Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch

Outty Ranking 61 4.8 · 12 traveler reviews8 hoursFrom $130
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Outty Ranking

61/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.8/5

Based on 12 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch worth booking?

Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch is a 8-hour experience in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from $130 per person. It scores 61 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 12 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
61 / 100
Rating
4.8/5 (12)
Duration
8 hours
From
$130 per person

This 8-hour private tour of Colombo City will take around some of the iconic temples and attractions, such as the Gangaramaya Temple, Galle Face Green, and Independence Square. You will also enjoy a Sri Lankan lunch at Rajabojun Grand Buffet and have an opportunity to do some shopping before ending your tour.

What you get

    About this experience

    This 8-hour private tour of Colombo City will take around some of the iconic temples and attractions, such as the Gangaramaya Temple, Galle Face Green, and Independence Square. You will also enjoy a Sri Lankan lunch at Rajabojun Grand Buffet and have an opportunity to do some shopping before ending your tour.

    What's included

    Included

    • Lunch
    • Private transportation with English-speaking driver
    • Hotel pickup or Colombo Port Pickup and drop-off

    Not included

    • Drinks (available to purchase)

    What you'll see and do

    1. Gangaramaya Temple

      The exciting day starts with pick up from your hotel by a representative of Sanota Walkers. Then you will be whisked to visit one of Sri Lanka's highly venerated temples called Gangarama Temple which is located on the famous and picturesque Beira Lake in the middle of the city of Colombo. The Gangarama Temple was established about one hundred and twenty (120) years ago and is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. Originally built to be a small hermitage on a piece of marshy land in the 19th BCE, the temple has grown to include several imposing buildings and become an internationally known place of worship, a centre for learning, as well as an assembly hall for monks while also hosting a museum, a library and a Relic chamber among others.

      60 minutes here · Admission included

    2. Seema Malakaya Temple

      Seema Malaka is a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The temple is mainly used for meditation and rest, rather than for worship. Situated in the Beira Lake, the temple was originally constructed in the late 19th century.

      20 minutes here · Admission included

    3. Galle Face Green

      Once you have had your senses excited with the old and the new at Fort & Pettah, it is now time to visit the world famous Galle Face Greenand relax in the soothing sound of waves lapping at the shores. Overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean, adjoining the beautiful Galle Face beach and the famous colonial styled Galle Face Hotel (which is known as Asia's Emerald on the Green since 1864) is an elegant promenade lined with swaying palm trees and frequently visited by both locals and visitors alike called the Galle Face Green. The Green, as it is affectionately known, is a meeting ground of the old and the new with cannons, that were once mounted on the rampart of the old fort of Colombo, are now laid out for observance and prestige while families and children play sports, fly kites, health enthusiasts take their evening walks and others indulge in some delicious piping hot local street food sold at numerous food stalls.

      20 minutes here

    4. St Anthony's Shrine

      St. Anthony's Shrine is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The church is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The church is designated a national shrine and minor basilica.

      20 minutes here

    5. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

      The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, seven miles from Colombo. The Chief Incumbent is Venerable Professor Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera.

      60 minutes here

    6. Colombo Fort

      The two notable places to visit are the Fort and Pettah towns. During 16th century, the Portuguese used this area, now known as Fort or Kottuwa(earlier known as (Kolonthota) as one of their trading posts and developed it into a fortified base. Then in the 17th century, the Dutch conquered the fort and demolished part of the fortification and reconstructed to the Dutch specifications. By the 19th century, the British had acquired control and since they considered it unlikely that they would face a direct military threat and that the fort was obstructing urban development of the area, the Colombo Fort was demolished. However, several buildings belonging to the Dutch and British era still remain in existence in the area of Fort including the Dutch Hospital, which is now converted to include high end boutiques and fine dining as well as al-fresco dining restaurants and Old General Post Office building which was constructed in 1895 with Edwardian architecture. Pettahor Pitta – Kottuwa (meaning outer fort) is a busy and vibrant town located close to the Colombo Fort area.

      Pass by without stopping

    7. Independence Square

      Now let us head on to a very special place called theIndependence Squarelocated just a few minutes away from the Old Parliament building. This building was built to commemorate Sri Lanka’s independence from colonial rule and is situated at the same location where a special podium was constructed in 1948 to mark the ceremony of Sri Lanka’s start of self-rule and new parliament. The Independence Square building also houses a museum displaying a history of all the individuals who struggled and fought for Sri Lanka’s independence.

