The Ultimate “Colombo with Kids” Guide

Where to Stay in Colombo with Kids

Colombo has a good range of hotels and apartment-style accommodation which can suit any budget. Whilst you do not find the super luxurious boutique hotels which are now the norm out of Colombo, you can choose the hotel to suit your preferences from a 3 up to 5 star hotel. Some good hotels for families include Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lake and the Hilton Colombo. If you like views of the beach, try the Galle Face Hotel, Taj Samudra, Galadari or the Ceylon Continental which are better placed near the ocean. Galle Face Hotel is an iconic heritage hotel in Colombo, placed right over the ocean and beautiful colonial style rooms. For a less busy and more exclusive atmosphere, try the Havelock Bungalow, Tintagel, or the Park Street Hotel which offer boutique style accommodation.

If staying in central Colombo is not a priority, but staying near a good beach is, you will love the Mount Lavinia Hotel, a heritage hotel which is beautifully placed by the golden Mt Lavinia beach. All the above mentioned hotels and apartments welcome kids and many families touring Colombo choose them as their temporary abode to explore the city and country.

If youʼre looking for apartment style accommodation, The Hilton Colombo Residence or the Monarch are good options. These tend to be more expensive than the hotels, but can become very valuable if you are staying mid to long term, if the kids are not used to being in cramped up quarters or are fussy eaters demanding their own special menus!

You might find some Colombo residents renting private apartments or villas for tourists on a daily or weekly basis – google before you book and you might get lucky. Compare hotel prices at ColomboHotels.org.

Where to Eat in Colombo with Kids

You wonʼt find it difficult to find something to please your fussy eaterʼs palate in Colombo. All the major hotels have quite good breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, with many of them offering theme weeks or nights. They also have many good specialist restaurants with fresh and tasty cuisine. If you would like to try local cuisine – the staple diet is rice and curry, which tends to be quite spicy! Kids will like the white curries which are milder but still flavorsome, such as lentils, vegetable curries, or white fish/ chicken curry. A favorite with my 3 yr old daughter is the breakfast dish called “kiribath” (milk rice) made of rice and coconut milk, usually used for Sundays or special occasions. Try this with a piece of jaggery and its sure to become a hit with the little ones!

Colombo also has a good range of restaurants and cafeʼs – some of the must-visit places are mentioned below :

Curry Leaf, Colombo Hilton : A great place to try Sri Lankan cuisine. They have kid friendly outdoor seating, and action stations with Sri Lankan favorites such as rice and curry, kottu, hoppers and string hoppers.

Park Street Mews : A favorite with my daughter, and sure to become one of yours too. This casual cafe style restaurant is extremely kid friendly with comfy bean bags and sofas to relax on. Good western and Italian food can be found here. A great place for Sunday brunch or a refreshing lunch, it takes on a beautiful atmosphere in the nights due to the twinkle lights from the adjoining pebble-lined street.

Barefoot Cafe : Situated at the back of designer Barbara Sansoniʼs textile and lifestyle shop is “Barefoot”. To grab a bite after shopping or for a relaxed lunch this is a great place, especially because kids can roam around in the backyard. Burgers, wraps, fish & chips, salads, plus more ʻseriousʼ meals are served here.

Seafood Cove (Mt Lavinia Hotel)/Bu Ba/Lavinia Breeze : If you love seafood and eating under the stars, these restaurants are situated close together on the lovely Mount beach. All serve fresh seafood prepared to your taste. Kids will like to dine barefoot but these are great picks if you manage to hand them over to someone for the night, to catch some time alone with your better half!!

Fun Things for Kids in Colombo

The Colombo National Museum : If your kids are a bit older and would like to get to know local history, the Colombo National Museum is a good place to visit, and will keep them occupied for the better half of a day.

Excel World : Excel World is the only “amusement park” in Colombo worth visiting, although it is quite tame compared to amusement parks or kids entertainment centres in more developed countries. Still, you can find a bowling alley, a games arcade, climbing wall, an indoor go-kart track as well as a few kiddy rides for those under 5.

Dehiwela Zoo: A short 30 to 45 minute ride is the Dehiwela Zoo. Visit here if your kids really like their wildlife. A warning though, that the conditions of animal captivity is pretty depressing as many are in small, unnatural cages. Having said that I was happy to see some improvement during my last visit. The Elephant Dancing Show held around 4pm each day is a good one for the kids.

Gangaramaya Temple : If youʼd like your kids to see and experience a little bit of Buddhism which is the predominant religion in Sri Lanka, take them to the Gangarama Temple, situated near the Hilton Colombo Residence Apartments. Whilst you can walk in to any of the other temples scattered around all over Colombo, this particular one is more geared towards tourists and you may find priests able to converse in English to give you an overview of the temple history or Buddhism. Just a walk across the road, a bridge will take you over the Bera Lake, in the middle of which a small monument of the temple is located. Make sure you wear non-revealing clothes (shorts and exposed shoulders are not permitted) and remove your hat and shoes before walking in to the temple.

