Holiday in Negombo

About Negombo

Negombo is Sri Lanka's gateway to the tropical island – the city is only seven kilometers from Bandaranaike International Airport, making it the natural first and last stop on any Sri Lanka trip. However, Negombo deserves much more than just an overnight stay before the return flight: The city on the west coast offers a kilometer-long, golden-brown sandy beach, a fascinating Dutch colonial heritage, the largest fish market in the country, and an extensive lagoon and canal system that has earned it the nickname Little Amsterdam. The Negombo fish market is an overwhelming spectacle and is one of the largest and most active fish markets in South Asia. Every morning from 5 AM, the fishing boats (Oruwa) return with the night’s catch, and the beach transforms into a chaotic, colorful spectacle: Tuna, swordfish, sharks, rays, shrimp, and crabs are auctioned, processed, and loaded onto trucks right on the beach. The smell is intense, and the experience is unforgettable. The adjacent covered market offers the freshest fish on the island at unbeatable prices. The Dutch canals, constructed in the 17th century for spice transportation, weave through the city and the surrounding lagoon landscape. Boat trips through the canals lined with mangroves and coconut palms reveal a rural Sri Lanka just minutes from the beach – monitor lizards bask on the banks, kingfishers dive for fish, and fishermen cast their nets from wooden piers. St. Mary's Church in the center is one of the most magnificent churches in Sri Lanka, adorned with colorful ceiling paintings, as Negombo is the Catholic heart of the predominantly Buddhist country. The long city beach is less photogenic than the southern coast but offers atmospheric sunsets and a growing selection of beach restaurants and boutique hotels.