A concierge that already knows Colombo
NUM holds 11,791 places in and around Colombo. Text it what you want, in any language. It finds three real places that fit, open now, and books the one you pick.
Two of us land at 11pm tomorrow, need a ride to Galle Face and late food after?
I can line up an airport pickup and three late spots near Galle Face still serving food. Want me to book the car?
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What is in the Colombo directory
Built from open map data, kept current, and never ranked by who paid, because nobody can pay. Placement is not for sale on NUM. Counted November 8, 2026.
Colombo at a glance
Colombo is Sri Lanka's largest city and main port, on the west coast. It became the commercial capital in 1978, when administration moved to neighboring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Visitors come for its markets, Buddhist temples and seafront, often as a first or last stop on a trip around the island.
Known for
Galle Face Green
Seafront lawn and promenade laid out in 1859, busiest on weekend evenings, when vendors sell crabs, prawns and mango with pepper and salt.
Gangaramaya Temple ශ්රී ගංගාරාම මහාවිහාරය
Buddhist temple by Beira Lake mixing Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles, with a museum and the Bawa-designed Seema Malaka hall.
Pettah පිටකොටුව
Crowded market district east of Fort, with open-air markets, the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque and the Colombo Dutch Museum.
Lotus Tower නෙළුම් කුළුණ
Tower 351.5 m high to the antenna spire, with an observation gallery on its upper floors over the city.
Kottu roti කොත්තු රොටි
Chopped godamba roti fried with curry, egg, onion and chilli on an iron griddle; you can hear the cooks' blades clanging from far away.
Getting there
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is at Katunayake, about 32.5 km north of Colombo. By car or taxi on the E03 Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, the trip takes about 20 minutes without traffic. Airport coaches leave the terminal about every 15 minutes and take about 30 minutes via the expressway; bus route 187 runs to Colombo Fort. Uber and PickMe have dedicated pickup points, and there is a taxi counter in arrivals.
Getting around
Private and state buses run from three main terminals in Pettah, and Fort Railway Station is the rail hub. Three-wheelers (tuk-tuks) are everywhere but hardly regulated; taxis run by private companies are metered.
When to go
Colombo is hot all year. Heavy rain falls in the two monsoon seasons, April to June and September to November, and October, November and May are the wettest months.
Local tip
Go to Galle Face Green at the weekend in the evening, when the food vendors are out and families come down to the sea.
Facts checked November 1, 2026. Transport and openings change, so NUM checks them again.
More of Colombo
Galle Face GreenPhoto: Rehman Abubakr · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Gangaramaya TemplePhoto: AKS.9955 · CC BY-SA 4.0 
PettahPhoto: Azeez Abubakr · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Lotus TowerPhoto: T Chamika · CC0 
Kottu rotiPhoto: Vee Satayamas from Bangkok, Thailand · CC BY 2.0 
ColomboPhoto: Dan Lundberg · CC BY-SA 2.0
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Where NUM looks in Colombo
Districts NUM covers here.
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
- Wattala
- Battaramulla
- Navinna
- Nugegoda
- Kelaniya
- Dehiwala
- Jambugasmulla
- Himbutuwelgoda
- Wellawatte (Colombo 6)
How NUM works in Colombo
- 1
Text NUM what you want
A table, a massage, a driver, a pharmacy. In your words, in your language.
- 2
Get three real places
Checked, open now, and close to where you are. Nobody paid to be on the list.
- 3
It books the one you pick
The confirmation stays in your thread. A real person is one message away.
Questions about NUM in Colombo
How many restaurants does NUM know in Colombo?
1,087 in and around Colombo, from the open map data NUM builds its directory on. NUM does not list all of them at you. It picks three that fit what you asked for, and says why.
Does NUM cover street food and markets in Colombo?
Yes: 249 street-food spots and 36 markets. Ask it what is open now and it will answer for the hour you are actually in.
Can NUM help me find a hotel in Colombo?
NUM knows 651 places to stay here. It finds the one that fits and hands you to the licensed partner who books it, so you always know who you are booking with.
How long is the trip from the airport to Colombo?
About 20 minutes by car on the E03 expressway without traffic, or about 30 minutes on the airport coach.
Is there a train from the airport?
The Airport Express train had stopped running as of April 2024. Slow commuter trains from Katunayake still reach Colombo Fort.
When is the rainy season?
Colombo has two monsoon seasons, April to June and September to November. October and November are the wettest months.
What language can I message NUM in for Colombo?
Whatever you write in. NUM answers in the language of your message, and in the script you used, which for Chinese means Traditional stays Traditional.
Does it cost anything?
Not for travelers. Booking through NUM is free and nothing is added to your bill. NUM Plus and NUM Platinum are optional and only add room.
For businesses in Colombo
If you run somewhere here, list it free. No account needed: add your place or update its details, and NUM checks them before they go live. Taking bookings through NUM is a separate, optional sign-up.
- Free to list, no account needed
- NUM checks every listing before it goes live
- Nobody can pay to be recommended
Colombo eSIM: data on the local networks in Colombo, installed before you land. Sri Lanka eSIM plans.