2 Best Sights in Sri Lanka

While not as idyllic as the beaches along Sri Lanka's south coast, the sandy shores of Mount Lavinia—itself a southern suburb of Colombo—offer one major advantage: they lie just 8 km (5 miles) from the downtown area and are easily reachable on a day trip if your time is limited. You may want to avoid weekends, however, as that's when everyone comes to stroll and generally unwind. There are beaches closer to the center than this, but Mount Lavinia is wider and cleaner. It also has the most extensive facilities, including plenty of eating and drinking options.

Talamgama offers an escape from Colombo just a short drive east from downtown—though to get here you'll need your own car or a taxi ride. This area of wetland around the small Talangama Lake is a haven for nature lovers and a great place for a walk. Around 100 bird species have been sighted here, reptiles abound, and monkeys are often seen, too. It's also home to countless species of butterflies and dragonflies. But most of all, this is a welcome oasis of green calm away from the urban sprawl—a place to forget city life, if only for a few hours. The best times to see wildlife are early morning and late afternoon, when the midday sun is less strong.