Not far from the unofficial capital of the island, there is a famous resort. For many years now, it has been attracting vacationers with its sandy beaches and amazing culture. What makes it a favorite place for tourists is its proximity to the administrative center of Sri Lanka, as well as reasonable hotel prices.
Holidays in Negombo
Conditions for relaxation in Negombo are quite comfortable. The weather here is hot. The air temperature during the day is 28-34 degrees above zero, the water warms up to 25-28 degrees. Rains at the resort are observed from May to October.
How to get to Negombo
Getting to Negombo is quick and inexpensive. To do this, tourists are invited to use a special free bus from Colombo Airport. Then you can transfer to local tuk-tuk transport. Vacationers can also travel from the airport to the city by regular bus. The resort is easy to get to if you take the train from the capital's station.
You can buy a plane ticket to Colombo directly on our website using the form on the right.
Negombo Sri Lanka provides its guests with traditional tropical entertainment: diving and windsurfing. Some hotels in the resort town are specially equipped with their own water sports centers. There are special taverns on the beach where you can enjoy seafood dishes cooked over an open fire.
Features of Negombo
The resort is famous for its fishing. In a small town, a festival dedicated to this is held annually, where all its participants can communicate according to their interests.
For those who decide to delve into the secrets of ancient medicine, Negombo provides hotel complexes located on "Golden Mile", is the name of the coastline in Negombo, along which there are hotels where guests can learn the secrets of Indian healers.
Sights in Negombo
Recently a new pier was built in the city. Today she is happy to welcome everyone go down the river by boat. In addition, on the territory of Negombo there is a canal with a length of about 100 kilometers, and not far from the resort there is the largest swamp in Sri Lanka.
Negombo can rightfully be called one of centers of Catholicism. And it’s not surprising, because it has a huge number of cathedrals, the most famous of which is Church of the Holy Virgin Mary.
Sri Lanka Negombo surprises its guests Dutch fort, built in 1672. Today all that remains of it are the gates and walls, which are washed by water on three sides. While visiting it, tourists can see ancient granite slabs with the year carved on them, as well as a clock tower built in honor of Queen Victoria.
At a distance of 20 kilometers from Negombo rises majestically ancient temple, which, according to legend, was visited by Buddha himself. This cultural monument recently underwent restoration and today is in great demand among vacationers.
If guests of the tropical resort want to plunge into a more familiar atmosphere, then Negombo is pleased to offer them a large number of souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as bicycle rental services.
Best hotels in Negombo
Among the inexpensive ones we can highlight Holiday Fashion Inn 2*, price for a double room with one bed - from 50 $ per night. If you are accustomed to luxury and total comfort, then it is better Jetwing Beach 5* cannot be found, it is located near Ethukala beach, the price of a DBL room is from 200 $ per night.
You can book hotels in Negombo at a competitive price using the form below.
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Situated just 38 kilometers north of Colombo and just 20 minutes' drive from Bandaranaike Airport, Negombo offers a unique Sri Lankan holiday experience. Negombo has a lot to offer. This city has something for just about any traveler, whether you're looking for a fabulous sandy beach, great restaurants or unique attractions.
If you want to spend your holiday in Negombo exploring the Sri Lankan culture, you only need to walk away from the beach and discover the old colonial churches left here from the time of Dutch and British rule, as well as Buddhist temples and even the remains of an old fort. Nature lovers will also not be disappointed with a visit to Negombo in Sri Lanka, which is located next to the Muthurajawela Wetlands, which offer the opportunity to spot a variety of animals.
Negombo on the map of Sri Lanka
The city of Negombo is not difficult to find on a map of Sri Lanka, as it is located just north of the capital of this country, Colombo. In addition, Sri Lanka's main airport, Bandaranaike, is located near Negombo. Since Negombo is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka, it is marked on all maps of this island.Weather in Negombo by month
Negombo has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures and high humidity. Despite this, it is pleasant to be on the coast of the city, as the light coastal breeze makes your stay here comfortable even in the hottest weather. However, if you move at least 500 meters from the shore during the day, the conditions become unbearable at almost any time of the year.
In general, the air temperature in Negombo is constant throughout the year and the temperature difference between different months usually does not exceed 4 degrees. As a rule, the average daily temperature in Negombo is 29-31 degrees, but there are also serious deviations.
