Pettah. Spend an afternoon or evening amidst the hustle and bustle of this expansive shopping district just outside Colombo 1. From jackfruit to jhodpurs, you can find anything in Pettah. You can practice your haggling skills; although most prices are already pretty low. Wander over to the floating market to escape the madness, and sip fresh wood apple juice on the river.  

On your way back, step inside the Governor Oriental Hotel for tea with a view. Behind an unassuming white facade hides a beautiful colonial heritage hotel, where Anton Chekov and Queen Elizabeth have both checked in (presumably a century apart). Take the classic elevator up to the fourth floor, sit back and admire views of the port, then take the winding staircase down.


Check out the Gallery Cafe along tree- and boutique-lined Paradise Road. Behind heavy iron gates, you will find a reclusive courtyard overgrown with fig trees. Follow the sound of soft jazz down a narrow hallway to a chic cafe lined with contemporary ink art. It's no surprise that this was the home and office of renowned modern architect Geoffrey Bawa.



Independence Square. Take a walk in the gardens around this majestic structure, or sit against a column and bask in the late-afternoon sun.  



Mt Lavinia. Take a commuter train with ocean views from Colombo to this beach town (cost: $1) . The Mt Lavinia hotel is famous for its colonial era opulence and forlorn love story. Despite terribly average tea, the hotel does serve up a beautiful ocean view.