A first trip to Sri Lanka works well from one or two bases. Colombo is the hub for day trips, while a night in Kandy or a few nights in Galle turn rushed day trips into something more relaxed. Here are the areas that matter, matched to the five hotels on this site.
Galle Face seafront, Colombo: for heritage and sunsets
The stretch of Galle Road facing Galle Face Green is Colombo’s classic address, with ocean views, the city’s favourite promenade and easy access to Fort and Pettah. The Galle Face Hotel, open since 1864, is the grande dame here, with sea-view rooms in the historic building, an oceanfront pool, a spa and bars that have hosted royalty and writers. It is the place for couples and first-timers who want a sense of occasion.
Colombo 3 and Beira Lake: for value and convenience
Just inland, Kollupitiya and the streets around Beira Lake put you close to Gangaramaya Temple, malls, restaurants and the Lotus Tower. Cinnamon Red Colombo is the smart-value choice, a modern high-rise with compact, spotless rooms and a rooftop infinity pool and bar. It suits budget-minded travellers who will be out on day trips most of the time.
Kandy Lake: for a night in the hills
If you can, break the Kandy day trip with a night, so you can see the Temple of the Tooth in the evening and walk the lake at dawn. Hotel Suisse sits right beside Kandy Lake in nearly four acres of gardens, with a pool and a history stretching back to the Kandyan kings and wartime service as a military headquarters. Rooms are traditional rather than modern, but the setting and the walk to the temple are hard to beat.
Inside Galle Fort: for atmosphere
Staying within the ramparts means wandering the lanes after the day-trippers leave and walking the walls at sunrise. Fort Bazaar, a former merchant’s home on Church Street with eighteen stylish rooms, a small pool, a spa and a popular restaurant, is the pick for couples and design lovers.
Just outside Galle: for resort luxury
A few minutes up the coast, Jetwing Lighthouse is Geoffrey Bawa’s celebrated hotel on a headland above the ocean, with sea-view rooms, two pools, a spa and several restaurants. It is the splurge of the trip and ideal for honeymooners and architecture lovers.
Matching base to trip
For heritage and the best sunsets in Colombo, the Galle Face Hotel. For value and a rooftop pool, Cinnamon Red. For a characterful night by the lake in Kandy, Hotel Suisse. For life inside the fort, Fort Bazaar. For a luxurious finale, Jetwing Lighthouse.
Practical tips
Book Galle and the south coast early for December to March, when the dry season brings the crowds. In November, prices are lower, but ask for rooms away from busy roads and check that your hotel has a covered spot to relax when it rains. If you travel with a driver, choose hotels with parking, which all five here provide. Many drivers on multi-day hires sleep at or near your hotel, so ask whether driver accommodation is available when you book.