In terms of precipitation, the difference between the months of the year can be enormous. Since Negombo is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, this means that the weather here is influenced by the southwest monsoon. This monsoon brings heavy rainfall between May and November. Between December and April, rainfall in Negombo becomes much lower, and this period is considered to be the high season for this place. Negombo usually receives the most rainfall in May (the month averages 371 mm of rainfall), while the least rainfall usually falls in February (69 mm). On average, the sun shines 6-8 hours a day in this city.
How to get to Negombo from Colombo
Getting to the city of Negombo from the capital of Sri Lanka is not difficult, because there are many options to suit every taste. Do you want to get there in comfort? Then you can go to Negombo by taxi. The cost of the trip will be about 30 dollars. Want to save money? Then you can go by bus. The cost of the trip will be about 150 rupees. Want to ride the famous Sri Lankan train? Then the cost of the trip will be from 100 rupees (depending on the class of carriage). You can also go by tuk-tuk, but still this type of transport is more suitable for movement within populated areas, rather than between large cities.
How to get to Negombo from the airport
You can also easily travel to Negombo from Colombo Airport or vice versa. In most cases, tourists opt for a taxi, because the cost of a trip is around 15 dollars, which is not that much even for travelers on a limited budget. Of course, you can save money and go by bus, but the only question is whether you are ready to experience some of the inconveniences associated with traveling on such transport for the sake of 10-15 dollars.
Note that there are two railway stations near the airport where journeys from Colombo to Negombo stop. You can get to these stations (theoretically you can do this on foot, but it's better to take a taxi) and take the train to Negombo. The cost of a train trip starts from 50 rupees.
Negombo Beach
Although Negombo is a truly interesting city, it would hardly be as popular among tourists if it weren't for its beautiful beach.
Negombo beach is called the "Golden Mile". It is conveniently located just 15 km from Sri Lanka International Airport. Negombo was once a small fishing town that became Sri Lanka's first beach resort.
Negombo's beautiful and pristine sandy beach is largely maintained and improved by nearby hotels who are keen to offer their guests a good beach holiday experience in Sri Lanka.
Also worth noting are the beaches of Waikkal and Marawila, which are located in quiet resort villages north of Negombo. These beaches are quieter than the main Negombo beach, but are also relatively close to the airport. Hotels located on these beaches typically offer a "club" concept with all-inclusive accommodation and meals. Hotels on these beaches have an advantage over hotels in Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Unawatuna and other resort areas in the southwest of Sri Lanka. The fact is that from these hotels you can get to the Pinnawela elephant nursery, Kandy and even the Cultural Triangle much faster.
Sights in Negombo
Negombo is home to just a few of Sri Lanka's famous attractions. If you want to devote your time only to visiting iconic sights, then Negombo is unlikely to offer you anything interesting. However, the attractions in Negombo are quite numerous, and if you are interested in what to see in Negombo, you are sure to find many attractive places here. In this article we will present only the most popular attractions in Negombo, since a description of all the attractions would significantly increase this article.
Buddhist temple Angurukaramulla
Located on Temple Road, close to the city centre, the Angurukaramulla Buddhist Temple is over 200 years old and is a great place to visit if you love culture and architecture. The facade of this temple is impressive, as is the six-meter tall Buddha statue and the dragon's mouth entrance. The entrance in the form of a dragon's mouth is generally unusual for a Buddhist temple, however, as local residents say, it helps ward off evil spirits. Inside the Angurukaramulla Temple are colorful statues, sculptures and murals from different episodes of the Buddha's life.Negombo Churches
Although Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country, Negombo has a fairly large Christian population. The most architecturally interesting churches in Negombo include St. Mary's Church and St. Anne's Church.Negombo Fish Market
This sprawling market, often chaotic and smelly, is best visited early in the morning, between 7am and 10am. Here everything is arranged quite simply: dried fish is sold on one side, and fresh fish on the other. Even if you don't plan to buy fish, the Negombo fish market is worth a visit if only to take beautiful photographs of the fishermen, sellers, buyers and, of course, the fish for sale.Excursions from Negombo
You can easily travel from Negombo on any excursion, be it a trip to Kandy, a tour of the Cultural Triangle or a trip to Yala National Park. We have already talked about all the most popular excursions in Sri Lanka in a hotel article, so here we will only present some, so to speak, local excursions from Negombo.
