Colombo - Sri Lanka

The capital of Sri Lanka and the administrative centre is Colombo, the island's largest city, it's noisy and busy, but you will soon begin to appreciate that it is vibrant and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere that increasingly exudes style.

While the city holds less obvious interest than many other parts of the island, it is still a worth a visit to see what makes Sri Lanka tick, there are some interesting restaurants so dining out can be surprisingly pleasurable and shopping, which can only be described as excellent.

Colombo is a relatively easy city to find your way around. To the north is the Fort district, the country's business centre, which has department stores, book shops, airline offices and is the site of the Central Bank, The World Trade Centre twin towers. There are also ample sights such as the clock tower, a former lighthouse, the President's residence simply referred to as the 'Queen's House', together with a cluster of older buildings which lend the district a distinctive aura of a bygone Colonial presence.

Travel to the south from the Fort and discover Galle Face Green, a seafront expanse of occasional manicured grass graced by amateur cricket games, kite flying and courting couples escaping the heat of the city. Carry on to Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo's most fashionable neighbourhood, with elegant mansions, tree-lined streets and the city's largest park. East of the fort is the pungent Pettah bazaar district, stroll through its stall lined streets and marvel at the variety of goods, its fresh tropical fruits and vegetables displayed in a riot of colour. Discover, gems, precious metals and endless piles of junk, anything and everything can be found for sale on the streets of this famous market.

Additional Colombo information

• Galleries, Museums, Temples and the Zoo
• Banks & Financial
• The Beach
• Health & Safety