Negombo Beach
West Coast · Gampaha · nearest town Negombo
Region
WestDistrict
GampahaNearest town
NegomboWater
Calm-to-moderateCrowds
bustling, local, convenientWheelchair
A3 highway ~35 km north of Colombo, 7 km from the airport; trains, buses and taxis from the city.About Negombo
Negombo is the beach closest to the airport — a long, lively stretch of sand beside a working fishing town with a historic lagoon and canal. It's the perfect first or last night in Sri Lanka, with a huge range of hotels and some of the best seafood in the country.
- ✓Closest beach to the airport (~7 km)
- ✓Historic lagoon & Dutch canal
- ✓Famous fish market in the mornings
- ✓Huge range of hotels & guesthouses
- ✓Excellent seafood restaurants
Best time to visit
Nov–Apr (dry season for this coast)
| Month | Avg high | Rain days | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | ~30°C | 3–5 | Excellent |
| Apr | ~32°C | 8–10 | Good (peak heat) |
| Jul | ~30°C | 15–20 | Rough / rainy |
| Oct | ~30°C | 14–18 | Transitional |
Weather
Powered by WeatherAPI.com · marine data by Open-Meteo · updated daily
28.2
°
Feels like 32.1°
Overcast
Wind 13 km/h WSW (gusts 14) · Humidity 77% · UV 7.6
☀ Sunrise 05:57 AM · Sunset 05:53 PM
Next hours
11 AM
28°
Overcast
12 PM
28°
Overcast
1 PM
28°
Light rain shower
2 PM
28°
Light rain shower
3 PM
28°
Patchy rain nearby
4 PM
28°
Overcast
5 PM
28°
Partly Cloudy
6 PM
29°
Overcast
Next 7 days
Mon
28°
Overcast
82%
Tue
28°
Overcast
82%
Wed
28°
Overcast
84%
Wave height: 1.1 m
Sea temp: 30.4°C
Swell: 1.1 m S
Forecasts are model-based; use the climate guidance above for season planning.
Surf conditions
FairSwell
1.1 m SSwell period
10sWind waves
0 m SWSea temp
30.4°CWind
Onshore
Tide
Rising
Secondary swell
0.2 m WWind blowing straight in — choppier surface
Next 7 days — surf forecast
Mon
1.1m
10s
S
Tue
1.1m
11s
S
Wed
1m
10s
S
Thu
0.9m
9s
S
Fri
0.8m
16s
S
Sat
0.9m
13s
S
Sun
0.9m
12s
SW
Tide is an approximate rise/fall read (model sea-level, not tide-table times). Surf rating is a general swell/wind read, not break-specific.
Nearby
Restaurants, hotels and more populate automatically from OpenStreetMap.
hotel
The Kings Bay Hotel
3,325 m
hospital
St. Mary's Medical Center
2,221 m
restaurant
The Port Restaurant & Beach Bar
2,584 m
hotel
Windmill Hotel
3,732 m
restaurant
Ocean Floor
2,572 m
Cuisine: sri_lankan
cafe
Machang Pub Restaurant
2,178 m
cafe
The Container
1,516 m
cafe
Spazio Pub
2,276 m
hotel
Anna tourist inn
2,202 m
hotel
Avenra Gardens
2,405 m
restaurant
Jambo Gardens Hotel
1,544 m
restaurant
Hotel Nathariya
2,431 m
hotel
Ocean Gate
3,628 m
hotel
Sea Port Hotel
3,624 m
hotel
Marcelin Family Villa
2,069 m
cafe
Coconut Bar
2,249 m
cafe
Juice Bar
218 m
hotel
Centella Rooms
4,538 m
24/7
restaurant
Neza Rest Inn
2,774 m
Cuisine: asian
hotel
daffon
3,175 m
hotel
Airport Residence Gateway
3,678 m
hotel
Serendib village guest house
4,332 m
hotel
Chen villa
3,983 m
hotel
Bivora Villa
3,960 m
pharmacy
The Hope Pharmacy
2,657 m
Mo-Sa 08:30-22:00
hotel
Ace Boutique Airport
4,141 m
hotel
Honey Beach Hostel
3,632 m
hotel
Sea Horse Hotel
3,677 m
hotel
Aurum Boutique
3,013 m
hotel
Swanee Grand
1,943 m
restaurant
Ansar Family Restaurant
