When is the best time to visit?
Two monsoon seasons deter travellers from visiting Colombo from May through August and October through December. In general, the best time to book a flight to Colombo is between January and March, when rainfall is at its lowest and temperatures climb toward their highest. Travellers seeking a trip filled with festivals may want to consider braving the monsoon season and travelling in May for the celebration of Buddha’s birth, which sees Colombo covered in lanterns, lights and other decorations. Cheap flights to Colombo can be found outside of the peak travel months of January, February and March when other celebrations take place.
Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya Temple
Traditionally, the Duruthu Perahera takes place on the pre-full moon day in the month of January. The spectacular procession entices hundreds and thousands of natives and tourists who are keen to witness the cultural heritage and ancient traditions of the nation through the remarkable parades of folk music, rhythmic dance and drum performances outside the Temple Purlieu.
Navam Perehera
Book a flight to Colombo during February and see the streets of Colombo come alive to celebrate the month’s full moon. The streets are flowing with vibrant and colourful processions with a display of dancers, drummers, traditional folklore, music and Chieftains in traditional attire. The main attraction of the parade is the hundreds of elephants that travel from various parts of the country dressed in shining cloaks. This huge event is located at Gangarama Temple in Colombo and sees more than a million spectators gather annually.
Why visit?
Take a flight to Colombo and see its many historic religious sites against modern skyscrapers, a spread of ethnicities living side by side and extensive green spaces surrounded by the fumes of heavy traffic. History and modernity live side by side in Sri Lanka’s capital city on the ocean shore.
First time visitors taking cheap flights to Colombo may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people, traffic and activity that fill the streets of Colombo, but with time, the city’s charms begin to win over newcomers. There’s plenty to see, but many visitors choose to start with the stunning temples found throughout Colombo. Of these, the colourful Gangaramaya Temple is a favourite among visitors for its incredible Buddhist statues and museum. Colombo’s past is on full display at sites like The National Museum of Colombo, the Natural History Museum and the Dutch Period Museum, while contemporary and Sri Lankan art greet visitors to the National Art Gallery.
A metropolis Colombo surely is, but there are ample opportunities to escape the urban in favour of a more natural retreat. The wildlife that takes up residence at Viharamahadevi Park adds a lively element to a stroll through this lushly landscaped green space, while the Talangama Wetland just outside the city proper offers lakeside relaxation amongst butterflies and greenery.
After recharging, visitors can head to Galle Face Green, an oceanfront promenade that attracts many for some of the best sunset views in the city.