Explore Colombo

Gangaramaya Temple

Start early at one of Colombo’s best-known Buddhist temples, part place of worship and part museum of wonderfully odd treasures gathered from around the world.

Cover shoulders and knees, and leave shoes and hats at the entrance.

Seema Malaka

Walk a few minutes to Geoffrey Bawa’s calm pavilion on Beira Lake, with its row of Buddhas looking over the water.

Come back after dark one evening: it is beautifully lit at night.

Pettah market and the Red Mosque

Plunge into Colombo’s busiest bazaar, where each lane has its own trade. On Second Cross Street, the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, built in 1909, stops everyone in their tracks, and Bombay Sweetmeat Mart opposite pours a cooling falooda.

Go before the midday heat, keep your bag close, dress modestly at the mosque and avoid Friday prayers.

Lunch at the Dutch Hospital

One of the oldest buildings in the Fort, its colonnaded courtyards now hold restaurants and bars. Ministry of Crab is the famous one, for lagoon crab in every size.

Book Ministry of Crab ahead. For something local and inexpensive, Mayura Hotel in Pettah serves crab curry on banana leaves.

Coffee at Radicle Gallery

A few minutes’ walk from the Dutch Hospital, in the De Mel Building on Chatham Street: excellent specialty coffee upstairs and a changing art exhibition in the gallery below.

Open daily from 7am, so it also makes a good start to a morning in the Fort.

Back to VAUX

Sit out the hottest part of the day in the rooftop pool, or with a cold drink on your balcony.

The roof and pool are open until 10pm.

Number 11

A guided tour of Geoffrey Bawa’s own Colombo home: courtyards, light wells, art and the architect’s Rolls-Royce behind latticed doors.

Tours are by booking only, so reserve before you arrive.

The Gallery Café

Geoffrey Bawa’s former office, now Paradise Road’s restaurant, with open-air courtyards, a lily pond and an art gallery. Stop for coffee and one of its famous desserts, or come back another night for dinner.

Open daily from 10am until midnight; book ahead for dinner.

Galle Face Green

Join the city on its seafront promenade as the sun goes down, with families and kites, then cross to the Galle Face Hotel for a sunset cocktail in its courtyard facing the sea.

Weekend evenings are the liveliest.

Dinner, then home

Eat at Upali’s for a proper rice and curry, or Nuga Gama for a Sri Lankan buffet in a village-style garden. Finish with a nightcap at Park Street Mews, next door to VAUX.

On the way back, the Lotus Tower lights up the skyline.

National Museum

Sri Lanka’s story in one grand white building: ancient sculpture, royal regalia, ritual masks and weapons, from the kingdoms to the colonial era.

It opens at 9am and is fan-cooled, so go early before it gets humid.

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Rotating exhibitions, talks and films by Sri Lankan artists, tucked inside the Crescat Boulevard mall beside the Cinnamon Grand.

Check what is on before you go: exhibitions change through the year.

Lunch at Upali’s

A dependable, indoor introduction to Sri Lankan food: a full rice and curry spread, hoppers and string hoppers.

Gangaramaya Temple museum

Much of the temple’s extraordinary collection is indoors, from vintage watches to one of the world’s smallest Buddha images.

Cover shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes.

Lotus Tower and Pixel Bloom

Ride up South Asia’s tallest tower. Pixel Bloom, its immersive digital art gallery, is included with the foreign-visitor ticket, and if the clouds lift, the observation deck looks over the whole city.

Open daily from 9am into the evening.

A film at Colombo City Centre

End the day at the cinema in Colombo City Centre, about five minutes’ walk from VAUX, with plenty of places to eat afterwards.

A night in

Your loft has a full kitchen, so pick up something good on the way home, or ask our concierge for a delivery recommendation.

Viharamahadevi Park

The city’s largest park, with shady trees, a play area and plenty of room to run before the heat builds.

Older children who like history can add the National Museum, just across the road.

Lotus Tower and Pixel Bloom

Shoot up in one of the fastest lifts in the country to the observation deck, then step into Pixel Bloom’s immersive digital art.

Children under 3 go free; there are reduced tickets for older children.

Lunch at Colombo City Centre

A food court with something for everyone, about five minutes’ walk from VAUX.

Pool and a rest

Back to VAUX for a swim in the rooftop pool and a quiet hour in the loft.

Ask our concierge about a rollaway bed for longer stays.

Port City Colombo beach

A new beach and promenade on the reclaimed land beside Galle Face, with space to dig and paddle.

Watch the children closely near the water and follow any flags or lifeguard advice.

