Itinerary · Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

48 hours in Colombo and the west coast

Colombo’s cafés and Bawa’s house, the Fort and a rooftop at sunset, then Bentota’s river and a last evening on the Negombo lagoon near the airport.

2 days

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Day 1, 9:00
1Café Kumbuk
Colombo 7·Café
Breakfast in a Colombo 7 garden café.
Day 1, 10:30
2Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s house
Colombo 3·Architect’s house
A guided tour of Bawa’s house (book ahead with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust).
Day 1, 13:00
3The Gallery Café
Colombo 3 · Kollupitiya·International & Sri Lankan
Lunch in Bawa’s former office.
Day 1, 16:00
4Old Dutch Hospital Precinct
Colombo Fort·Historic shopping & dining
The Old Dutch Hospital in the Fort, then One Galle Face.
Day 1, 18:00
5Botanik Bistro & Rooftop Bar
Colombo Fort·Rooftop bar
Sunset drinks on the rooftop.
Day 2, 8:00
6Lunuganga
Bentota·Garden
Drive south (about 1.5 hours); Lunuganga on the morning tour.
Day 2, 13:00
7Madu River
Balapitiya·River and lagoon
A boat trip on the Madu Ganga.
Day 2, 17:00
8Negombo lagoon
Negombo·Lagoon and boat trips
Drive to Negombo (about 2 hours by expressway) for the lagoon at dusk.
Day 3, 6:30
9Negombo fish market
Negombo·Fish market
If you have an early flight to spare: the fish market at dawn, 20–30 minutes from the airport.

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