Firstly, we advise you to visit Negombo Lagoon, which is especially beautiful during sunset. Boat cruises at this time of day are an amazing experience.
At the edge of the lagoon lies the Muthurajawela Sanctuary with huge crocodiles waiting for you in the mangroves!
Of course, from Negombo it is worth going on an excursion to the capital of Sri Lanka, the city of Colombo, which is only 1 hour away by local taxi. Here you can not only visit the most interesting sights, but also go shopping in shopping centers and stores such as Odel and House Of Fashion (despite the name, this store has fairly low prices on clothes).
Where to eat cheap and tasty in Negombo
It’s been a while since we wrote in our humble diary and we really regret it, so it’s time to correct the situation. Today we begin our series of stories about the island of Sri Lanka, which we set off to explore immediately after India, especially why travel twice if everything is nearby.
So, first, a moment of Wikipedia. The island of Sri Lanka is located in South Asia, slightly east of the southern tip of the Hindustan Peninsula and is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The island is separated from Hindustan by the Gulf of Manara and the Palk Strait. The so-called Adam's Bridge - a sandbank in the Palk Strait - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to chronicles, it was destroyed by an earthquake back in 1481.
Sri Lanka is an independent state that never belonged to India, as many people think. But, at the same time, the national composition is represented mainly by two nationalities that come from India: the Sinhalese (immigrants from the northern part of India) and the Tamils (immigrants from the southern regions of India). Historically, the main activity of the Tamils was the tea industry, and their numbers were significantly smaller than the Sinhalese. Under the supervision of the British Empire, the Tamils and the Sinhalese got along more or less normally, but in 1948, then Ceylon gained independence and tensions began to increase. The first armed conflicts, which eventually developed into a real civil war between the government and the guerrilla organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, took place 30 years later. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam operated mainly in the north of the island, while at the same time the southern part was developing and receiving tourists. It is worth noting that the bulk of Sri Lankans (both Tamils and Sinhalese) were against the war, but who cares about the opinion of the common people. The war officially ended on May 18, 2009.
And now let's move back to modern Sri Lanka, where the Air India plane with us on board landed at Colombo airport. The flight from India takes just enough time to take off and have a leisurely meal. Theoretically, the plane flies to the capital of Sri Lanka, the city of Colombo, but in fact Colombo is still about an hour away. Back in India, we decided that we would spend the night in Negombo, a small tourist town on the coast, so after leaving the terminal we began to solve the eternal transport problem. If you don’t want to spend money on a taxi, then you can use public transport; to the left of the exit from the airport there is a bus stop that will take you for free to the nearest bus station, from where you can go wherever you want, be it Colombo or Negombo.
The first thing that catches your eye on Sri Lankan soil is the ubiquitous cleanliness, the sight of which we managed to get used to during the three weeks we spent in India. Of course, if you arrived from a more developed country, you most likely will not feel this, but compared to India, the difference is noticeable, and the careful markings and law enforcement officials in the first hours of our arrival in Sri Lanka almost traumatized our delicate psyche.
All Negombo hotels are located along the coastline, so to get there you will have to take another bus or taxi.
View of the main street along which the hotels are located:
In principle, Negombo can be called a clean and, with some truth, a cozy city, which is clearly designed for tourists:
Lush greenery on the side of the road pleases the eye:
Sometimes it is so violent that you have to maneuver among it:
Negombi beach is quite clean and uncrowded; mostly locals go swimming:
Then it became clear why. The clean beach insidiously tempts us to rinse our feet in the Indian Ocean at least once, but the purity of the water here is such that even our feet are difficult to see. As we continued walking along the beach and staying away from the ocean, we noticed ditches where various wastes were dumped into the ocean.
This "resort" came from a neighboring village to relax and swim in the ocean. Notice the almost invisible tan line:
A moment later, his friends also joined the conversation, who felt that we simply needed to know where they lived and where they came from:
Having quickly drawn a map of the area on the sand and clarified the route, we decided to take a group photo:
And finally, the traditional section “Useful tips in a foreign land.” There is practically no point in haggling over the cost of a hotel in Negombo; there is a mafia working here that has set uniform prices and does not change them. On the way, we met a group of Chinese tourists who, in the bidding process, went so far that they received a lyuli as a bonus; by the way, it is a myth that all Chinese know kung fu. Moreover, the police who arrived at the scene were far from being on the side of the tourists. Of course, the blame cannot be removed from the citizens of the Middle Kingdom, but still the service should not be so intrusive. Money was stolen from our room for a total of 70 euros, 20 of which were in hryvnias, although for some reason they didn’t accept hryvnias in our stores. It makes sense to go to Negombo if you arrive very late and don’t want to stay in Colombo, but the view of the ocean, although dirty, is much nicer.
