Negombo or Colombo? Should You Visit Negombo?
Updated April, 2020
Negombo is a quiet beach town located just around 8km from Colombo International (Bandaranaike International) Airport.
It has a good collection of satisfactory hotels and restaurants for all kinds of people - from backpackers to luxury travelers, a friendly local community, an interesting old neighborhood, and a not super clean beach (maybe because it’s a fishing town).
Negombo is well connected with the main city, Colombo via bus, train, and cabs. Negombo to Colombo is around 45 min via cab and around 1 hr via bus.
Why Do People Visit Negombo??
Negombo offers you recreation and peace of mind from your hectic tour plan or jet lag. Negombo is where most of the tourists start and end their trip to Sri Lanka, like me.
The decision of starting my Sri Lankan journey from Negombo was perfect. It gave me a clear insight toward amazingly friendly Sri Lankan people, food, culture, and nature.
Trust me!! Everyone is so helpful and kind with their big grin on their face that makes you feel like home. I made friends there who are nice and helped me a lot throughout my stay on the island.
Negombo is not only a peaceful place but also a party place at night.
There are quite a few pubs where you can see people of all ages. A variety of local and international (veg & non-veg) restaurants will serve you delicious food.
The beach is the spot to watch the locals and the fishermen going about their business. And the sunset!! I can’t explain. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes I had encountered in Sri Lanka.
Things To do in Negombo??
Negombo is not developed as a tourist spot. If you want to explore the local life then you won't get bored.
Enjoy Negombo Beach – A nice beach for a stroll, especially during sunset.
Explore Fish Markets – The best time to visit the Fish Market is early morning around 6 am.
Explore the Old City – You can rent a tuk-tuk or a scooter and roam around Negombo city. Some of the places you can check out are - The Dutch fort, Angurukaramulla Temple, Fishermans Bay, St. Mary’s Church & The Dutch Canal.
Go Fishing – Spend 2-3 hours on the Lagoon to catch fish with locals. And you can even cook them if you are staying in a local homestay or hostel.
Conclusion: Should You Visit Negombo??
My personal suggestion would be if you are visiting Sri Lanka for a few days for about a week then you can skip it. It's not that you will miss a massive experience if you are not there.
If you are visiting more than a week then you can spend 1-2 days just to relax there after a jet lag or just before boarding your flight while returning back.
If you are looking for a place to chill in peace check out article on Tangalle and things you can do there.