Colombo from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Colombo, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Colombo tripDay to day in Colombo, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £8 | £10 |
| A balanced mix | £16 | £17 |
| Mostly restaurants | £22 | £23 |
- Local transport: about £2 a day. Taxi: £0 to start, then £0.32 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £9 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, en.wikivoyage.org, globalpetrolprices.com; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
29°F
30°M
31°A
30°M
29°J
28°J
28°A
28°S
28°O
28°N
28°D
28°
The most pleasant months are January, February and June to August. February is the driest month (71 mm of rain) and November the wettest (305 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka, place by placeCompare: Thailand or Sri Lanka · Indonesia or Sri Lanka · Vietnam or Sri Lanka
Visa for British travellers
Electronic Travel Authorization
Allow at least 7 days before you fly.
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Colombo
Gangaramaya Templetemple · a couple of hoursColombo's best-known Buddhist temple beside Beira Lake; dress modestly and remove shoes
Seema Malakatemple · a couple of hoursGeoffrey Bawa-designed temple on platforms over Beira Lake; lovely at dusk
Galle Face Greenpark · a couple of hoursSeafront promenade; come at sunset for kite flyers and street-food stalls
Pettah and the Jami-Ul-Alfar Red Mosquemosque · a couple of hoursRed-and-white striped 1909 mosque in the middle of the Pettah bazaar streets
National Museum of Colombomuseum · a couple of hoursKandyan royal regalia and ancient stone carvings in a white colonial building
Independence Memorial Hallmonument · a couple of hours
Viharamahadevi Parkpark · a couple of hours
Lotus Towertower · a couple of hoursObservation deck high above the city; lit in changing colours at night
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharayatemple · a couple of hoursAbout 9 km from the centre; murals and a reclining Buddha
- Dutch Period Museummuseum · a couple of hours
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Colombo cost?
Food and getting around come to about £10 a person a day eating street food, £17 with a balanced mix and £23 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Colombo?
The most pleasant months are January, February and June to August. February is the driest month (71 mm of rain) and November the wettest (305 mm); daytime highs run from 28 to 31 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Electronic Travel Authorization. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Colombo?
Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malaka, Galle Face Green, Pettah and the Jami-Ul-Alfar Red Mosque, National Museum of Colombo.
Your whole Colombo trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Colombo trip