Sri Lanka’s capital town gets a horrible rep. And sure, it’s miles now now no longer the sparkling lighting fixtures of Singapore or the temple-dense town of Bangkok. But it is now now no longer to say that Colombo does now no longer have some thing going for it.
Hidden most of the greater moderen skyscrapers, there are charming historical houses and lively markets which is probably paying homage to what the town changed into as soon as like. You can wander away withinside the rich smell of spices at Pettah Market, wander down the town’s coastline or eat your way through the weird and terrific avenue stalls that you can experience along the way.
It’s now now no longer exactly the vacationer hub like Ella or the South coast, making looking down in which to stay in Colombo a piece more of a challenge. Luckily for you, I’ve achieved all the research so you do now no longer have to. Whether you’re looking for a hostel, cushty guesthouse or a few factor a lil more boujey, this guide will type you out.
Where is the Best Place to Stay in Colombo?
Colombo has loads of first rate accommodations options, but after doing a deep dive, the ones are my private favourites for the start or forestall of your Sri Lanka trip.

Hilton Colombo Hotel | Best Hotel in Colombo
Hilton’s usually deliver, and this one felt greater pricey in matter you are a couple looking for somewhere romantic to stay, ee-ebook Colombo’s fanciest! The pool have become a godsend and saved me from going insane on the most up to date days.
This modern-day hostel is first rate for surely all of us journeying on a budget. Considering how inexpensive it have become, it feels pretty upmarket. I’d surely advise it for digital nomads who need a quiet vicinity to lure up on some work.
Colombo Villa | Best Guesthouse in Colombo
It’s surely the hospitality (and the large pool) that makes it at Colombo Villa. The hosts are awesome friendly, and there is a awesome homely feel to the vicinity, this is usually welcome whilst you’re farfar from home. It’s my top select for big families, too.
Colombo’s Five Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in
We all apprehend that when you’ve got got only had been given a few days in a town, you do now no longer have enough time to discover everything. But do yourself a favour and characteristic a brief observe through this neighbourhood guide to provide you an idea of which area of Colombo will healthy your vibe the tremendous.

1. Fort – Where to Stay in Colombo to your First Time
Fort is virtually taken into consideration one of Colombo’s historical neighbourhoods, aleven aleven though you may barely recognize it after the modern-day makeover it’s miles gotten. Hidden amongst all the modern day skyscrapers and contemporary apartmentminium blocks, you can discover leaved cinemas, forgotten gardens, and crumbling colonial homes which is probably an eerie reminder of what Fort changed into as soon as like.
I’m now now no longer a variety of a fan of greater moderen builds, so I spent my time in Fort scouting out all the antique houses and temples which have been left withinside the again of with the resource of the use of all the modern-day developments. Once you start looking, there can be an antique-age appeal to Fort that made me fall in love with the area.
The reason I think it’s miles a first rate vicinity to stay if it’s miles your first time in Sri Lanka is that it’s miles straddled with the resource of the use of most of the other neighbourhoods you can want to check out. It’s a stone’s throw farfar from Pettah and a brief tuk-tuk adventure farfar from neighbourhoods like Slave Island and Cinnamon Gardens.
2. Kollupitiya – Best Place to Stay in Colombo on a Budget
Kollupitiya is a pretty popping neighbourhood. There are loads of buying malls, this is why it’s miles considered the town’s enterprise district. But I moreover concept it had the tremendous nightlife, and spent a few evenings locating out the lively clubs and paying the fee for it the subsequent morning.

If you’re backpacking Sri Lanka, then Kollupitiya is a first rate fit. You can with out issue reap special factors of the town using public transport, and you’ll store coins to your accommodations, which you can spend on drinks instead!
3. Pettah – Where to Stay in Colombo for Culture
Pettah is Colombo’s loudest and most colourful neighbourhood. I may want to wander away for hours wandering aimlessly through the area’s busy streets, distracted with the resource of the use of the acute sun sunglasses of fruit stalls and thick smells of spices withinside the air.
Weaving through the maze of human beings and darting out of the way of heavy carts pulled with the resource of the use of rushing locals, I felt right at home. Pettah captures the essence of Sri Lankan chaos. Life surely is on the streets in this neighbourhood, so get out as loads as you can!
It’s my top select for manner of lifestyles because of the truth there can be a aggregate of excellent historical houses that appear frozen in time, and at the same time, the neighbourhood’s markets are ambitious and noisy. Quirky and charming, existence is rapid paced in Pettah.
Sadly, Pettah is so filled with markets and historical houses, there can be no vicinity for inns and hostels – boo! But do now no longer worry, I’ve decided three tremendous places to stay in Fort, a good deal much less than 15 minutes walk farfar from the coronary coronary heart of Pettah’s busy streets.
