'Just north of Colombo, this lively spot will appeal if you're looking for a bright, buzzy atmosphere on top of your sun, sand and sea.'
Negombo has an unmistakable buzz about it. So if you want a bit more besides The Beach, it ticks all the right boxes. With the airport ten kilometres down the road, the good news is that you can be on The Beach in next to no time. And from there, it's just a case of kicking back and idling on the soft amber sands, only interrupting your reveries with casual trips to the friendly bars and restaurants lined up behind you. At night, you'll find plenty of sociable distractions on the main strip, where a seemingly endless string of hospitable Sri Lankan, Italian and Chinese eateries offer a livelier scene than the sedate hotel lounges. When you're in explorer mode, Negombo town has interesting reminders of its Dutch and British domination. Wander around its pretty Christian churches, which give it the nickname 'Little Rome' and the many remnants of colonial buildings. Or savour the views over the palm-fringed lagoon, where locals fish for the town's acclaimed prawns and crab. Put time aside for Negombo's noisy fish markets, where locals carve up meaty, pink slabs of fresh skipjack and shark. Take a boat around the Muthurajawela wetlands, where crocodiles, heron and macaque monkeys peep through the grasses. Or take advantage of Negombo's closeness to Colombo by exploring this melting pot of a city. Whatever you do, leave time for what comes naturally here. Enjoy an exotic breakfast of 'hopper' – the delicious local pancakes – before hitting the sands. Watch flotillas of white-sailed fishing dugouts sweep across the bay. Order another cocktail as dusk falls. What more could you want?
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Negombo hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Negombo include Browns Beach Hotel and The Beach.
More Sri Lanka holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Sri Lanka? Our Sri Lanka holiday destinations include Ahungalla, Bentota, Beruwela, Colombo, Kalutara, Negombo, Wadduwa and Waikkal.
Beaches
The wide golden sands of Negombo's beach are the main attraction in the resort, appealing to sun seekers and watersports enthusiasts alike. From November through to April, hotels organise water activities on the beach, though sea conditions may limit which watersports are on offer the rest of the year.
Eating out
Most of the dining in Negombo is hotel based and so has international influences. However, there are lots of restaurants near to the hotels in Negombo if you wish to try some more authentic cuisine. Curry and rice are the staple elements of Sri Lankan food, some of which are very spicy and it's best not to underestimate how hot the dishes can be. For some local flavour of the liquid variety, try the beer or gin produced in the region.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Sri Lankan resorts tends to be low key and Negombo is no exception. Entertainment takes place within the hotel complexes, with cultural shows, live music, karaoke and the occasional simple disco. However, in the street adjacent to the hotels in Negombo there are lots of bars and restaurants that are particularly popular in the evenings.
Shopping
Negombo doesn't offer the tourist much in the way of shopping, with the small centre catering for local needs rather then tourist tastes. This is true for most of the island, though there are a number of shops where you can buy your essential souvenirs. Teas, spices, carving and batiks are good if you want to purchase some local colour. The Sunday market at Kochikade, seven kilometres from Negombo, is worth a visit for a slice of Sri Lankan life, if not for the shopping.
Local information
Take a leisurely boat trip down the 100km long Dutch-built canal, which used to act as a supply route into the centre of Negombo. There are also some ancient Buddhist temples, a Dutch fort gate built in 1672 and the Muthurajawela Marsh - a unique wetland habitat brimming with colourful flora and fauna.
Location
35 kilometres north of Colombo
Transfer time
30 minutes approximately, depending on flight arrival times
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