2,307 m
Mo-Su 09:00-22:00
restaurant
White house
2,656 m
hotel
Negombo Signature Villa
2,233 m
hotel
Sunny Bay Hotel
4,421 m
hotel
Ayuu Lagoon
4,387 m
hotel
Regenta Arie Lagoon
4,519 m
restaurant
Japan Lanka
2,193 m
hotel
Sherry Land
3,675 m
hotel
Dream Sea Garden
3,685 m
hotel
Miura Dutch Edge Hotel
359 m
hotel
Corundum Breeze Negombo
3,401 m
hotel
Gomez Place
3,681 m
hotel
Winston Ocean Heaven
748 m
hotel
Sujeewani villa
3,551 m
cafe
Dolce Vita
1,718 m
Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
hotel
Suiet 256
2,750 m
transport
Negombo Bus Terminal
689 m
hotel
Village Inn Resort
3,606 m
hotel
Jetwing Blue
3,827 m
hotel
Jetwing Beach
3,999 m
restaurant
Catamaran Beach Hotel
2,296 m
hotel
Camelot Beach
2,835 m
hotel
Goldi Sands Hotel
4,184 m
hotel
Anicia Beach House
1,101 m
cafe
Cocktail Bar
2,830 m
hotel
Topaz Beach
3,493 m
hotel
Flip flop
2,827 m
hotel
Leighton Resort
4,091 m
24/7
attraction
Club Sha Lanka
3,567 m
hotel
Paradise Beach Hotel
2,619 m
hotel
St. Stephen's
252 m
hotel
Choys Waterfront Residence
49 m
hospital
Negombo General Hospital
1,556 m
hotel
Jetwing Lagoon
4,547 m
hotel
White house
2,292 m
hotel
JMF Hotel
1,184 m
hotel
Optimum Residencies
3,004 m
hotel
Sentido Heritance Negombo
3,015 m
hotel
Rani Beach Resort
2,723 m
hotel
King Paradise by Hotel Oviniru
1,999 m
hotel
King Fisher
1,982 m
hotel
Regal Réseau Hotel & Spa
2,037 m
hotel
Ocean Breeze
3,416 m
hotel
Star Beach Guest House
2,205 m
hospital
Nawaloka Hospital
1,540 m
hotel
Silver Sands Hotel
2,475 m
hotel
Jetwing Ayurveda Pavillions
3,274 m
hotel
Beach View
3,668 m
hotel
Silva's Beach
3,323 m
hotel
Villa Araliya
4,411 m
restaurant
Gayan Hotel
767 m
hospital
Dissanayake Private Hospital Negombo
2,119 m
hotel
Sea Joy
2,216 m
restaurant
Kola Kenda breakfast shop
2,210 m
hotel
Lagoon Rest House
153 m
restaurant
Pizza Hut
1,457 m
Cuisine: pizza
transport
Taladuwa
862 m
transport
Negombo Bus Depot
2,273 m
atm
Commercial Bank ATM
666 m
24/7
hotel
Marine Tourist Guesthouse
2,181 m
hotel
Amaya Beach House
2,656 m
hotel
Blumarine
2,698 m
hotel
Ceilanye
1,919 m
hotel
Dephani Hotel
2,221 m
hotel
Dion Guest House
1,972 m
hotel
Dons Beach Hotel
2,174 m
restaurant
Edwin
2,546 m
hotel
GoldenStar
2,089 m
restaurant
Icebear Guesthouse
1,833 m
hotel
Marshal
2,699 m
restaurant
Nayomy
1,262 m
hotel
Colombo Airport Hostel
2,748 m
hotel
Peace Villa Inn
2,239 m
hotel
Prince Residence
1,821 m
hotel
Rani Inn
2,046 m
hotel
Rani Beach Resort
2,724 m
hotel
Rebeka Guest House
1,771 m
hotel
Romantic Garden
2,663 m
hotel
Sea Drift
2,030 m
restaurant
Seaview
2,753 m
hotel
Sunset Strip
2,814 m
hotel
Ocean View Tourist Guesthouse
2,201 m
hotel
Summer Side Residence
4,561 m
hotel
Jude Place
4,244 m
hotel
Beach Villa Guest House
1,910 m
hotel
St. Lachlan Hotel & Suites
3,608 m
hotel
Ceylonica Beach Hotel
1,624 m
hotel
La Grande Hotel
4,991 m
hotel
Ocean Pearl Hotel
4,957 m
hotel
Lanka Beach Hotel
4,823 m
hotel
Beach Lodge
4,700 m
hotel
Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel
4,418 m
hotel
Paradise Holiday Village
4,334 m
hotel
Oreeka Villa
4,258 m
hotel
Gallery by Nature Care Hotel
4,512 m
hotel
Sevana Guest House
4,352 m
hotel
New Villa Marina
