Negombo Beach
Porutota Rd., Negombo, Sri Lanka
Negombo—and its spectacular beaches—serve as the first port of call for many international visitors arriving in Sri Lanka. Located a few miles from Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo Beach is a golden sand coastline popular with tourists and locals. It’s a great place to hang back and get acclimated.
The basics
Negombo Beach overlooks the Indian Ocean, making it a popular spot to watch the sunset. Several seafood restaurants line the beach, boasting international and Sri Lankan menus. It’s close enough to Sri Lanka’s main international airport that you could squeeze in a visit between flights. Occasional strong winds make for choppy waves, but they also make Negombo Beach good for windsurfing, sailing, and flying kites, a popular local pastime.
Things to know before you go
Negombo has been a fishing hub for centuries, hence its famous fish market. Look for eateries lining the beaches to try freshly grilled catch of the day.
Negombo Beach attracts souvenir and jewelry vendors. Some can be persistent. If you’re not interested, a polite but firm “no” usually does the trick.
While Negombo Beach is a public beach, many hotels and resorts along the coast offer private access to the shoreline. When making your reservation, ask if private beach access is included.
How to get there
Negombo Beach is an easy taxi or tuk-tuk tide from the center of Negombo. It’s located on the northern side of the city, a 10- to 15-minute ride from the Negombo Fish Market and St. Mary’s Church, a Roman Catholic landmark. Browns Beach, another popular beach, is situated just nearby, while Morawala Beach is toward the city's southern end.
When to get there
Sunset is one of the most popular times—and with good reason. Visitors can enjoy incredible views of the sun lowering right over the ocean, and evening and nighttime are some of the most lively times to visit Negombo Beach. Expect a buzzy scene with food stalls, live music, ice cream vendors, and crafts and souvenirs for sale.
Where Sri Lanka goes to shop: exploring Negombo Fish Market
Fish and seafood are culinary staples in Sri Lanka, especially along the coasts. See where Sri Lankans sell and shop their fresh catches at Negombo’s historic fish market. Come bright and early in the morning, before dawn, to catch the marketplace at its most frenetic. Be warned if you’re sensitive to fishy odors: The smell can pack a punch, especially under the sun.
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