Negombo Beach (Lewis Place)
A long sandy beach in Negombo town, 35km north of Colombo, fronted by a strip of hotels and beach bars popular with international package tourists.
Duration
Half day to full day
Entry Fee
Free
Difficulty
easy
Budget
free
About Negombo Beach (Lewis Place)
Negombo Beach stretches for several kilometres along Lewis Place, the main beach road in Negombo, and is the most developed resort beach closest to Bandaranaike International Airport (12 km away). The beach is popular with European package tourists staying in the Negombo hotel strip, particularly November to March when the west-coast waters are calm. The sand is broad and reasonably clean in the central stretch near Lewis Place, though it narrows toward the lagoon mouth in the south. The beach road is lined with seafood restaurants, beach bars, and tuk-tuk rental operators. The water is generally safe for swimming from November to March; the south-west monsoon (May to October) brings rough surf. The adjacent Negombo lagoon offers boat trips past coconut islands and crab farms, which are a good half-day addition.
Highlights
- Closest developed beach to Bandaranaike International Airport (12 km away)
- Broad sandy beach along Lewis Place with a full strip of hotels and restaurants
- Calm, swimmable water from November to March
- Adjacent Negombo lagoon with boat trips and crab fishing villages
- Easy base for day trips to Colombo (35 km south)
Practical Tips
Use as a first or last night base if flying in or out of Colombo airport; it is far more relaxed than the city.
Book a lagoon boat trip through your guesthouse rather than from touts on the beach; prices are usually better.
The beach can get crowded on weekends with domestic visitors; midweek is quieter.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: November to March for swimming; year-round for the lagoon
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- outdoor
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- free
- Photography
- ★★★☆☆
Plan Your Visit
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ALSO IN THE AREA
Nearby Destinations
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
One of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, 11km north of Colombo, believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself in 500 BCE.
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Negombo Fish Market (Lellama)
Sri Lanka's busiest wholesale fish auction, held at Lellama harbour from 6am daily, processing hundreds of tonnes of fresh catch.
Explore →PLAN YOUR VISIT
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