      20 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Lanka Tour Host (Pvt) Ltd

    Know before you go

    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
    • Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
    • A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
    • A maximum of 15 people per booking
    • Note: Itinerary is designed according to time availability. Sanota Walkers will not responsible for any deviation as per client’s/Chauffeur request.

    Photos

    Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 2Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 3Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 4Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 5Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 6Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 12 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    10 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    5 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Food and drink

    5 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Organization

    3 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Traveler reviews

    12 verified traveler reviews for Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    9
    4 star
    3
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    Sandra_R · January 2025

    Good overview of Colombo

    The temples were amazing, so atmospheric, one was quite dark with lots of incense burning..and walking barefoot seemed to make the whole experience quite spiritual…loved it. Our guide was full of information, and graciously allowed me to stay in the air conditioned car when I’d flagged a little…although watching the snake charmers from a distance still made for interesting viewing. Great insight into the city finished with a rooftop lunch..nice day

    Response from the operator: Thank you very much for traveling with our Colombo City Tour! Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience. We hope to welcome you back soon

    via Viator

    paulsP3639PX · December 2024

    Excellent experience.

    Excellent host/driver. Knowledgeable, courteous. Knows when to engage appropriately and when to let guests relax and enjoy the tour.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience with our Chauffeur . Providing knowledgeable, courteous service while ensuring our guests' comfort is our top priority. We look forward to welcoming you again for another memorable tour!

    via Tripadvisor

    RVLust · May 2024

    Great day in Colombo

    We had a wonderful tour of Colombo with our guide, Chamika. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the city. We visited several temples where Chamika provided very detailed explanations for what we were seeing. After a delicious lunch we visited the Lotus Tower and Independence Square; followed by a driving tour of the city as we made our way back to our cruise ship. The transportation was a very nice air conditioned van with ample space for the four of us. Our pick-up at the port was especially convenient; we were met inside the port near the end of the gangway. This was a very nice surprise! Thanks again to Camika and Lanka Tours for a special day in Colombo

    Response from the operator: Thank you very much for the great Comment.

    via Tripadvisor

    KezzleP · February 2019

    Temples, history and a little shopping

    The temples and history of Sri Lanka were good to see, and the guide was quite knowledgeable on the temples. The guide (who was also the driver) spoke excellent English, was a very good and safe driver and had a lot of local knowledge. I also enjoyed most of the shopping, especially the Laksala. The only thing to be aware of, is some of the shopping is where they take you to a single shop and the shop tries to pressure you in to buying expensive items at triple the cost they would charge locals - although if you enjoy this type of shopping, then no issues.

    via Tripadvisor

    luvandrang · January 2019

    Sanota Walkers - Excellent Tour Company

    i booked my city tour with Sanota Walkers after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor and was certainly not disappointed Chamika was very professional in making the booking and answered all my questions He even changed our pick up time at the last minute Driver was Subash - he was excellent and very patient - answered all our questions and was on time for hotel pick up - very professional Will certainly recommend this company and will use them again on my next visit to Colombo Keep up the good work

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    8 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $130 to $180
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    4
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Lanka Tour Host (Pvt) Ltd, who run 11 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.2.

    See everything Lanka Tour Host (Pvt) Ltd runs

    Why this scores 61

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)87
    Review evidence (18% weight)48
    Booking momentum (14% weight)38
    Value for money (12% weight)23
    Listing quality (10% weight)65
    Local standing (8% weight)48
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Colombo.

    How much does Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch cost?

    +

    Prices start at $130 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Colombo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch take?

    +

    Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Colombo is not rushed.

    Is Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 61 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 12 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Colombo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch?

    +

    Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Colombo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Colombo and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Colombo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Colombo?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Colombo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Flexi dates on all 5 to 7 days packages for car and English speaking driver, Sri Lanka Personal Tour Driver in private vehicle, Private Multi Day Sri Lanka Tour with Chauffeur. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Colombo?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Colombo?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch?

    +

    Included: Lunch; Private transportation with English-speaking driver; and Hotel pickup or Colombo Port Pickup and drop-off. Not included: Drinks (available to purchase). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch include hotel pickup?

    +

    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 153 listed pickup locations in and around Colombo. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch offered in?

    +

    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch if the weather is bad?

    +

    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Colombo. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Colombo Sightseeing and Shopping Private Tour Including Lunch?

    +

    Across 12 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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