4,267 m
hotel
Suriya Arana Hotel
4,150 m
hotel
Scandic Apartments
4,114 m
hotel
Park Lane 55 Hotel
4,071 m
hotel
The Reef Beach Hotel
3,650 m
hotel
Windmill Beach Hotel
3,620 m
hotel
Dickman Resort
3,741 m
hotel
New York Beach Club
3,394 m
hotel
Serendib Villa
4,094 m
hotel
Shanith Guest House
3,158 m
hotel
Marina INN
3,180 m
hotel
Bernies INN
3,173 m
hotel
Villa Extra
2,203 m
hotel
Ayubowan
3,105 m
hotel
Holiday Fashion Inn
2,999 m
hotel
Hotel J
2,703 m
hotel
Romantic Garden
2,695 m
hotel
Sanas Beach
2,584 m
hotel
Blue Elephant
2,518 m
hotel
The Beach All Suite Hotel
2,407 m
restaurant
Ruwini Restaurant
2,373 m
hotel
Leisure Beach Resort
2,166 m
hotel
Hotel Sunset Beach
1,948 m
hotel
Hamilton House
430 m
hotel
The Pearl
206 m
hotel
Kings Island Resort
179 m
hotel
Villa Schneck
318 m
hotel
Lodge 19
1,052 m
hotel
Avenra Garden Hotel
1,697 m
hotel
Modern City INN
1,865 m
hotel
Negombo House
1,478 m
hotel
Winston Beach Guest House
1,769 m
hotel
Villa 7
1,651 m
hotel
New Rani INN
1,951 m
hotel
Oceans Edge Boutique Hotel
1,958 m
hotel
Ivy Cottage
1,982 m
hotel
New Four Room House Pool Park
1,924 m
hotel
Thisara Holiday Bungalow
1,936 m
hotel
Araliya Blue Beach View Hotel
1,962 m
hotel
Blue Water Boutique Hotel
2,657 m
hotel
Red Rose Villa
2,786 m
hotel
Leisure Villa
2,985 m
hotel
Christima Residence
3,024 m
hotel
Hotel Doorset
2,923 m
hotel
Iwura Lagoon Guest House
1,684 m
hotel
Villa Shade
4,691 m
restaurant
Family Restaurant
1,914 m
hotel
Colombo Airport Monkey @ Negombo Beach
2,609 m
hotel
Golden Star Beach Hotel
2,328 m
pharmacy
Pharmaco Pharmacy
334 m
hotel
Blue Elephant Boutique Hotel
3,873 m
hotel
Palms Villa Negombo
4,168 m
restaurant
Hotel Olanro
2,244 m
hotel
Rani Beach Resort
2,228 m
hotel
Barracuda Beach Hostel
1,948 m
hotel
flip flop guesthouse
2,829 m
hotel
Panorama
3,013 m
24/7
hotel
negombo
624 m
hotel
4Seasons Guest House
4,485 m
24/7
hotel
Jetwing Sea
4,921 m
24/7
restaurant
Ammehula
2,830 m
hotel
Binnacle Negombo
3,659 m
hotel
Jasmin Villa Ayurveda Resort
4,518 m
hotel
Snowdrop Hotel
3,846 m
hotel
C Negombo
3,631 m
restaurant
Sameeha Family Restaurant
2,319 m
restaurant
Negombo Hotel
2,224 m
cafe
Wilfred Family Resturant & Cafe
2,904 m
hotel
Hotel Shanelo
3,737 m
hotel
Serendib Guest House
3,859 m
hotel
Bamboo Hut Guesthouse
2,013 m
restaurant
Sea Joy Restaurant & Guest House
2,141 m
hotel
Pridiwon Beach Residence
2,786 m
hotel
Fun Whales Guest house
2,499 m
hotel
Sun star beach residence
1,834 m
restaurant
New Rest House
438 m
restaurant
The Vibe
2,180 m
cafe
The Grand
1,517 m
Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
hotel
A and B rooms
2,707 m
hotel
Pearl Negombo
3,452 m
hotel
JC Beach Hotel
2,693 m
cafe
The Century Café
229 m
restaurant
Mr. Crab
2,593 m
Cuisine: fish
hotel
Sunrise Palace Hotel
2,860 m
hotel
Embiente Guest House
3,296 m
hotel
Visal Homestay
713 m
hotel
Ripple Jay
1,005 m
restaurant
Sealook Restaurant
2,507 m
hotel
Villa Kapuru
3,804 m
24/7
cafe
Cafe Zen
2,348 m
Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
hotel
Nebula Residence
3,201 m
hotel
Chelli Homestay
1,237 m
restaurant
Pancake House
2,328 m
restaurant
Sasha
2,902 m
hotel
Ruwini Hostel
2,369 m
restaurant