Negombo, Sri Lanka is the closest beach to Bandaranaike International Airport. Located only 15 km.
Getting here is quick and easy because you don't have to go through the congested capital of Colombo - it's in the opposite direction.
It is ideal to stop in Negombo for a short break after the plane, for example, if you are planning further excursions around the country.
Or on the eve of departure, especially if it is early. This beach is much more comfortable for such purposes than the capital Colombo.
Of course, you can relax here for two weeks, but it’s not as comfortable as somewhere in Bentota or Hikkaduwa. Still, the proximity of the airport is felt.
“Mister, airport, tumorou?” — the local tuk-tukers who dream of taking you to the airport remind you of the transit essence of Negombo every day. Well, how can you relax here?
In addition, there is an unpleasant itching feeling - like I sat near the airport and didn’t see the country.
Negombo or Negombo?
Very often, tour operators sell “vacations to Negombo”, which involve a hotel somewhere 10-20 km away. from the town. You have to understand that this is a very conditional Negombo.
And this, of course, is a completely different story than relaxing in the town itself. With the absence of any disadvantages (such as the same annoying tuk-tukers), but also many advantages (such as a large resort area). One, two, three hotels in the neighborhood - that's all.
Sights in Negombo
Fort
Generally speaking, Negombo is different from other beaches in Sri Lanka. Because it has at least 400 years of history. Few beaches here can boast of this.
Just about so many years ago, the Portuguese founded a fort here in Negombo to export precious stones and cinnamon from Ceylon to the metropolis.
Not particularly impressive remains of the fort. Clock tower.
The location was not chosen by chance. There is a natural lagoon here, very large and comfortable, which was used as a shelter for boats and ships.
The Portuguese and Dutch (with local forces, of course) dug a large extensive network of canals here, which are still used for the passage of boats.
It turned out something like Sri Lankan Venice.
The canals are still used by fishermen today.
Then the fort was conquered by the Dutch, and then by the British. Then colonial times became a thing of the past, and the fort was converted into a local prison.
Catholic churches
Along with the plunder of the island, the Europeans were engaged in missionary work here.
As a result, Negombo became “little Rome,” as it is sometimes called. There is no such concentration of Catholic churches anywhere else on the island.
Fish market
Lankan Venice, little Rome - sounds good, of course. But in reality, Negombo is just a large fishing village.
The most real thing - with tortured fishermen, a stinking market, sand stained with gasoline from the engines of fishing boats.
Fishing boats in the lagoon
By the way, the fish market is another local attraction. It is large (the second largest in the country) and here you can see various marine life caught.
You have to come in the morning. And be prepared for the smells.
New Old Resthouse
The oldest hotel in Negombo. It is located very close to the fort. It is famous for the fact that Elizabeth II, Queen of England, stayed here in 1958.
You can easily enter the hotel building and walk around it. Look at the remains of former luxury.
You can even stay here, but now it is the cheapest guest house on the shore - the rooms here are in a deplorable state even by Sri Lankan standards.
In general, there are no special attractions here that would make it worth going to Negombo. But you can find where to go for a walk.
How the city of Negombo works
This is the map of Negombo:
On the map in the lower left corner there is a fort. The city center is next to the fort, and is sandwiched between the ocean, the lagoon and the railroad.
The lagoon is almost invisible on the map, only its very edge is in the lower left corner of the map.
Overall the town is small, dirty and not particularly interesting. Locals live here, tourists have almost nothing to do in the center (there are no hotels or tourist restaurants here).
There are also mosques in Negombo.
But if you need a railway station or bus station, or a cheap cafe for locals, then this is right here.
The tourist part of the beach with numerous hotels and guesthouses begins where the road along the ocean (Sea street) bends sharply to the left. This is where the chain of hotels and guesthouses begins. At the very end of the beach, again, there are fishermen.
