Are you stuck for time, have only one day to visit Negombo and wish to see as much as you can? Well look no further than this short guide to spending one day in Negombo.
Chances are you’ve just arrived in Sri Lanka and wish the avoid the dirtiness and busyness of the capital city Colombo and have chosen Negombo to begin and settle into your trip in Sri Lanka. With beautiful beaches and sunsets, colonial architecture and cheap scran, what’s more to like?
You’ll first want to decide where to stay so you can drop off your bags before hitting the streets!
Where to stay in Negombo?
I stayed in Sun Rise Hostel, situated along the coastline and main tourist strip in Negombo. The lady who runs the hostel is extremely kind, speaks very good English and will help you with any questions that you have. Bear in mind that this hostel is very quiet and is not exactly the ideal spot to meet fellow travellers. However, as a place to sleep, and recover from your flight and as a base to explore Negombo, it is ideal!
Fish Market & Fort Galle
You’ll first need to take a Tuk-Tuk from your accommodation to the fish market which will cost you around 500 Rupees. If you don’t mind walking instead you’ll be able to see St. Sebastian’s Church and take in the vibes of the streets.
Upon arriving take some time to walk around the market and see the different species of fish for sale. Surprisingly the market doesn’t pong too bad and make gag simply walking in!
Lady gleefully looking at her decapitated fish.If you stroll to the back you can see the fisherman (and ladies) at work gutting the fish and laying the fish out to dry. This was a genuinely cool experience that I’d recommend you to see!
Afterwards you can walk for 2 minutes to look at Fort Galle. Personally I don’t think this is worth any hype. The area is now inaccessible and is used as a prison for the islands inmates. You can however still look at it from the street, but don’t expect to be blown away.
Explore Hamilton Canal and Try the Local Food
Next you should walk towards the Canal and take in the scenic views of the canal and the lagoon on the opposite side.
Beside the lagoon you can hire kayaks or hire a boat to explore the lagoon further. I visited Sri Lanka during the Yala Monsoon season so it was heavily raining whilst I was there so I chose instead to look for some authentic Sri Lankan food.
If you continue walking in the same direction you will come across railroads and the bustling commercial centre! Here you will find very cheap and authentic Sri Lankan food in Sri Ragavas Cafe.
What intrigued me the most was a photo on the storefront of a Western Lady eating a huge curry, so I had to see what was going on. Chek it out and you’ll find a fast-paced, local dinery which is packed with delicious flavours and dirt-cheap prices.
I ordered a Chai Tea and a Masala Dosa which set me back only 400 Rupees ($1.24|£1.01). The flavours were so immense that this poor gringo was brought to tears after biting into his 3rd chilli. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a local experience.
Relax by the beach
Now that you’ve spent some time settling into the Sri Lankan way of doing things, take a 500 rupee Tuk-Tuk towards the beach, and spend rest of the day relaxing.
Negombo Beach is a great place to take a beer and watch the sunset, go on travelling is so stressful…..you deserve it!
Where to go next?
Unsure of where to go next? Want to read more about my travel adventures and experiences? Be sure to check out more of my blog posts!
