One must-see event is the elephant show at the zoo, held every day at 5:15pm. The city also makes an ideal base from which to explore not only attractions such as Adam's Peak, Arugam Bay Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage and Bolgoda Lake, but also the rest of Sri Lanka. As soon as you arrive in the city, you will realise that Colombo is a varied and captivating destination. It offers a great beach, superb natural beauty, a mix of cultures and a fascinating history. It is advisable to have a guided tour of the city to get the most detailed information about the city.

Must-see Sights

Gangaramaya Temple is right in the centre of the city by Beira Lake and is perhaps the city's most colourful temple. It also has a museum. Galle Face Green Promenade is the place to go to see stunning sunsets. You'll find lots of street vendors, food stalls and picnics. It is simply a vast grassy strip along the esplanade, but it is family friendly and a great place to stroll or people watch. You can also experience some open-air theatre at certain times of the year. Nature lovers will enjoy the Turtle Conservation Villa, which preserves and protects the native turtles.

For Shopaholics

Lakpahana is a non-profit store where local craftsmen can sell their wares and Barefoot offers the finest fabrics. The Pettah Market is the place to test your haggling skills and sells everything from food to electronics. Odel is a leading department store offering a similarly huge range of goods in a rather more sedate and stylish setting, while Crescat Boulevard is the city's upmarket shopping centre. Shoppers are in for a treat in Colombo as the city has a huge range of stores, markets and shopping centres, selling a dizzying variety of goods.

For Foodies

Green Cabin is the restaurant to go to for simple and inexpensive local food, while Seafood Cove offers a more upmarket option and the chance to eat glorious seafood on the beach and beneath the palm trees. You will find street stalls offering lunch packets of rice and vegetables all over Colombo. There are also hundreds of tiny bakeries selling egg, fish and vegetable rotis, local pancakes and other snacks. The Gallery Cafe is one of the city's finest restaurants and features an international menu. Try ‘Mango Tree’ for North Indian dishes.

Culture

The Sapumal Foundation celebrates the work of Sri Lankan artist Harry Pieris, and is located in the house where he used to live. Visitors can see his studio and materials along with an exhibition following the history of Sri Lankan art. The National Museum of Sri Lanka is the largest in the city and has fine exhibits from the time of the 17th century Kandyan kings. The Natural History Museum is the place to go to gain an understanding of the amazing Sri Lankan environment, while the Dutch Period Museum offers an insight into the time of Dutch colonial rule.

Nightlife

Music in the clubs can range from retro 80s to bang up to date dance music and the clubs stay open until 4am or even later. The beach area of Mount Lavinia is a popular nightlife spot and you'll find live music and DJs right on the beach. JoJo's Place is a quiet hangout, while Buba is rather more rousing. Elsewhere in Colombo, Amuseum, Kama, R&B and Silk are some of the leading nightclubs, while the Inn on the Green, Cheers, Rize Bar and Seven Degrees North are all popular bars.

Columbo is full of events that goes around the calendar a few of them are:

Saga Festival in February

In recent years, dance and drama have been added to the programme. Saga is a music festival organised by the Royal College of Colombo and is one of the city's most important cultural events.

Colombo Fashion Week in March

Fashion Week showcases more than 20 local designers with 25 shows across the week. They are joined by international designers and the Bright Sparks event highlights young and emerging designers which makes is so much intresting for all the fashionistas out there.

Sinhalese New Year in April

Also known as Aluth Avurudda, Sinhalese New Year celebrations take place in April. Whole families celebrate in the street with firecrackers and feasts making it an amazingly breathtaking experience.

International Book Fair in September

The book fair is hugely popular and attracts more than a million visitors and book lovers that runs over for nine days. There are lots of events and readings in what is the largest book event in South Asia.

Travelling prepared is always a good idea. That's why we have listed some useful tips for you below.

• Language: Sinhalese, Tamil, English.
• Temperature: The average temperature all year around lies between 26 and 30˚C.
• Health: Information about the (mandatory) vaccinations change constantly, so please cross check about the required vaccinations before heading to Colombo.
• Currency: The Rupee(INR).
• Travel documents: The rules and regulations of travel documents and visa applications change frequently. There can also be different requirements. Please make sure you go through all the relevant compliances before you take off for Colombo.

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