Here are all the top things to do in Negombo, Sri Lanka as well as recommendations for where to stay and eat.
Negombo doesn’t have the best reputation – although it’s on Sri Lanka’s coast, the beaches aren’t as nice as the ones in other regions and it’s generally seen as an airport stopover, rather than a destination.
We didn’t know this when we decided to stay there for four days at the end of our trip to Sri Lanka. While we didn’t spend as much time on the beach as we’d anticipated, the days still flew by as we experienced everything the area had to offer.
Although it certainly isn’t as picturesque as other parts of Sri Lanka like Mirissa and Ella, if you do find yourself in Negombo, there’s still plenty to do and see.
We particularly loved checking out temples and colonial churches, as well as eating some delicious seafood.
Read on for our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Negombo, including where to stay, where to eat and what to do.
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Table of Contents
What to do in Negombo
Check out the architecture
One of our favourite things to do in Negombo was to wander around the city and check out some of the amazing buildings and religious sites.
Unlike most of Sri Lanka, the majority of people living in Negombo are Roman Catholic religion and there are some incredible churches and catholic shrines dotted around.
- This includes St. Sebastian’s Church on Sea Street. Constructed in the 1940’s, this gothic-style building is named after Negombo’s patron saint.
- Nearby is St. Anne’s Church, a similarly impressive (and slightly imposing) structure.
- As well as churches, you can visit Buddhist temples in Negombo, including Angurukaramulla Temple. This 300-year-old religious site has a big Buddha statue and is well worth a visit.
Cruise down the canal
Although Negombo’s canal is known as the Dutch canal, it was actually built by the British in the early 1800s.
You can take a guided boat trip that heads out onto the lagoon and observe the wildlife by the water. Simply head to any of the tourist shops dotted around Negombo’s main street to arrange this.
Be warned, the canal is quite polluted. If that doesn’t sound up your street, you can instead view the canal from the streets instead of committing to a whole boat trip.
Chill out at a resort pool
If you’re not staying at a resort with a pool, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of some of the luxury facilities in Negombo.
Many of the nicer hotels let visitors purchase a day pass to use their outdoor pools, including Jewing Blue and the Regal Réseau Hotel & Spa.
Spend the day relaxing on a lounger and cooling down in the swimming pools, as well as having access to the hotels’ restaurants and bars. This is a great option if you have time to kill before an evening flight home.
Take a cooking class
Sri Lankan food is, hands down, delicious. While we were in the country, we tried some local dishes including kottu roti, lamprais and hoppers. If you have some down time in Negombo, why not learn to make these local dishes for yourself?
This cooking class in Negombo includes a tour of the market and a tutorial on making three dishes of your choice. The best part is eating them all at the end!
Sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar
The general vibe in Negombo is very chill and we loved having some down time to fully relax after two weeks of hiking, surfing and trying to navigate the Sri Lankan train system!
One of our favourite things to do in Negombo in the evening was heading to the rooftop bar at Regal Réseau Hotel & Spa and sipping on a cocktail at sunset while listening to some live music. We stayed at this hotel but the bar is open to the public in the evening.
Day Trips from Negombo, Sri Lanka
Negombo is also a great base to explore other parts of Sri Lanka. If you have a free day before your flight home, consider visiting one of these nearby locations.
Colombo
We’d heard some not-great things about Colombo, which is why we decided to stay in Negombo instead of doing a few days in Sri Lanka’s capital city.
But we were still keen to see some of the sights of the city, so we did a day trip.
We took the train from Negombo station to Colombo Fort, which is also a great chance to experience Sri Lanka’s famous trains if you haven’t already.
You can check Sri Lanka’s train timetables here but there were very regular trains into Colombo from Negombo.
We could write a whole other blog post about what to do in Colombo (and there are plenty out there) but highlights included:
- Wandering around Pettah market
- Shopping at the old Dutch hospital
- Eating humongous burgers on the rooftop of The Travelling Bruncher
Although we enjoyed our day in Colombo, we were very happy to return to the calm and quiet of Negombo after the chaos of the city.
If you want to keep things simple, book a city tour. This one will pick you up from your hotel in Negombo and transport you to the best sights in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Full day safari at Wilpattu National Park
We absolutely loved going on a day safari in Sri Lanka and seeing the country’s diverse wildlife, including elephants crossing the road in front of us.
We went to Yala National Park in the South East, but the lesser-known Wilpattu National Park has a higher density of leopards and less visitors – plus it’s much closer to Negombo.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya is Sri Lanka’s famous ancient rock fortress and is a must-do for visitors to the country.
