Guide to Colombo

'With its rushing bazaars, amazing temples and restaurants, Colombo offers an exhilarating mix of shopping, sightseeing and street life.'

For sheer, unadulterated energy, you can't beat Colombo. A dizzying fusion of Dutch and British architecture, shanty huts, and modern offices, it'll blow you away with its frantic pace and sprawling size. The undoubted heart of this mesmerising city is the historic Fort district. Here, a short stroll takes you past monument after monument to the city's imperial past, from the stern-faced Queen Victoria memorial to the old Parliament and clock tower. Hail one of the tuktuks – motorised rickshaws – that swarm around the streets here and weave, heart in mouth, to Colombo's other must-see district, Pettah. Once here, you'll have no choice but to dive head first into the teeming streets where stores crammed with cheap and cheerful electrical goods, fabrics and saris jostle for your attention and rupees. You'll probably leave with bags of forgettable gadgets and souvenirs, but we promise you'll never forget the experience. When you want a slower tempo, tiptoe into a Buddhist temple to sense the sanctuary the religion brings to followers. Explore the musty Natural History Museum with its spooky displays of stuffed animals. Round things off with a saunter along the seafront at Galle Face Green before downing a sundowner at the achingly atmospheric Galle Face Hotel. When you're done, take your pick from the city's multitude of Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese or European restaurants to feast on anything from a vegetarian curry to a tantalising banana leaf thali. As evening falls, don't bother with the party hat – this is one place that retires to bed early. But by day, Colombo's as wide-awake and exhilarating as any city can be.

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