A towering metropolis on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Colombo has many sides to discover. From the lively exchanges seen at the bazaars of Pettah to the sunkissed beaches of Mt. Lavinia, you will be enchanted by this dynamic and ancient trading city.

About this activity

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Duration 8 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Wheelchair accessible
Private group

Highlights

Get a sense of Colombo's colonial roots as you discover the legacies left to this city of trade
Stroll serenely along the promenade at Galle Face Green
Barter yourself to a bargain at the colorful markets of Pettah
Show your spiritual side in the temples, mosques, and churches adorning the streets

Full description

Situated on the west coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo is said to be the traditional gateway to the Orient. It is the largest city of the island and due to its vital role in the east-west sea trade dating as far back at the 5th century, it is possible to see the remnants of Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch, and British settlement throughout the city. On this full-day tour, you will be given an insiders view to the bustling metropolis and discover the many layers, which form its colorful character. During the day you will have the opportunity to visit sites including the mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green, the exclusive district of Cinnamon Gardens where you will find Independence Hall, the vibrant bazaars of Pettah, and the pristine beaches of Mt. Lavinia. Your journey will be enhanced by the many religious sanctuaries, which manifest in their variety, the peaceful tolerance of the city’s diverse inhabitants. There will also be time to investigate Colombo’s National Museum and get a real taste of the ancient, colonial and modern influences, which make up the city. To keep you refreshed and revived, there will be a delectable lunch overlooking the sea at the Galle Face Hotel and an afternoon tea in the extraordinary restaurant of Colombo Fort, which was once a Dutch hospital.

Includes

An english-speaking tour guide with intimate knowlegde of the city
Transportation for the duration of the tour
All entrance fees
Pick-up and Drop-off where requested

Additional refreshments
Items of a personal nature
Gratuities
Charges for the photography or filming conducted at tourist sites
Lunch/tea

Meeting point

Pickup and drop off can be oragnised to include most major hotels, the airport, and other well-known landmarks.

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Important information

What to bring

Passport

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 16 reviews

Review summary

Value for money
4.8/5
Safety
5/5
Service
4.9/5
Organization
4.9/5

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Guide was good, but car tour not recommended

The guide has made every effort to show some highlights, but the traffic in Colombo is a disaster. At the end of the day there are only minutes for a photo for the last POI. We would take the tour with TukTuk in the future and ensure that the driver really speaks English and has something to say. The drivers who can take you safely from A to B for 1-5 € usually cannot. They charge around € 10 for the city tour. But I think it's only cheap, not cheap

March 9, 2019

Best way to visit the best of Colombo in few hours

From the beginning the communication with Get You Guide was extremely easy and efficient. On the activity day our flight arrived late and so, we arrived at the hotel a bit late than expected. Our guide was already waiting for us an he was super patient. We had 22hs before our next flight from Colombo and that's why we decided to get a tour and visit the city. The tour was great and took us to main points, Buddhist temple, dutch church, independence square, Galle Face Green, souvenir shop etc... The guide was really kind and with a very good english he explained a bit of everything about the touristic points as well as about Sri Lankan culture. We saw some nice paintings on our way and at the end of the day we asked him to take us back there and he didn't have any problem with that, waited patiently for us to buy what we wanted. We didn't have a meal because the timing wasn't great, is was mid afternoon and the dinner restaurants weren't open yet. But it wasn't a big deal for us;)

December 29, 2015

Very good introduction to Colombo. Guide was flexible and tailored the tour to our interests. Highly recommended for the beginning of your visit to the city.

March 26, 2018

Full-day Sightseeing Tour of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Full-day Sightseeing Tour of Colombo, Sri Lanka

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Guide was good, but car tour not recommended

Best way to visit the best of Colombo in few hours