In the tourist area of Negombo, everything is quite traditional. Hotels are located on the shore, most of them (with the exception of the smallest guesthouses) have their own restaurants.
The road hugs the beach. A variety of tourist services are concentrated along it (small local cafes, shops, jewelry and souvenir shops, motorbike and bicycle rentals). It’s always easy to find a tuk-tuk here.
How to get to Negombo from the airport
Directly from the airport terminal, a free shuttle bus takes 10 minutes to Minuwangoda Bus Station. From this station there are buses to Negombo - 20 rupees, 40 min.
Transport to Negombo
Railway
The railway station is located in the city center, 100 m from Main St., 800 m from the fort and approximately 1.5 km from the Sea St./Lewis Pl intersection .) and Rosary Rd.
Railway station in Negombo
You can go both north, to Wilpattu National Park, and to Colombo - 3/2 class 45/80 rupees, 1 hour 20 minutes, and to Hikkaduwa - 3/2 class 115/210 rupees, 3 hours 20 min.
Buses
The bus station is located in the city center, 500 m south of the railway station. From here you can go to the airport, to do this, look for a bus going to Minuwangoda - 20 rupees, 40 minutes, where you will transfer to a free shuttle bus to the international terminal, its travel time is 5 minutes.
The following buses may also be useful:
Colombo - No. 240, regular/with air conditioner 41/75 rupees, 1 hour 20 minutes, every 20 minutes.
Kandy - No. 242, regular/with air conditioner 110/225 rupees, 3 hours 30 minutes. Regular buses leave at intervals of 15 minutes. — 1 hour, a total of about 20 flights per day from 4:30 to 17:15. Air-conditioned buses depart in the morning.
Hikkaduwa and other resorts south of Colombo - you need to get to Colombo and transfer to the desired bus at the city bus station.
Urban transport
You can get around the city by buses or tuk-tuks, that is, taxis.
Tuk-tuks from the bus station to the beach ask for 200 rupees, from the center to the beach - 150. We once managed to negotiate up to 100, but in general they are reluctant to bargain here.
The coolest type of transport is the red buses of the state company CTB (SLTB), travel around the city costs 6-12 rupees, the conductor issues tickets honestly. The bus only stops at stops, but they are not always marked.
One of the stops is at the intersection of Lewis Place and Carron Place. Or you can just ask the locals where the nearest one is. Bus number 905 runs along Parutota Road/Lewis Place/Sea Street and further along Custom House Road. When you get off at the intersection with the railway line, you will see the railway station on the left and the bus station on the right.
Rent a motorbike or bicycle in Negombo
Renting a bicycle costs 200 rupees per day, a motorbike - 800. You can rent it in the tourist area (on the road that runs parallel to the beach).
Ticket prices to Sri Lanka
Airfare prices fluctuate significantly throughout the year. This table shows the minimums by month. Click on the desired month to see prices for each day and book tickets.
Negombo (Sri Lanka) is a popular resort that many travelers use as a stopover point during their trip. This state of affairs is due to the convenient location of the settlement - just 40 km from the airport in Colombo. The resort town in Sri Lanka is famous for its fish market, cinnamon production, and interesting sights.
general information
Negombo is a small town located in the western part of Sri Lanka. The settlement is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean in a picturesque lagoon. It is one of the main commercial centers of the country.
For most of its history, the city was ruled by the Moors, who successfully traded cinnamon. Then the Portuguese ousted the Arabs, built a fort, and took control of the sale of spices to other countries. During the years of Portuguese rule in Negombo, the local population converted to Catholicism, which is why today a large number of Catholic churches have been preserved here.
In the mid-17th century, the Dutch seized power, built a fortress, erected new buildings, cathedrals and organized a network of water canals.
After the British seized power in Negombo in Sri Lanka, the settlement developed as a commercial center. At the end of the 19th century, a railway was built here, fish and seafood production was carried out on an industrial scale, and extensive plantations of tea, coffee and nuts appeared.
What attracts travelers
Vacationers are attracted by the beaches, however, if you compare them with the beaches in other resorts in Sri Lanka, the comparison will not be in favor of Negombo. Residents warmly and friendly welcome vacationers, interesting sights have been preserved here, and good conditions for diving have been created.
