Negombo is a small beach town located just 10 kilometers from Bandaranaike International Airport and 38 kilometers from Colombo via the Colombo-Katunayake expressway. It has a nice range of hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets.
In 1644, the Dutch took the town from the Portuguese. The British eventually took it away from the Dutch in 1796 without a fight with them. During the Dutch era, this region served as a port for the export of indigenous spices like cinnamon. Once the British acquired control of the region, the trade was stopped.
The Beach is home to a variety of respectable lodging options and restaurants that offer a wide range of food to tourists who travel there. At the conclusion of their trip to Sri Lanka, tourists frequently spent few days of beach time in Negombo.
01. Hit the Negombo Beach
Visiting the beach is among the top things to do in Negombo. After all, Negombo is a coastal town with one of Sri Lanka’s top beaches. The beaches of Negombo draw tourists from all over the world and the country.
The majority of resorts in Negombo provide their own private beaches where visitors may swim, surf, sail, and enjoy the mesmerizing sunsets. However, Browns Beach, Morawala Beach, and Negombo Beach are the most well-known beaches Located in Negombo.
Browns Beach
Browns Beach is one of Negombo’s most popular beaches, both among visitors and residents. It is one of few untouched private beaches in Sri Lanka. This beach is well-known for its lovely golden sands, turquoise sea, and beautiful palm trees. The beach is quite close to Negombo’s fishing village. This amazing beach offers a variety of interesting sports such as kite surfing, sailing, windsurfing, and more.
Negombo Beach
Negombo Beach is a collection of small beaches,located in closed to the negombo town . The beach offers a vast stretch that is ideal for long walks while admiring the beautiful palm trees. Negombo Beach is the ideal holiday destination stop, surrounded by stunning hotels, resorts, and luxury restaurants.
Morawala Beach
Morawala Beach, located in Negombo, is one of the town’s most prominent attractions. The beach is renowned for its spectacular view of the sunsets. The Beach is a lovely site to visit all year.
Browns Beach Negombo
Browns Beach Negombo
02. Explore the Remaining of Dutch Fort in Negombo
the Dutch fort Negombo located on a tiny patch of land that stretches between a lagoon and a sea inlet. With the exception of some fort walls and an antique clock tower, there isn’t much to see at the Dutch fort today. The Galle or Jaffna forts are better kept than this one.
According to reports, Negombo Fort was initially just a square encircled by walls when it was first constructed by the Portuguese. It was quickly taken by the Dutch in the beginning of 1640, and they held it against the Portuguese up to the end of 1643. After regaining control of the fort, the Portuguese reinforced its defenses to improve their ability to retain it during an invasion. How ever The Dutch did manage to retake the Negombo fort a month later, despite Portuguese precautions.
In 1672, the Dutch reconstructed the fort, switching from the original square shape to a pentagonal one. Without resistance, the British seized control of the fort in February 1796, and in the late 1800s they destroyed it and rebuilt it as a jail. It has the remains of the eastern rampart and a recessed arch gateway, and it is still in use by the Department of Prisons in Sri Lanka.
Negombo Dutch Fort Tower
Negombo Dutch Fort Gateway
03. Observe Negombo Fish Market
Negombo Fish Market is the most distinctive cultural environment in this coastal town, where tourists may experience local life. The town has two huge fish markets, one on the seashore and one in the city center. Negombo Fish Market is not a picturesque location, and those that come here want to experience the residents’ way of life.
Beginning as early as 4 a.m., fishing boats begin to arrive at the shore, packed with the catch of the day. Shrimp, crabs, and lobsters are caught in the famed Negombo Lagoon, while fresh fish is brought in from the Indian Ocean. You can purchase fresh fish at the Negombo Fish Market. Choices include tuna, mackerel, squid, sardines, and shark. Before being consigned to the market or to being sun-dried on the beach, the finest fish are sold to nearby hotels and restaurants.
Negombo Fish Market
Negombo Fish Market
04. Cruise down Hamilton Canal
The Hamilton Canal, built by the British in the nineteenth century, is a fantastic destination. It is 9 miles long and served as the primary route for transporting commodities to the seaport during colonial times.
The Hamilton Canal is also known as the Dutch Canal because, in the 18th century, the Dutch established a network of canals connecting Sri Lankan ports with inland Dutch territory. It included the Hamilton Canal. The British government, on the other hand, constructed a proper canal system considerably later.
Cruising along Hamilton Canal is a wonderful thing to do in Negombo. You’ll witness wildlife along the river, birds, and fisherman returning with their morning catch. Though cargo are no longer transported via these canals, they remain available for a fast boat trip that is both entertaining and exhilarating.
Hamilton Canal Negombo
Hamilton Canal Negombo
05. Bird watching in Muthurajawela
Muthurajawela is an amazing paradise for nature lovers. It is located south of Negombo Lagoon and provides a calm respite from the hustle and bustle of Negombo City. Muthurajawela Bio diversity area is only 15.5 miles away and take around 40 minutes to get there.
The wetlands are ideal for birding, with herons, egrets, waders, kingfishers, and cormorants abundant. There are also some exotic reptiles such as crocodiles and monitor lizards also can beseen during the boat ride in Muthurajawela wetland.
06. Scavenger Hunt Churches in Negombo, Sri Lanka
The city of Negombo is filled with grand churches in the European style. Negombo’s population is thought to be made of 99% of Christians. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that churches are common place in to the town. Due to the significant presence of Christianity in Negombo, it is frequently referred to as Little Rome in Sri Lanka too.
