Colombo is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. It is the financial centre of the country and a tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte the legislative capital of Sri Lanka, and Dehiwala Mount-Lavinia.

Colombo is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural city and has widely varied architecture that spans centuries and depicts many styles. It has most of the amenities that a modern city can offer, including many luxurious hotels, clubs, restaurants and shopping complexes. This makes Colombo an ideal venue for gatherings, be it business or leisure.

Taxi booking services are available at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) arrival lounge. Also, online taxi booking apps such as Uber and PickMe are available to download for anyone with a local sim card. Local sim cards are also available to purchase at the BIA arrival lounge.

You may also opt to book your taxi via Kangaroo Cabs who offer booking services online or on their dedicated phone line, +94-112 588 588

Tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws) are the staple means of travelling short distances in Colombo. Most of the auto-rickshaws are metered and make sure to check whether the driver is turning on the meter before they start the ride. With the unmetered, the fare will be whatever you can negotiate with the driver. Never set off without agreeing the fare beforehand, or better stick with the metered ones.

Buses are the main mode of transport in Colombo, but the bad news is that bus travel is almost uniformly uncomfortable and frequently nerve-racking experience, given the gung-ho driving styles of some drivers.

You can also opt for online taxi booking apps such as Uber and PickMe, plus Kangaroo Cabs who offer booking services online or on their dedicated phone line, +94-112 588 588.

SHOPPING COMPLEXES: From luxury brands to local wares, cinemas to play zones, Colombo's shopping complexes are an excellent visit when you're on a timecrunch. They are also very popular with locals-allowing a glimpse into the country's urban culture.

STAND ALONE SHOPS: If you're brave enough to take on the warm weather and the traffic jams (not for the fainthearted) or wish to support local brands and artisans, you can explore the many hidden shopping gems dotted around Colombo.

Sri Lanka boasts a fascinatingly idiosyncratic culinary heritage, the result of a unique fusion of local produce with recipes and spices brought to the island over the centuries by Indians, Arabs, Malays, Portuguese, Dutch and English.

The staple dish is rice and curry, at its finest a miniature banquet whose contrasting flavours – coconut milk, chillies, curry leaves, cinnamon, garlic and “Maldive fish” (an intensely flavoured pinch of sun-dried tuna) – bear witness to Sri Lanka’s status as one of the original spice islands. There are plenty of other unique specialities to explore and enjoy – hoppers, string hoppers, kottu rotty, lamprais and pittu – as well as plentiful seafood.

For more restaurants, dining experiences and guides, please check in 50Best, RoughGuides and TripAdvisor by using the following links.