A notable feature of the resort town in Sri Lanka is its network of canals. Their length is almost 100 km. Residents of Negombo use it as a trade and tourist route.
In Negombo you should definitely visit:
- Dutch fort;
- St. Mary's Cathedral;
- Church of St. Anne;
- fish market.
Interesting fact! At the market you can negotiate with local fishermen about fishing in the lagoon.
Beaches of Negombo
Often in photographs, Negombo in Sri Lanka is presented as a luxurious resort with picturesque beaches. However, in practice the situation is somewhat different. Beaches are of low quality. At first glance, it seems that there is everything you need for a comfortable stay. However, the overall impression is spoiled by garbage and unkempt coastline. In addition, the water is cloudy almost all year round due to the large amount of silt that accumulates from canals and rivers.
Almost the entire city beach, located outside the tourist area, is practically not cleaned. There are no sunbeds or umbrellas here; you can only find them near some hotels.
Good to know! If you want to relax and unwind, choose a beach located in a tourist area. There are many cafes, restaurants, shopping centers, and some hotels have vibrant nightlife. Negombo in Sri Lanka falls asleep around 22-00, it is calm and quiet here. Most guests who come to Sri Lanka to enjoy a beach holiday spend no more than 2 days in Negombo.
The cleanest sections of the beach are located along two city streets:
- Lewis Place;
- Porutota rd.
This is a tourist part of the city, so garbage is regularly removed from the beach here, so the sand is relatively clean. The descent into the water is gentle, and the width of the coastline is from 10 to 30 meters. In two directions from the beach (north and south) dirty areas begin. In this part of Negombo live local residents who do not stand on ceremony and throw garbage directly onto the shore.
Helpful information! Moving south, you can get to the lagoon, where the fairly good Negombo beach, covered with black sand, is located.
Vacation prices
The main advantage of the resort is cheap prices for accommodation and food. Especially in the low season, finding decent housing with good conditions is not difficult. You can rent a double room in a guesthouse for $9. You can and should bargain with the owners of guesthouses; most likely, housing prices can be reduced.
This is useful! Depending on the time of year and the desire of the owners to get rich, the initial price can be reduced by one and a half times.
If you prefer a comfortable stay, it is better to rent a hotel room in advance. In Negombo there are hotels of different levels, with different numbers of stars. For a short holiday, it makes sense to find a good hotel with air conditioning in the rooms and a swimming pool, since swimming in the ocean is not very pleasant due to silt and dirt.
During the low season, prices in 3-star hotels vary between $25-45. Rent a room in a decent 4- and 5-star hotel with a swimming pool and breakfast will cost $60-90.
Helpful information! If you arrive in Negombo at night, inform the hosts of your guesthouse or hotel in advance. The resort town falls asleep quite early, the hotels close for the night, and it’s impossible to stay late in the evening.
Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form
Food prices
Prices in cafes and restaurants in Negombo are lower than in other resort towns in Sri Lanka. The most expensive establishments are concentrated in tourist areas. There are establishments with different cuisines, different levels and price ranges.
The most budget cafes are concentrated in the commercial part of the village. As a rule, such inexpensive establishments are called Hotel and resemble an ordinary canteen. There are also expensive restaurants here, but you should be prepared for the fact that the service and manner of service in them differ from traditional European ones.
It is important! Breakfast costs approximately $3. Chicken soup costs about $2.50, a milkshake costs about $2, and a pot of tea costs $1.20.
Gourmet restaurant dishes can be sampled on hotel premises. Received good reviews:
- Orchid (Browns Beach Hotel);
- Sands' (The Beach Hotel).
The menu consists of international cuisine, with a separate menu offering vegetarian dishes. The Beach Hotel has a vegetarian restaurant, Black Coral.
If you prefer fish dishes and seafood, visit the Fish & Lobster restaurant. The dishes here are prepared in front of the customers. The average check is from $40. If you prefer German cuisine, order dinner at the Bijou restaurant. The cost of the check is about $25-30.
It is important! There are no Russian establishments in Negombo, Sri Lanka, but the restaurant has a menu in Russian.
Sights, what to see
There are few attractions in the resort; most of the architectural monuments are Catholic, Hindu and Buddhist temples. A colorful place that all tourists recommend visiting is the fish markets. There are several of them, you need to visit at least one. Here you can buy fresh seafood and arrange fishing trips. You should definitely take a ride along the canals and lagoons that envelop Negombo in a network.
