Nearly 12,000 Colombo places Num knows, from kottu roti stalls in Pettah and Galle Face at dusk to Mount Lavinia beach hotels and Colombo 7 cafés.
Sri Lanka is an island of tea hills, beaches and ancient cities, and Num's coverage begins at its front door: Colombo and its neighbours, 11,791 places from Pettah and the Fort down the coast to Mount Lavinia and inland to Battaramulla. Restaurants lead with 1,087, then 914 spas, 651 hotels and guesthouses and 504 cafés. The 249 street-food spots are where the city is best after dark.
Colombo is a city people arrive in tired and leave from early, and the questions reflect that. Ask Num where to get a good rice and curry near your hotel at lunchtime, a kottu stall on Galle Road that is open at eleven at night, a café in Colombo 7 with proper coffee and working wifi, a place to buy a local SIM on arrival, a pharmacy open on Poya day, or a beach you can reach for a swim before your train to Kandy. It answers with one place and how to get there.
Every destination Num covers here, with how many places it holds in each. Open one for the full picture.
| Currency | Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Sinhala and Tamil; English widely spoken in Colombo |
| Plugs | Types D, G · 230 V |
| Emergency | 119 police · 1990 ambulance (Suwa Seriya) · 110 fire and rescue |
| Tipping | Around ten per cent is usual in restaurants where no service charge is added; small tips for drivers and hotel staff are appreciated |
Hotels, malls and most mid-range restaurants take cards, but tuk-tuks, small eateries and market stalls are cash. ATMs are plentiful in Colombo and thinner outside it.
Ride-hailing apps such as PickMe and Uber work for tuk-tuks and cars in Colombo and set the fare for you. If you hail one on the street, agree a price first or insist on the meter.
Every full moon is a Poya day, a public holiday. Shops and many restaurants stay open, but alcohol is not sold and bars close. Check the date before planning a night out.
At Buddhist and Hindu temples cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats. Do not pose for photos with your back to a Buddha statue, and do not touch or climb on them.
The southwest monsoon brings rain to Colombo and the south coast from roughly May to September, while the northeast coast gets its rain from about November to February. The same month can be wet on one coast and dry on the other.
Message Num the way you would message a friend who lives here, in any language. It answers with one real place that fits, open now, and how to get there. It is free for travelers. Businesses list free and pay only when Num completes a booking for them, so nothing here is ranked by who paid.
Yes, generally. Petty theft is the main concern in Colombo and on trains. The road is the bigger risk: traffic is fast and unpredictable, so take care crossing and prefer a driver or app ride over a hired scooter.
Yes. Message it in any language and it answers in yours, with one place that fits and a way to reach it.
Not recommended. Use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth. Most hotels provide it.