St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s Church, located on Main Street in Negombo is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest churches you can see. The church has three major floors and was constructed using the standard neoclassical design with simple walls and columns. The cathedral is renowned for its fading pink nave with dramatic ceiling decorations. Saint statues are mounted to the top levels of the church’s walls and the alabaster ceiling is decorated with depictions of countless saints.
St. Sebastian’s Church
St. Sebastian’s Church in Wellaweediya is a Catholic church located in Negombo. The stunning church is a true marvel of Gothic Revival architecture and was designed after Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral. Father Gannon, the parish priest on Sea Street, was in charge of designing the church. The Archbishop of Colombo, Pierre-Guillaume Marque, set the cornerstone on February 2, 1936, although the building wasn’t finished for another ten years.
St Sebastian church in Wellawidiya is one of many churches in Sri Lanka that are dedicated to St. Sebastian, who is regarded as a martyr in the history of the Catholic Church. Every January, a celebration called the Feast of St. Sebastian takes place honoring the saint.
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church
Saint Stephen’s Church is a Sri Lankan Anglican church. In the nineteenth century, the Anglican community wanted to build a church in Negombo, and action was taken by picking a suitable location in 1876. The region where the site was selected was originally known as The Dutch Fort. The Church was completed on July 31, 1880. Anglican church is designed in the Gothic revival style. On each of the top ridge-tiles, a little stone cross is placed.
St. Mary’s Church Negombo
Interior of St. Mary’s Church
07. Pay your respects at Angurukaramulla Temple
Angurukaramulla Temple is one of Negombo’s most ancient and revered Buddhist temples. The temple is famous for its dragon-head guarding the entry and its six metre tall figure of Lord Buddha. To enter, visitors must pass through the dragon’s jaws, which is claimed to keep evil spirits away from the temple and its believers. The dragon sits in the shadow of Lord Buddha’s massive statue, gazing out at a tranquil pool of water in front of it. Visitors entering the temple should dress modestly, with their arms and shoulders covered.
The temple has the remains of a 300-year-old library that formerly held a large collection of religious texts and literary literature. There are even suspicions that some of them may be securely guarded in the halls of the freshly renovated temple. Visitors to the temple should take care to dress respectfully, covering their arms and shoulders.
08. Attend a Beach Party in Negombo
In Negombo, beach parties are frequent and quite simple to locate. These gatherings, which frequently include dancing and live music, are frequently held in hotels, restaurants, and pubs. Ask the staff at your hotel where and when these activities are happening. Negombo doesn’t have a lot of nightlife, but there is excitement if you know where to seek. Before visiting Sri Lanka for the first time, it is a good idea to speak with travel agent and area tour guides.
Lords Night Club on Poruthota Road and Rodeo Pub in Ethukala should be at the top of your list of Negombo nightclubs to visit. If you wish to have a cool beverage on your own time, Lords is considered to be the nicest club in town. For a remarkable experience while in Sri Lanka, you might also try the Captain’s Rest, which is a component of the complex at Lords. The Rodeo Pub in Ethukala, with its renowned light night cuisine, is moreover the most tempting location for you to spend a late night out with your significant other.
09. Try Sea food in Negombo
This beautiful fishing village in Sri Lanka, not only provides a tranquil getaway by the water, but also the opportunity to try some of the island’s delectable food. The dining options in Negombo are quite diverse, ranging from hot curries to a variety of beloved foreign cuisine. Seafood plays a big role, as you might expect from a seaside town, with lobster, crab, and prawn dishes providing fragrant pleasures for discriminating foodies. There are several restaurants here that have been established by foreigners, and you may easily get foods from your native country including British, Italian, and German cuisine.
10. Get an Ayurveda Treatment in Negombo
You know where to go if Ayurveda is on your mind. Either Sri Lanka or India. And while you are here in Sri Lanka, why not explore Negombo’s Ayurvedic wonders? The Jetwing Ayurveda crew uses age-old treatment practices in a lovely green location with comfortable accommodations and The place is equipped with treatment centers, Ayurvedic physicians, and an Ayurvedic pharmacy. The Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilion in Negombo is the place to go if you want to engage in Ayurvedic treatments while still living in sustainable luxury.
Best time to visit Negombo, Sri Lanka
Negombo is best visited between January and April or July and August when temperatures are tolerable and rainfall is at a minimum. But keep in mind that this coastal town is generally warm and muggy all year round due to its closeness to the equator and the sea. Bring a hat and sunscreen, please. Additionally, hydrate yourself profusely.
Getting to Negombo, Sri Lanka
From the airport, driving to Negombo takes roughly 20 minutes. That is less time than it takes to travel an hour from the airport to Colombo City. Because of this, This Small town is frequently chosen by visitors to Sri Lanka as their point of arrival or departure.
Where to stay in Negombo
Due to Bandaranaike International Airport’s proximity to Negombo, there is a good probability that you will be traveling to and from Sri Lanka through Negombo. And as a coastel town negombo is well knows for it’s Beaches. That case there are a plenty of hotels in Negombo that you can choose to meet your needs.
- Heritance Negombo
- Jetwing Sea
- Hotel Sico
- Goldi Sands
This coastal town offers a variety of activities besides lazing on the beach. On your next vacation to Sri Lanka, participate in exhilarating activities in Negombo, from taking in the nightlife to experiencing the greatest dolphin viewing. Send us a message or leave a comment below if you have any inquiries about Negombo so we can get back to you.
Image courtesy of Wanderlust, Ronald Saunders, Anne and David, Shanaka de Silva, David Stanley, Sergei Gussev via creative commons licenses. some rights reserved.
Ceylon Hunt has tour packages which facilitate Negombo Beach Vacations in Sri Lanka and you can check them going through our Tour Packages or make the reservations through our website.