It is important! You can admire the flora and fauna in the lagoons during a private excursion or using the services of travel agencies.
The main attraction of Negombo is its large number of churches. The Angurukaramula Church is rightfully considered the most beautiful and majestic. The Buddhist temple is located a 20-minute walk from the railway station, so many tourists prefer to walk to the attraction.
The attraction attracts with a six-meter statue of Buddha, which is installed in a wooden carved gazebo. The gazebo deserves special attention, since the best local craftsmen worked on its creation. A pool was dug and landscaped in front of the statue, because the element of water is mandatory for every Buddhist temple. There are dozens of Buddha statues inside and outside. The walls of the attraction are decorated with paintings telling about the life of Buddha. As a rule, paintings turn into original bas-reliefs and are supplemented with figures. A special atmosphere has been created inside the temple, which you must experience when you find yourself in Negombo.
The attraction is located within the city, you can get here on foot, walking from anywhere in the village. If you are coming from the train station, you need to head east from the train station.
the entrance is free, you can visit the temple daily from 8-00 to 18-00.
Note to traveler: .
Catholic temple decorated with statues. Many tourists note that the Catholic Church built in Sri Lanka is strikingly different from European churches. Despite the apparent simplicity, a unique atmosphere reigns inside; prayers are read differently here, they sing differently, even the statue of Jesus Christ does not look like the standard images common in Europe.
Local Christians stop near the entrance and say prayers right on the street. The church building stands out among the buildings - it is decorated with statues, decorations and elegance. This type of architecture is unusual for Negombo, so all tourists visiting the resort come to the attraction. The interior decoration is rich, many photographs, stained glass windows and sculptures. There is an unusual altar built inside, illuminated with red light. It takes from 20 minutes to half an hour to explore the temple.
The excursion involves a boat ride along the canals and lagoon. Duration – half a day. During this time, travelers get acquainted with the local flora and fauna. The lagoon has many birds and lush greenery.
Price:
- group of 2-3 people – 55 $;
- group of 4-5 people – $40.
The boats move slowly along the quiet river, and the guides talk about the features of the area. Such a trip is calming and relaxing. In the thickets of trees you can see an iguana, monitor lizard and even a crocodile in their natural habitat. At the request of tourists, guides stop boats to go ashore. The excursions differ in content; you can choose a trip during which the guide will demonstrate the process of collecting palm sap. At the end of the trip, travelers can swim in the ocean waters.
It is important! Be sure to take drinking water and a camera with you on your trip.
How to get there from Colombo
Negombo is the closest resort to Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo.
You can get from Colombo to Negombo by taxi. This is the most comfortable option, but expensive - the trip will cost approximately $20. The journey takes 30 minutes. From the airport there is bus No. 240, ticket price is $0.35. A trip by tuk-tuk will cost a little more - almost $4.
It is important! The most convenient option is to order a transfer at the host hotel; in this case, the driver will be waiting for the tourist with a sign at the airport building.
By bus
Transport departs from the bus station, which is located approximately a kilometer from the airport building. The journey duration is 1.5-2 hours, flight departure frequency is every 30 minutes. There are two ways to get from the airport building in Colombo:
- free shuttle (you need to check whether the transport runs);
- tuk-tuk – the cost of the trip will be almost $1.
In Negombo, transport also arrives at the bus station; the most convenient way to get to the resort areas is by tuk-tuk for $1-1.5.
It is important! Roomy, comfortable buses depart from the bus station in Colombo; ticket price is $1.5.
Sri Lanka has developed railway communications. Flights depart from the station in Colombo Colombo Fort every day, the journey takes from 1 to 1.5 hours. The ticket price, depending on the class of carriage, varies from 0.25 to 1 dollar. Tickets can be purchased directly at the box office. The current train schedule and ticket prices can be found on the website www.railway.gov.lk.
It is important! The closest station to the tourist areas of Negombo is Negombo Railway. You can get to the hotel by tuk-tuk for $1.
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Negombo in Sri Lanka is a resort that, first of all, attracts with its convenient geographical location (near the airport in Colombo). Tourists prefer to stay here for a few days and then go on a further journey around Sri Lanka.
What the city of Negombo looks like, its beach and attractions are clearly shown in the video.
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