Galle Face Green

Kites, bubbles and snack carts as the sun goes down, with half of Colombo out for the evening.

The breeziest kite-flying months are June and July.

Dehiwala Zoo

The National Zoological Gardens, a drive south of the centre, make an easy half-day out.

Go early, before the heat and the crowds.

Breakfast at A2B

South Indian vegetarian classics at Adyar Ananda Bhavan on Marine Drive: crisp dosa, idli, vada and filter coffee, with a counter of Indian sweets to take away.

Opens at 7:30am and fills up fast, so come early.

Short eats at Green Cabin

One of Colombo’s oldest bakeries, for “short eats”: patties, cutlets and rolls with milky tea.

Lamprais at VOC Cafe

The Dutch Burgher classic: rice, mixed meat curry and sambols wrapped in a banana leaf and baked.

Or try Mayura Hotel in Pettah, with crab curry on a banana leaf.

Falooda at Bombay Sweetmeat Mart

Cool down with falooda, a rose-syrup milk drink with basil seeds and ice cream, at this Pettah favourite on Second Cross Street, right opposite the Red Mosque.

Open from 10:30am and closed on Sundays.

Sunset cocktails at the Galle Face Hotel

Watch the sun go down over the Indian Ocean with a cocktail at the Galle Face Hotel, founded in 1864, from its courtyard facing the sea.

Hoppers at Palmyrah

Hoppers (appa), the bowl-shaped rice-flour pancakes, with Jaffna-style curries at Palmyrah in the Renuka City Hotel.

Kottu at Pilawoos

The late-night classic: chopped roti stir-fried on a hot plate with egg, vegetables and meat, to the clatter of the cooks’ blades.

Open late, and cash is easiest.

The rooftop pool at VAUX

Start the day with a swim above the city. The roof and pool are open from 6am to 10pm.

Flex Studio

Reformer, mat and chair Pilates in the Parkway Building at 48 Park Street, a minute’s walk from VAUX. Drop-in classes are available, as well as class packs, and the first classes start at 6:30am on weekdays.

Book your class ahead, especially early mornings.

Athlete Unleashed

A coached strength and conditioning gym on Braybrooke Place, with an outdoor rooftop training area.

Contact them before you go to ask about visitor sessions.

Fitness First at Moors Sports Club

A full gym on Muttiah Road with day passes, a dedicated women’s area and personal trainers. Open from 5am on weekdays.

Bring photo ID for your day pass.

Viharamahadevi Park

Shady loops of the city’s largest park, five minutes from VAUX.

Independence Square

Wide walkways around the Independence Memorial Hall, busy with joggers morning and evening, and close to tree-lined Bauddhaloka Mawatha.

Galle Face Green

The flat, breezy seafront promenade, best at sunrise before the heat.

Run early: by mid-morning it is hot and humid.

Colombo Night Run

The city’s biggest night-running community, free to join every Thursday. Meet at Independence Square, beside the Senanayake statue, 1.7 km from VAUX.

Check their website for route changes and upcoming races.

6ish @ 6ish

A friendly 6–7 km run along the water, starting from the big Sri Lankan flagpole by the pier at Galle Face Green, 1.7 km from VAUX.

Revive Holistic Wellness

Pilates, Hatha yoga and breathwork in a calm house on Horton Gardens, Colombo 7.

Barressential Colombo 03

Barre, mat and reformer Pilates from Sri Lanka’s first dedicated studio, founded in 2017. Drop-ins are welcome when there is space.

Bring grip socks, or buy a pair there.

Nufloe

A modern mat and reformer studio on R.G. Senanayake Mawatha. Booking is by WhatsApp, and there is a shower.

Sama Sound Healing and Yoga

Kundalini yoga and gong sound baths on Staple Street, a short walk from VAUX.

OM Wellness Centre

Yoga classes on Cambridge Place, taught in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

IshTara

Yoga, breathwork, meditation and sound healing in a converted house on Horton Place.

Prana Lounge

A well-loved yoga centre in a colonial house on Horton Place, with several classes a day and a café.

Soul Theory

Yoga classes and workshops in a peaceful indoor-outdoor space on Barnes Place, open on Sundays too.

Fitness Kingdom

An air-conditioned gym on the second floor of Bookers Hall, Hedges Court, with day passes for travellers.

CrossFit Ceylon

Drop-in CrossFit classes, coached in English, with an open gym and showers.

Fitness First Colombo 7

A large, well-equipped gym on Maitland Crescent with day passes.

It gets busy between 5pm and 7pm.

Ramada Colombo

Day access to the hotel’s gym, with a separate pool day pass.