As one of Sri Lanka’s most convenient beach holiday hubs, Negombo is home to more than just stunning beaches. Here are some idyllic attractions to tour on your next getaway in Little Rome.
Negombo Beach
Whether you’re based at Heritance Negombo or any other Negombo beach hotel, you won’t be too far from this stunning beach. As the main reason that travellers head to this city in the first place, the white, sandy beach of Negombo is not only ideal for swimming and evening strolls but also for a wide range of water sports activities.
Negombo Dutch Fort
Ranked among the city’s top cultural points of interest, Negombo Dutch Fort was constructed by Portuguese colonisers but restored by Dutch forces after they conquered the area and the rest of the island. Located near the Esplanade and a scenic bay, the venue affords captivating views of the cricket pitch nearby as well as the Negombo fish market.
Angurukaramulla Temple
Although Negombo is famed for its historic churches, Angurukaramulla Temple is an equally breathtaking heritage site. As one of the few Buddhist temples in Negombo, this sacred space, which was built centuries ago, is a popular place of worship for local and visiting Buddhist devotees. The temple comes alive during the Vesak Festival in May.
St Mary’s Church
Negombo’s nickname Little Rome is well earned due to Negombo containing more churches per square kilometre than any other Sri Lankan city but its reputation as a catholic heartland is mainly due to St Mary’s Church. As the largest Roman Catholic church in Sri Lanka, the venue, which was built somewhere between 1874 and the 1920s, is an architectural marvel complete with stained-glass windows.
