The capital combines modern urban amenities with the country’s colorful indigenous and colonial history. As a key stop on the world spice trade routes, Sri Lanka has long held strategic importance for European trading powers. The country has been a colony of Portugal, the Netherlands, and most recently the British, and all these cultures blend with the native culture to form a wonderful hybrid. You can taste these influences in food, see them in architecture and the arts, and you can really feel them in Colombo.

The city is also filled with museums and other things to see and do that can help connect you with Sri Lankan culture. Colombo sits on the coast, and there’s a large green space and beach area right in the heart of the city separating an area called Fort from the Indian Ocean. It’s the city’s public playground and a fun place to visit, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.