Pick N’ Mix
2,434 m
Cuisine: local
hotel
The Suite 262
2,763 m
pharmacy
The Lanka pharmacy
572 m
hotel
Nethmi rooms
2,246 m
24/7
hotel
Sea Drift
2,034 m
hotel
Eagles' Lagoon View
3,901 m
restaurant
Mom‘s Rustic Kitchen
2,626 m
Cuisine: regional
restaurant
Ravindu Food
952 m
Cuisine: local
hotel
Elzangi Home Stay
2,077 m
restaurant
Little hut
521 m
restaurant
The Icebar Restaurant
1,890 m
hotel
Pledgescape
1,935 m
cafe
Enviro café
2,560 m
hotel
Lucilda’s Guesthouse
1,807 m
restaurant
Queen’s
2,530 m
hotel
Doubletree Negombo
3,657 m
restaurant
Paloma
2,873 m
hotel
Ayur Ayur Hotel
3,435 m
24/7
restaurant
R.D Family Restaurant
2,078 m
Cuisine: curry;asian;local
Reviews
★ 4 (1)
Scenery4.1
Water4
Cleanliness4
Facilities4.3
Crowds3.4
📌 Editor review
★ 4
Not the prettiest beach in Sri Lanka, but the most convenient — 20 minutes from the airport. The fish market at dawn and the lagoon sunset are highlights, and the seafood is outstanding.
Sign in to write a review.
Travel tips
▲14▼
Getting there · 1 month ago
20 minutes from the airport by taxi — the easiest first or last stop on any itinerary.
▲10▼
Fish market · 1 month ago
Get up early (5–6am) to see the daily fish auction at the harbour — a real slice of local life.
▲10▼
Arrive or leave via the airport · 1 month ago
Negombo's proximity to Bandaranaike International Airport makes it ideal for an overnight before a flight; most hotels offer airport transfers.
▲10▼
Go early to the fish market · 1 month ago
Visit the harbour in the early morning, when the day's catch is landed and auctioned, for the most authentic experience.
▲10▼
Take a lagoon boat trip · 1 month ago
A boat safari on Negombo Lagoon and Muthurajawela marsh is a good way to see water birds and mangroves; trips are offered from the town.
▲10▼
Kite the windy season · 1 month ago
Kitesurfers gather at Negombo when the winds pick up; check with local schools about conditions and lessons before booking.
▲8▼
Lagoon sunset · 1 month ago
Watch the sunset over the Negombo lagoon with a crab curry at a lagoon-side restaurant.
Sign in to add a tip.
Share a photo
(6 photos)
Got a great shot of Negombo? Add it — it will appear in the gallery above after a quick admin approval.
FAQ
About 7 km — a 20-minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport.
Negombo is about 7 km from Bandaranaike International Airport, and most beach hotels are a short drive away, which makes it Sri Lanka's most common first and last stop.
It's swimmable in the calm season but not the clearest water in Sri Lanka — fine for a dip.
Conditions are generally calm in the dry season (Nov-Apr), but strong currents have been reported and police have rescued swimmers in difficulty. Swim near other bathers and heed local advice, especially in the monsoon months.
November to April.
Beyond the beach, Negombo is known for its fishing harbour and fish market, the lagoon and Muthurajawela marsh, the historic Dutch canal system, and its seafood restaurants.
Questions from travelers
Sign in to ask a question.
Is Negombo worth more than one night?
Most travelers stay 1–2 nights as an airport stop — it's convenient but the south coast beaches are prettier.