Galle Face Green : If the kids need play and running space, this is the place. Recently upgraded and now boasting a beautiful green beside the ocean, this is a favorite haunt of the locals and tends to get crowded on weekends. Take the kids there on a weekday evening for a game of cricket, football or kite flying. The area is patrolled by police and military due to its close proximity to some key places (as are most central Colombo areas) but this is nothing to be alarmed about. You can also see the Old Parliament building across the road.

BuBa Beachfront Cafe : Take the kids (and the dog, if you have one!) on a Sunday afternoon to Buba beach restaurant. Whilst they play on the beach and take a dip, you can relax with a cool drink. Go back to your hotel after watching the sunset, totally content with life!

Day or Weekend Trips from Colombo

You can do short trips with Colombo as your base. Our familyʼs favorite beach is in Bentota, which is only 2 hours drive from Colombo. In addition to the lovely long beach, kids can visit a nearby turtle hatchery to see baby turtle hatchlings and release them in to the water (for a small fee). You can also consider Kandy for a weekend trip, the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which is about 3-4 hrs drive. On the way you can visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela – the kids will no doubt be fascinated by the baby elephants being fed and bathed. For the more adventurous family, drive up to Kitulgala, again 2-3 hrs away for the weekend, for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking.

Shopping with Kids in Colombo

You wont find the huge shopping malls or the exclusive branded boutiques of thedeveloped world in Colombo (yet!). But if youʼre looking for basic shopping for yourselfand kids try ODEL, which is a department style store with everything from clothes,homeware, toys, bath range and lingerie. Odel has a great range for kids, including their own line of teeʼs, sweaters and caps featuring local animals. You will also find bright andfunky flip flops brand “Arugam Bay” which are great for wearing to the beach, home orjust out and about. Barefoot has beautiful handloom cotton and silk textiles, clothes with a kids range, some wooden/cloth toys and ornaments for kids and antique homeware. Paradise Road is another shop for those looking for upmarket homeware but this is not really a kid friendly store. Baby shops are not hard to find, but if you are looking for imported diapers (such as Huggies or Pampers) and popular baby brands (such as Mothercare etc) visit BabyMart, a little store just off Visakha Road off Galle Road. You can easily find your basic baby needs at most major supermarkets like Keells or Cargills.

General Tips for Travel to Colombo with Kids

Required Immunizations – Sri Lanka is a tropical country which carries the risk of some diseases requiring prior immunizations. It would be best to check with your local embassy before traveling.

Airport – The Bandaranaiyake International Airport has recently been renovated and upgraded. Its very clean and bright, but seating/sleeping space can be hard to come by especially on crowded days. Make sure you pre-book your travel arrangement through the hotel before you come or just inside the arrival lounge as touts and taxis at the airport exit can be a nuisance and cannot be trusted.

Things to bring – Stock up on sunscreens, sunglasses, hats, mosquito/insect repellents and basic medicines. Cotton, lightweight clothing is best, and bring a raincoat or waterproof jacket for the kids in case of a sudden downpour.

Water – Tap water is not potable in Sri Lanka. Make sure you buy bottled water (check for seal on cap) or boil tap water before drinking. Take bottled water along with you when traveling as the hot weather makes kids feel very thirsty and tired.

Crime – Crime is not widespread, but take care when in crowded places or transport as pickpockets can try their luck. Its better for a woman not to travel alone or with kids in the night in public transport or three-wheelers, locally known as “tuk-tuks”. Do not, under any circumstances, walk on the beach alone or even as a couple/family after dark.

Transport – Public transport, both bus and train, is not for the fainthearted!! Its better to rent a car if you are staying for long. Many tourists and kids (including mine) love to ride in tuk tuks as its a very convenient way to get around in the city. If you travel in a tuk tuk, negotiate the fare before getting in. The new “Meter Taxi” or “Fair Taxi” tuk tuks have metered fare which avoids the need for haggling before getting in. You can also call and get a cab although they tend to take a long time to arrive. Traffic can get bad in Colombo especially during peak hours in the morning, after school and evenings. Car seats are not mandatory but are highly recommended, especially for toddlers and infants as driving is not as “civilised” as western countries and drivers tend to brake/accelerate fast. Always wear your seatbelt – again, not a law but for your own safety!

Language – English is a second language in Sri Lanka, but you will find that most people, even tuk tuk drivers, can speak enough English to get by. 90% of hotel and restaurant staff, shopkeepers, etc. are very proficient in English.

Medical Services and Emergencies – Healthcare standards are quite good in Colombo.Many private hospitals such as Asiri Hospitals, Central Hospital, and Nawaloka Hospital have modern and convenient facilities. In the unlikely event that you have a real emergency (such as a serious accident or a child needing immediate and serious medical attention), its best to go to the Accident and Emergency Service at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (also known as the Colombo General Hospital – +94112691111) or to The Lady RidgeWay Hospital for Children. Whilst the facilities can be over-crowded and look less than pleasing to the eye, you will get the best emergency treatment from the most experienced doctors on the island, most of them overseas trained.