Negombo
city · Sri Lanka
Overview
Negombo is a mid-size town in Sri Lanka.
About 137,000 people live here.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Asia.
The nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), about 3 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Population | 137,223 |
| Timezone | Asia/Colombo |
| Nearest airport | Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), 3 km |
| Currency | LKR |
Where Negombo is
Negombo sits in Sri Lanka, in the northern part of Asia.
Kandy lies about 88 km to the east, Katunayaka lies about 7 km to the south-east and Hendala lies about 25 km to the south.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, about 3 km from Negombo.
Alternative gateways include Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML, 42 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Negombo →arrives CMB (2.8 km away)
Getting around
The town is easy to cover on foot, with taxis handy for longer hops or reaching nearby spots. If you drive, remember traffic here keeps to the left.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly equatorial (northern hemisphere): warm and humid all year, with wetter and drier spells rather than true seasons; the drier months are easiest for sightseeing.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Negombo is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through CMB.
Day trips & nearby
Negombo works well as a base. Within about 88 km you can reach Kandy (88 km to the east); Katunayaka (7 km to the south-east); Hendala (25 km to the south); Ja Ela (16 km to the south-east); Kandana (19 km to the south).
Good to know
The currency is the LKR (Rupee).
The main language spoken is Sinhala.
Clocks run on Asia/Colombo time.
Traffic drives on the left.
How long to stay
Plan on 3–5 days here; that suits most visitors on a first trip.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Negombo
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Negombo
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Negombo?
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, about 3 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Negombo?
- There is no single best season; pick the drier months for easier sightseeing.
- What is near Negombo?
- Kandy is one of the closest places, about 88 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Negombo in?
- Negombo is in Sri Lanka.
On the map
Keep exploring
Nearby places
More places in Sri Lanka
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.