Hotels in Colombo

Staying in Colombo

The city lies on the west coast, facing the Indian Ocean. The Fort district at its northern end holds the old commercial buildings, the harbour and the main railway station; beside it, Pettah is a market district of narrow streets and wholesale shops. South of Fort, Galle Face Green is a strip of lawn along the sea where kites fly in the evening, and the hotels and office towers around it form the modern centre. Further south the city turns residential, with the suburbs stretching along Galle Road toward Mount Lavinia. The international airport sits well to the north of the city at Katunayake, and arrivals reach the centre by road. Street names can be long, so have the hotel's name to hand for the driver, whether that is a car booked ahead or a taxi from the rank outside arrivals. Choose a hotel by what comes next. If you are moving on by train to Kandy or the hill country, the Fort end puts you near the station. For a short stop between flights, the seafront hotels near Galle Face are easy to reach and easy to leave. For longer stays, the quieter southern suburbs trade the sea view for leafier streets and local restaurants.