Top Things to Do When On a Colombo Family Holiday

Planning your next family holiday trip?

Then this time book your  flight tickets to Colombo . Yes, Colombo, Srilanka is a definitely be worth exploring, if you are looking for a beautiful city to visit during the holiday time with your family. Not only does it boast of opulent tourist attractions, but has one of the most captivating heritages in the world as well.

Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka is multicultural, museum rich and market-laden. It has an industrious history as a trading centre with a colossal natural harbor that lured numerous international merchants over the years. With influence from the Dutch, British and Portuguese, Colombo is an impressive mix of colonial and local traditions, architecture and clothing, as well as impressive patchwork of state-of-art high-rises mixing with ornate places of worship. By visiting this splendid Sri Lanka’s capital, you are assured of awesome times throughout your vacation in holiday.

Yes, Colombo is the financial centre of Sri Lanka, and it is not merely a city with financial importance, but it is a magnificent holiday destination in its own right. The sheer varieties you will see during your Colombo family holiday will take you by great surprise. Being a city full of hustle-bustle and vibrancy, Colombo is a fusion of colonial edifices and modern life. No other place in the South-Asia can surpass the electrifying liveliness of Colombo.  The architecture of most of the buildings you will see in the city is essentially British.

Although the place has a couple of beaches, it is not really a beach holiday resort, but instead it is a cultural destination with the added benefits of world-class dining and shopping, and hence an ultimate family holiday destination.

With much Ado, here are the things to do when on Colombo Family Holiday:-

Top Attractions To See in Colombo

The place is the iconic and most popular Buddhist temple in Colombo.  Among tourists, it has gained the reputation as one of the must do things when in Colombo. The temple is not just a place of worship, but also a museum and school of Buddhist learning that houses a large assortment of Buddhist relics worldwide.

Situated near the Colombo Fort and Galle Face, the New and Old Kathiresan Kovil temples are another enchanting set of Hindu temples to see within the city. The popular thing about these Hindu temples is the annual chariot festival that is organized here.

Jami-UL-Alfar Mosque

Nestles in the heart of busy Pettah district of Colombo, the Jami-UL-Alfar Mosque is one of the stunning looking buildings in the city.

Wolvendaal Church

The church is one of the most beautifully preserved Dutch buildings that still exist in the city. A visit to Wolvendaal church is not just to see it from the outside, but to also see the marvelous furniture pews inside the church.

Colombo’s National Museum

The National Museum houses several important historical artifacts exhibiting the heritage of Sri Lanka. In case, you are along with your kids, visiting the National Museum is a must.

Colombo Fort

The district is a historical region that is presently the commercial business district of Colombo.  Additionally, it was the Portuguese who first initiated to develop the fort, but later on the Dutch took it over. Among the state-of-art buildings, also visit the old Post office and General hospital and the old Lighthouse.

Independence Memorial Hall

The Independence Memorial Hall of Colombo was created to show Sri Lankan Independence from the British Rule in 1948. Along with the magnificent monument, which seemed somewhat like the Parthenon, is a statue of the first president of Sri Lanka, who is regarded as one of the father’s of nation.

Check out Moratuwa

Just south of the Colombo is a majestic suburb of Moratuwa. The suburb is interesting to see, includes numerous classic buildings, Bolgoda Lake and nice neighborhood life.

You can easily take a bus or train south from Colombo to get to Moratuwa.

Gardens, Parks and Zoo

Dehiwala Zoo (Zoological Gardens of Colombo)

The Zoological gardens are better labeled as national animal kingdom or zoo of the city. Among the many exhibits of wildlife is a popular Sri Lankan Elephant show that takes place every day at 4:30 PM. Watching out the elephant show is one of the  best things to do in Colombo  with your family when on a Family Holiday in Sri Lanka.

Viharmadevi Park

The most loved and central outdoor park in Colombo is Viharmadevi Park (earlier known as Victoria Park). The park was created as one of the sole lush green place in Colombo during the British Rule.

Visiting this park is free and in case, you have a little time, relaxing here is not a bad idea to spend an afternoon with your vacation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Your kids will love this park.

Cinnamon Gardens

Once part of cinnamon plantation setting, the Cinnamon Gardens is now a beautiful space of Colombo that has the independence monument, Prime Minister’s office and many beautiful neighborhoods and A-list restaurants.

Shopping Spree

Pettah Market

It is one of the most chaotic and busy markets, and has everything from food to wholesale clothing. Pettah, a complete bustling market is an observation paradise and a wonderful place to avail an initial view of chaotic side of Colombo.

