Colombo City Tour: Temples & Galle Face Green Highlights

Walk through centuries of temples and colonial landmarks in one morning, then watch the Indian Ocean from Galle Face Green.

A 6-hour guided tour of Colombo's main sights, starting with hotel pickup and covering Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake, Seema Malaka Temple, Galle Face Green, Independence Square, and Kelaniya Temple, with a shopping stop and drinking water throughout. The guide speaks English and the tour includes drop-off at your hotel or port. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the route is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Colombo city highlights tour

• Hotel pickup by Sanota Walkers
• Visit Gangarama Temple on Beira Lake
• Visit Seema Malaka Temple for meditation
• Explore Fort and Pettah areas
• Relax at Galle Face Green promenade
• Visit Independence Square and museum
• Visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple
• Drop off at hotel, airport, or port

Stops and time spent at each 6 stops

1. Gangaramaya Temple Entry included 45m
2. Seema Malakaya Temple Entry included 20m
3. Galle Face Green 20m
4. Independence Square 20m
5. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Entry included 30m
6. Lanka Tour Host passing by

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Colombo.
• drinking water throughout the tour.
• entry to the temples and Independence Square museum.
• a shopping stop for souvenirs.
• local taxes.

Times

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• Every day 07:00 09:00

Information

Six-hour Colombo tour with hotel pickup covering Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake, Galle Face Green overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Group Up to 20

Live guide English

Audio guide Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (12 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel, then heads straight to Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake in central Colombo. Built over 120 years ago on what was once marshy land, the temple has grown into one of Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist sites, with several imposing buildings, a museum, library, and relic chamber. From there you move to Seema Malaka, a meditation temple also set in Beira Lake, originally constructed in the late 19th century.

The tour then takes you to Galle Face Green, an elegant seafront promenade lined with palm trees that overlooks the Indian Ocean and the colonial-era Galle Face Hotel, which has stood there since 1864. This is where locals and visitors alike come to watch the waves and sit in the open air. A short distance away is Independence Square, built to commemorate Sri Lanka's independence from colonial rule at the exact spot where the 1948 independence ceremony took place. The square houses a museum documenting the individuals who fought for the country's freedom.

The itinerary also includes Kelaniya Temple, located seven miles outside Colombo, and a shopping stop to pick up souvenirs. Throughout the tour you'll have drinking water available, and the route is designed to be wheelchair accessible. Drop-off happens at your hotel, airport, or port depending on where you started.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is Gangaramaya Temple and why is it important?

Gangaramaya Temple, built on Beira Lake in central Colombo about 120 years ago, is one of Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist temples. It started as a small hermitage on marshy land but has grown to include multiple buildings, a museum, library, relic chamber, and serves as a center for learning and worship for monks from across the region.

Can I visit these temples if I'm not Buddhist?

Yes, the temples on this tour welcome visitors of all backgrounds. Seema Malaka is primarily used for meditation and rest rather than active worship, and both Gangaramaya and Kelaniya temples receive international visitors regularly. Dress code is formal, so wear respectful clothing.

What is Independence Square and what will I see there?

Independence Square is a building and museum located where Sri Lanka's 1948 independence ceremony took place. It stands near the Old Parliament building and houses exhibits documenting the history of individuals who fought for Sri Lanka's independence from colonial rule.

How much time do I spend at Galle Face Green?

The tour includes a stop at Galle Face Green to relax by the Indian Ocean and walk the seafront promenade. The exact duration at each stop varies, but the entire tour runs 6 hours from pickup to drop-off, so you'll have time to sit and take in the colonial architecture and ocean views.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Colombo, local taxes, and drinking water throughout the tour are included. Gratuities are not included. If you need pickup from Negombo or another area outside Colombo, that requires extra charges arranged at booking.

Operated by Lanka Tour Host (Pvt) Ltd. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago