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Colombo travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-09

Galle Face Green, Colombo
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Krankman assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source

Common scams in Colombo

10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Colombo, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Colombo — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Colombo

6 places worth your time in Colombo, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Colombo →

Top food to try in Colombo

6 dishes to eat in Colombo, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Colombo →

Traditions and customs in Colombo

5 customs and traditions in Colombo — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Colombo →

Getting around Colombo

How to travel around Colombo — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Colombo: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Colombo

2 laws, restrictions, and customs in Colombo that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Colombo — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Colombo

3 emergency services in Colombo you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Colombo — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Colombo

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Colombo — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Colombo — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.