Kolluptiya Super Market

Another good market to explore in Colombo is Kolluptiya Super Market. The market features a lot of interesting stalls.

Fun Things to Do when on a Holiday with Family in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Watch a Cricket Match

In case, you really want to get into the spirit and culture, watch a cricket match in Colombo City. Watching a cricket match is likely one of the most incredible things you can do along with your family in Colombo.

Tickets: 35- Maitland PI Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7

Office opens from 8:30AM - 5:30PM

In case, you are scouting for another sort of Sri Lankan cricket experience, go to famous Cricket Club Café that has all types of sports memorabilia and an Australian menu. You can also catch Cricket live in action on TV at the cafe.

Snake Charmer

Snake charming, as you know is the act of playing flute and utilizing various hand movements to hypnotize a snake, typically a cobra. Around Colombo city, there is a plethora of snake charmers that carry cobras in small baskets and put on a wonderful show for the tourists.

Eating, Drinking, Dining and Nightlife

Sip an Orange Coconut

One of most enjoyable things to do when in Colombo every single day is to drink in one shot a fresh orange colored coconut called “King Coconut”. The water is sweet and revitalizing on a sunny day of walking around the city…. bottoms down!

Head to Galle Face for Street Food

In case, you are craving for street food in Colombo, go to Galle face in the evening.  Together with plenty leisurely activities, one of the key reasons people like to hang out at Galle Face is for the tastiest selection of eats.

Sri Lankan food is yum and filling. You will find fried rice, deep fried snacks, kottu and a bunch of random curries. Try out any of the random stalls, or in case, you wish to sit while dining on savory street food, go to a well-known tented restaurant named Nana Fast Food.

Savory Short Eats

Short eats are hand-held small-sized snacks, and they are popularly a love affair in the Sri Lankan Cuisine. A bunch of deep fried short meals are stuffed with veggies like carrots, potatoes, cheese and spices while others are filled with meat or seafood.

From spicy samosas to yum cutlets, sampling a platter of short eats with a cup of tea is one of the best things to do on a pleasant evening when on a Colombo Family Holiday.

Wood Apple Juice

Sri Lanka is a nation where wood apples are the king of the fruit world. Wood Apple juice is a thick smoothie than a watery juice, and is something that Sri Lankans’ completely adore and are immensely passionate about.

Wood Apple juice tastes somewhat like a cross between blue cheese and tamarind pulp, a bit bizarre but exotic at the same time. Enjoying wood apple juice is one of the must do things in Colombo.                

Mango Tree Restaurants

The Mango Tree is undeniably one of the most famous restaurants in Colombo. The Mango Tree Hotel chain spans across the city and you may find it arduous to cover all of them in case you are on a short trip. The best aspect with these restaurants is that each of them is different and serves premium quality but affordable food and drinks. The interiors of these restaurants are splendid too.

Akasa Kade

It is another hotspot you must explore if you want to have a tasty meal with your family while enjoying the best view over the city, Indian Ocean and Colombo harbor. It first opened the doors for the guests in 1963 and was the center of a fine dining experience. The restaurant is located inside one of the tallest buildings in the city, and never failed to leave one spell-bound with a breathtaking view of Colombia’s harbor, coastline and Beira Lake. It serves western and Asian delicacies and is popular for local cuisines as well. Do not forget to try local hoppers of you visit Akasa Kade. Another important highlight of Akasa Kade is ball room dancing and it adds enthralling ambience for a perfect night.

Downtown theater halls show Hollywood movies and gaming is legit, along with 24-hour casinos like Bally. Colombo’s nightlife revolves primarily around the bigger hotels that has Irish pubs, discos and lounges, which are open till dawn.

Colombo like a Localhite

Take a tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw) for Khan Clock Tower till you reach the center of the city. Nestled between Colombo Harbor and the Beira Lake, Fort is the home to an exclusive café “The Pagoda Tea Room”, where Duran Duran filmed some parts of their “Hungry like the Wolf” music video. In case you and your family are not up for the 80’s flashback, still you will like the classic lunches and desserts that have a mainstay of the city’s dining scene.

Flights to Colombo

There is a flight to and from Colombo, administered by the national airline “The Sri Lankan Airlines”. Flights are available from places throughout the US, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Pakistan. Other airlines include Qatar Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Eithad and Emirates.

Plan your family holidays in Colombo, Sri Lanka around famous precincts like Pettah and Fort, as well as social spaces like Zoological Garden and Galle Face Green. The weather of Colombo is quite consistent with moderate temperatures averaging 30 degrees throughout the year. Currently, Colombo is being developed into a place for tourism and monetary investment, leading the responsibility for Sri Lanka’s modernization.

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