Why Negombo will steal your heart
Negombo sits just 20 minutes or so from Bandaranaike International Airport, which makes it the perfect place to rest after your flight or before you leave. But this lively fishing town is more than a convenient stopover. It has a character all its own.
The town's long, sandy beach is lined with hotels and seafood restaurants. Early each morning, fishermen bring their catch ashore, and at the busy fish market, you'll see the day's haul being sorted, sold and laid out to dry on the sand. It's a colourful, fascinating scene.
Negombo's history is visible everywhere. The Dutch built a canal here in the colonial era, which the British later extended, linking the town to Colombo and beyond. You can take a boat trip along the canal and the lagoon, passing fishing villages, mangroves and birdlife.
The town has a large Catholic community and so many beautiful churches that it's often called 'Little Rome'. St Mary's Church, with its painted ceilings, is especially lovely.
Arrive, stretch your legs on the beach, have a sunset swim and a seafood dinner, and sleep well before your adventure begins. It's the perfect gentle start or finish to your Sri Lanka holiday.
