Negombo itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Negombo

1. 01

   Day 1: Churches, canal and lagoon

   Start at the fish market soon after dawn if you can manage wet floors, then see St. Mary's Church on Grand Street. Take a lagoon or canal boat in the morning, lunch at your hotel, and rest. In the late afternoon, drive past the Dutch fort gateway and finish with a sunset walk on the beach.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   St. Mary's Church	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, outside Mass times

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Negombo

1. 01

   Day 1: Town sights

   See St. Mary's Church, the fort gateway and Angurukaramulla Temple in the morning. Rest in the afternoon, then walk the beach at sunset.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   St. Mary's Church	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, outside Mass times
   Angurukaramulla Temple	45 minutes	Easy	Morning

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Water and market

   Take an early boat on the lagoon and canal, then visit the fish market if you wish. Spend the afternoon at your hotel, or book an Ayurveda session before you fly.

Plan 03

3 days in Negombo

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive and rest

   Settle in, drink fresh king coconut and walk the beach at sunset.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   King Coconut	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Lunch or dinner

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Churches and temple

   Visit St. Mary's Church, the fort gateway and Angurukaramulla Temple, with a long lunch and an afternoon rest.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   St. Mary's Church	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, outside Mass times
   Angurukaramulla Temple	45 minutes	Easy	Morning

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

3. 03

   Day 3: Lagoon and market

   Go early to the lagoon and canal, visit the fish market, then rest before your onward journey.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Negombo trip for parents and children

• Go out before 10 am; afternoons are hot and humid, and the weather is warm all year.
• Use a car or tuk-tuk between sights; the town is flat but distances add up in the heat.
• The fish market has wet, uneven floors and strong smells; view it from the edge or skip it.
• Boat trips need steady footing; choose a covered boat with life jackets and help boarding.
• Carry travel insurance and a list of medicines. The Colombo hospitals are about 38 km away, so confirm which hospital your insurer uses.
• Ask hotels about lifts, ground-floor rooms and meals without meat or fish before you arrive.

Negombo with elderly parents: the full guide →