Pettah Floating Market in Colombo: An Honest Review & Practical Visit Guide

Description and Is it Worth Visiting

Floating Market in Colombo (Pettah Floating Market) - an attempt to create a new tourist and recreation zone in Colombo, but unfortunately, an unsuccessful one. We discovered this market during our trip in 2019 and even included it in our guide as a must-visit spot at the time. But the "Covid" period was not kind to this place. Although the market is still in place and even operational, it has fallen into complete decline, and now we would rather recommend not visiting it at all than recommend it as a must-see as before.

The idea was good, of course. It was far from being as interesting and exotic as the floating markets in Thailand, for example, but it had its place. A chain of restaurants and shops was located along the shores of an artificial lake, and you could ride swan-shaped boats on the lake itself.

But today, no boats or swans remain, the shops have closed, only a few cafes and restaurants are operating, and their prices are clearly inflated, and the condition of the kitchen horrified us. What makes it even worse is the persistent and strong sewage smell and rats roaming the streets in broad daylight, as right next door is one of the most crowded and not-so-clean areas in the city – the Pettah trading district and the country's largest bus station.