Did you know? The historical monument is described by many as the eighth wonder of the world!
Galle Fort
This historical town was developed by the Portuguese in the 1500s and has since become a world heritage site known for its beauty.
The beachside town is great to wander around for the day and take in views of the fort and seaside.
Where to stay in Negombo
As Negombo is close to the airport, there is no shortage of hotels and accommodation in Negombo, and there are options to suit every budget.
Plus, Negombo is a popular destination for honeymooners, meaning there are also some amazing luxury resorts if you really want to splash out.
The mid-range option
If you’re looking for somewhere affordable but comfortable, we loved the look of the Icebear Guesthouse. Located next to the beach, this guesthouse also has a beautiful large garden where you can eat and relax.
The Icebear is owned and run by a Swiss family and they serve European food in the restaurant, if you want a break from Sri Lankan curries (although these are, of course, delicious too).
The luxury option
This is where we stayed in Negombo, Sri Lanka. If you’re looking to splash out, without opting for super-luxury, this four-star hotel is very reasonably priced.
The hotel is next to the beach and boasts a rooftop pool and bar. We loved drinking cocktails in the evenings and watching the sunset over the beach. The bar also has live music some nights, which is great if you’re looking for a more lively vibe.
This does mean the hotel can be quite loud sometimes, so it’s best to request a room on one of the lower floors for a good night’s sleep.
Our room was comfortable and clean and we enjoyed the buffet breakfast that was included.
The SUPER luxury option
If you’re really looking for luxury, you have to stay at one of the Jetwing hotels in Negombo. Jetwing is a chain of Sri Lankan hotels, known for their stunning settings and exquisite hospitality.
Jetwing Blue is one of several jetwing options in Negombo. This five-star hotel has two outdoor pools, a spa and two restaurants. It’s located right on the beach and you have the option of booking a sea-view room.
Where to eat in Negombo
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Negombo, the majority located along the road that runs parallel to the seafront, as well as in the town centre.
We weren’t blown away by the food scene in Negombo. Many of them are designed to cater to tourists and offer very similar selections of average food. Fortunately, after some exploring, we did find a few gems in the city. Here were our favourites!
Club Ceylon
This was one of the best places we ate during our whole time in Sri Lanka and a must-visit if you’re a seafood fan. Located in a beautiful candlelit building, we loved the luxury vibe and friendly staff.
We ordered several small plates and shared them tapas style, rather than going for one large dish. From prawns to calamari to sardines, everything we ate was delicious. Even the bread was fantastic!
Club Ceylon doesn’t serve alcohol but you can bring your own and pay corkage. It’s quite pricey by Sri Lankan standards but definitely worth splashing out for a meal to remember.
Mangrove View Seafood Restaurant
This restaurant is slightly outside the centre of Negombo and boasts a view over the lagoon. It serves a range of delicious seafood and traditional Sri Lanka food, which you can enjoy on a floating platform on the lagoon. You can also bring your own alcohol, with no corkage charge.
It’s a little out of the way so make sure you have Google maps on hand to direct your tuk-tuk driver.
La Bruschetta
Given Sri Lanka’s fantastic and varied cuisine, we wouldn’t normally recommend an Italian restaurant in a post about the country, but we were so impressed by La Bruschetta.
Located near a main road, don’t let the exterior put you off. This restaurant offers a range of pizzas in different sizes as well as side dishes, as well as, of course, bruschetta (which was delicious). It was very affordable and the service was quick.
How to get to Negombo
Negombo is around an hour from Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo, and about 20 minutes from the airport, meaning travelling to Negombo is super easy.
From the airport
Bandaranaike International Airport is Sri Lanka’s main international airport, so if you’re travelling to Sri Lanka by aeroplane, you’ll probably arrive here.
From the airport, it’s a quick taxi ride to Negombo. Just go to any of the taxi stalls in the airport building and tell them the address of your hotel or accommodation. Taxi fares from the airport are regulated so you can double-check you’re being charged the correct amount here.
As of 2023, the fare is set at 3500 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $12 USD) and the drive should take 20-30 minutes.
From Colombo
The easiest way to travel from Negombo to Colombo is by train. Sri Lanka has a great train system generally, although be prepared for delays. There are regular trains from the capital city to Colombo and ticket costs between $1-5 USD, depending on which class you get.
You can check the train timetables here.
Alternatively, you can arrange a taxi or tuk-tuk from the city to Negombo. The journey is approximately one hour if you pay for the faster toll road (the toll was around $2 USD) or longer in a tuk-tuk as they aren’t allowed on the toll road.
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