Guidebook for Negombo
Sightseeing
East of town the Angurukaramulla Temple, with its 6m-long reclining Buddha, is worth seeing.
21 locals recommend
Angurukaramulla Temple (Bodhirajaramaya)
Temple RoadEast of town the Angurukaramulla Temple, with its 6m-long reclining Buddha, is worth seeing.
The Dutch showed their love of canals here like nowhere else in Sri Lanka. Canals extend from Negombo all the way south to Colombo and north to Puttalam, a total distance of over 120km. You can hire a bicycle in Negombo from various hotels and ride the canal-side paths for some distance, enjoying the views and small villages along the way.
20 locals recommend
Hamilton Canal
The Dutch showed their love of canals here like nowhere else in Sri Lanka. Canals extend from Negombo all the way south to Colombo and north to Puttalam, a total distance of over 120km. You can hire a bicycle in Negombo from various hotels and ride the canal-side paths for some distance, enjoying the views and small villages along the way.
Close to the seafront near the lagoon are the ruins of the old Dutch fort, which has a fine gateway inscribed with the date 1678. Also here is a green, called the Esplanade, where cricket matches are a big attraction. As the fort grounds are now occupied by the town’s prison, the only way you’ll get a peek inside is by stealing something. You’d need to be very interested in old Dutch forts to go to such lengths, however.
Dutch Canal
Close to the seafront near the lagoon are the ruins of the old Dutch fort, which has a fine gateway inscribed with the date 1678. Also here is a green, called the Esplanade, where cricket matches are a big attraction. As the fort grounds are now occupied by the town’s prison, the only way you’ll get a peek inside is by stealing something. You’d need to be very interested in old Dutch forts to go to such lengths, however.
The fading pink chamber of St Mary’s Church, in the town centre, has some thunderous religious ceiling paintings covering the nave.
16 locals recommend
St. Mary's Cathedral
The fading pink chamber of St Mary’s Church, in the town centre, has some thunderous religious ceiling paintings covering the nave.
Food Scene
Across the lagoon bridge there’s a second fish market. If you can stagger out of bed at 6am, it’s a good place to watch much bigger fishing boats return with their catches.
26 locals recommend
Fish Market
RoadAcross the lagoon bridge there’s a second fish market. If you can stagger out of bed at 6am, it’s a good place to watch much bigger fishing boats return with their catches.
Pizza Hut
101 Galle RdDinemore Negombo
6 Chilaw - Colombo Main RdThe Coco Beach
155 Porutota Rdt-Lounge by Dilmah by the Beach
112 Porutota RdCafé J Negombo
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Park LaneBijou Restaurant
Porutota RoadLords Restaurant Complex
Porutota RoadAvenra Garden Hotel
22 Negombo - Giriulla RdParks & Nature
Even though it could never compete in a beauty contest against many Sri Lankan beaches, Negombo's beach, which stretches north from the town right along the hotel strip before fading into a palm tree distance, has been recently tidied up and, in front of the big hotels, is now quite pleasant.
Topaz Beach Hotel
Even though it could never compete in a beauty contest against many Sri Lankan beaches, Negombo's beach, which stretches north from the town right along the hotel strip before fading into a palm tree distance, has been recently tidied up and, in front of the big hotels, is now quite pleasant.
Rajapakse Park
Rukmani Devi Mawatha RoadShopping
Glitz
424 Main StArpico Super Centre Negombo
153 St Joseph's StCargills Food City Express
Getting Around
Negombo Bus Station
Lazarus RoadNegombo station
Bandaranaike International Airport
Canada Friendship RdDrinks & Nightlife
Rodeo Pub & Restaurant
35 Poruthota RdSerendib Pub & Restaurant
35A Porutota Rd