etc.
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.
