The bustling commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a vibrant coastal city blending modern urban life with rich colonial heritage. Located on the island’s western shore, it serves as the country’s main port and a gateway for trade, tourism, and culture. The city’s skyline features sleek high-rises alongside historic buildings dating back to Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule. 

Stay at the Hilton Residences

Best for: Jetlagged Pitstop

For the perfectly located home from home, to recover from the jetlag, check into the HIlton Residences. The serviced apartment hotel is located in the heart of the city and offers spacious suites with great views and friendly staff. There’s an outdoor pool, fitness center, and tennis courts as well as several dining options, from international cuisine to Sri Lankan specialties. Its central location allows easy access to shopping centers and cultural attractions while the supermarket next door means easy access to snacks and lattes.  www.hilton.com 

What to See
Start with Galle Face Green, a seaside promenade perfect for evening strolls. For great city views, head up the 365-meters up the Lotus Tower, one of the skyline’s most recognisable landmarks! For a bit of history head to the Colombo National Museum, or the Gangaramaya Temple, a Buddhist temple blending Sri Lankan, Thai, and Chinese architecture. 

For shopping and street life, visit Pettah Market, where colorful stalls sell everything from spices to textiles or for something more contemporary the Colombo City Centre Mall where you’ll find local retailers, food and entertainment including a Nerf Gun range and laser quest. 

Where to Eat
Colombo’s food scene is diverse, reflecting its multicultural heritage. For authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, try Ministry of Crab, renowned for its fresh seafood. Set in the historic Dutch Hospital, it’s all about the mud crab—steamed, garlic-chilli or pepper-dashi styles. It’s also worth trying the baked crab and plump clams. The garlic butter crab is a must, if you can hack the garlic OD!

Tucked away on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Mawella is a serene beach destination that feels untouched by mass tourism. Mawella Beach stretches for nearly two kilometers, offering golden sands framed by palm trees away from the crowds. 

Stay at Halcyon Mawella

Best for: Barefoot Relaxation

To really get away from it all, Halcyon Mawella is all about barefoot luxury. A stylish beachfront retreat that blends contemporary design with relaxed tropical living, each room and suite is open onto ocean or garden views, with airy interiors, private verandas and old fashioned minibar iceboxes. Book a room upstairs for the best views along with mosquito netting clad four posters and a deck under the thatched roof, to while the day away in.

Lounge by the pool, take a long walk on the beach or hit the waves with a boogie board. For something even more relaxing, there’s kayaking onto the nearby lagoon (no crocodiles) or sip a Lion Beer as the sun dips into the sea. Zander, the British owner, has great plans to create a sustainable community production of everything from soaps to breads and textiles, helping the local villagers thrive while keeping Mawella bay protected from mass tourism. The beach itself is clean, authentic and deserted and he intends to keep it that way. After a few days, you’ll forget to wear flipflops to dinner and really get the barefoot vibe!

You can also arrange for beach yoga, cycling tours, or call Sunpun with his shiny tuk tuk to take you for a private surf lesson in the next bay.  www.halcyonmawella.com or www.thehotelguru.com 

The Food 

Dine al fresco at the restaurant where each meal is a treat. Creative takes on Sri Lankan classics alongside Mediterranean-inspired dishes make the menu approachable for all the family. Whether you try the homemade fish and chips or the tuna tataki, the club sandwich or the goat curry, or the chicken satay sticks, there’s something for everyone. Breakfast is also a must - from the sweet caramalised banana pancakes to the Halcyon take on the Full English - it’s worth getting out of bed for! For an authentic experience, you can also pop next door to Mr Sana’s Cocktails restaurant for great curries, ‘Hurricanes’ or tiger prawns. If you venture into Hiriketiya, try Smoke and Bitters for tacos and curries. 

What to See

It’s worth venturing out to Hiriketiya Bay, a lively surfer’s haven packed with beach cafes, and boutiques. Explore the colonial-era charm of Dondra Lighthouse, the tallest in Sri Lanka, or wander through the traditional fishing harbour at Tangalle. Nature lovers can take a trip to Rekawa Beach, where sea turtles nest under moonlight, or visit Mulkirigala Rock Monastery, perched on a 200-meter-high rock with ancient cave paintings.

Stay at Leopard Safaris 

Best for Safari Chic 

Check into the luxury camp, for an experience that’s close to nature while still ultra comfortable. It’s all about safari-chic balancing comfort with wilderness. The entire place has been thoughtfully designed, promoting sustainability, and in great taste, all wood and camouflage canvas. 

The elegant tents named after local wildlife come with very welcome air conditioning, tea and really good cafetiere, a safe, and a bathroom open to the sky for al fresco showering where the shower itself has been ‘camouflaged’ as a tree! The Family tents like ‘Hornbill’ are spacious (around 40 m²), ideal for families with a beautiful mosquito swathed four-poster king-size bed clad with the prettiest blue floral bedspread and bunk bed for the kids.

At night, you’ll walk to camp with the most powerful of flashlights keeping an eye on the bush in case of lurking monkeys, or even leopards who have been known to slip under the park’s nearby electrified fence. www.leopardsafaris.com

The Food 

The team will make you feel ultra special by setting up tables in various locations in the shade and serving up local Sri Lankan flavours, and the odd international dish. If you can’t cope with the local spice levels, just let them know and you’ll be treated to tasty dishes like kottu rotti, shredded roti stir-fried with spices and vegetables, a savory mix that will quickly become a favorite. We also enjoy a spice-free chicken Biryani with green coconut sambo, as well as string hoppers with parippu (dhal) - a type of delicate rice noodle nests with lentil curry.  With plenty of fresh vegetables and tropical fruits, the camp’s chef uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, sourced from a local organic farm. You might even sample deep fried curry leaves for an aperitif and find them delicious! The vibe is relaxed yet refined, making dinnertime a highlight along with the game drives! For dessert don’t miss the rich, creamy vanilla and mango ice cream, hot bananas or baked pineapple. At breakfast, you’ll love the scrambled eggs and bacon, followed by pancakes with honey-roasted coconut - the perfect fusion experience!

What to See

Game drives in Yala focus on Block 1 and Block 5, both celebrated for wildlife and scenery. Block 1 (Palatupana) is the most popular and accessible, with coastal grasslands, lagoons, and ancient waterholes that attract elephants, crocodiles, leopards, and monkeys. Block 5 offers rugged terrain with scrub and dry-zone vegetation, rich in birdlife and less visited, creating a quieter safari.

Safaris run as half-day drives—dawn or dusk sessions of 3–4 hours—led by expert guides in sturdy 4×4 jeeps.. Sam, who has 14 years experience, will tell you about the birds’ alarm calls, spot leopard tracks in the dust and give you the lowdown on the creatures habits and names. There’s no guarantee of seeing the elusive leopard (we didn’t) or sloth bears, although the park is known for them, it’s a game of pot luck and that only adds to the thrill as you strain your eyes on the bush to see if you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them…