head to the beach
Retreat under the shade of a beach umbrella from the sweltering morning sun, or take a cool dip in the ocean at Mount Lavinia Beach. During the weekends, this is a great place to meet friends, fly kites, or just relax with a cold drink in hand. The beach is also one of the best places to visit in Colombo for couples, thanks to the romantic setting. When the sun goes down, the bars and restaurants that line the beach come alive with music, and various EDM parties are also held in this area. To know times and dates, keep an eye on social networks.
Relax at Barefoot (or any other cafe!)
Coffee culture has really picked up in the city, and there’s no shortage of places to go that not only offer a decent cup of latte, but also some really good entertainment. Barefoot cafe has several options, from a quiz night every Wednesday to live jazz performances every Sunday at noon. If they’re showing a new artist, you might even be able to walk into the gallery to see the work. Other cafes like Barista, Bakes by Bella, and Aura Cafe have open mic nightly performances at least once a month. Check their Facebook pages for dates and times, as these are not routine concerts. If you’re a poetry aficionado, meet other poets on the first Sunday of every month at Cafe Hansa, starting at 2pm for Poetry Pilau: you can read your own work or just sit and listen to the readings. Thanks to cafes like these, the options for weekend events in Colombo are constantly increasing.
Stroll the streets of Pettah
While this may not be the first item on your list of places to visit in Colombo, exploring the streets of Pettah can be quite fun. Full of sounds, colors and smells – immerse yourself in the chaos that makes up Pettah, from endless rows of shops, stalls full of colorful bags and sarees, or open markets where you can find designer knockoffs at bargain prices. People watch as they spend the day buying and selling everything imaginable under the sun. When the craziness around you starts to get too much, head into one of Bombay Sweet’s many houses to sample hot meat samosas and an ice-cold tall skirt, before venturing out again.
Go on a weekend break
If you feel like traveling, get out of the city on a weekend break. Sri Lanka has many incredible travel destinations on offer, from affordable villas along the golden beaches of Bentota and Hikkaduwa on the southern coast, to cozy bungalows amidst the lush green hills of Hatton and Nuwara Eliya in the highland region.
