Hotels and beaches of Negombo, where it is better to choose a hotel

Beaches in Negombo

As already mentioned on our pages, the beaches of Negombo are not at all as beautiful as tourist sites selling tours here write about it. The city can not boast of clean and perfect beaches because of the many rivers flowing into the ocean here, bringing silt and garbage from the land, constant waves, and garbage unceremoniously thrown out by local residents directly to the beach. The water here is almost never transparent, so there can be no question of any diving and snorkeling near the shores.

The cleanest part of the beach is the shore along the tourist area, especially along Porutota rd (Beach on the map). The beach along Lewis Place is dirtier (Beach on the map). But if you go a little to the north or south, then you immediately get to the dirty littered shore. The Houses of local residents are right on the shore, and they constantly dump household garbage and fish waste directly on the sand. Even further south, in the area of Negombo lagoon, you can find decent beaches with black sand, but in places they are also very littered there.

I liked the tourist area in Negombo in general, if you compare it with other places I visited in Sri Lanka. I didn't pay much attention to beaches, because beaches are not my thing. For me, the beaches are like beaches, the water is only cloudy. Much more important for me was that you can walk far and long along the coast.
But the tourist area itself is very good. First of all, I really liked the fact that it is stretched along a wide street. Then comparing it with the vaunted Unawatuna., in which on the narrow streets every now and then we were driven by crazy tuk-tukers, here you could safely walk and not be afraid of local crazy drivers. It's also good that everything you need is nearby, and you don't have to go anywhere. Everything is compact, you can walk to the center. There are Wine shops right in the area. At the same time, it is very quiet here, the situation is almost rustic, although for some it is rather a minus. Compatriots have never met here, which is again a plus for me.
Well, the truth is, I couldn't have stayed more than two days. Although I do not need a lot of entertainment and discos (and I have never met them here), there is not much to watch and do here. There is nowhere to walk in the evenings, it is dark everywhere and after nine everyone falls asleep.

Negombo hotels where to stay

Hotels in Negombo are considered among the cheapest among resorts in Sri Lanka. Finding budget accommodation in Negombo on the spot will not be difficult, especially in low season. Prices for quite decent and clean rooms in local hostels start from 1500 rupees (4.57 USD, see currency of Sri Lanka, exchange rate) for two without air conditioning, and a bed in a hostel from 800 rupees (2.44 USD). But to get a low price, you either need to book accommodation in advance or bargain on the spot. Depending on the season and the appetites of the owners, the initial price when searching on the spot can be called One and a half to two times higher than the real one. But in practice, it is possible and necessary to bring down prices in almost any guesthouse and in any season.

If you want to get a good hotel with amenities, where you can not only spend the night, but also relax, it makes sense to select and book it in advance. If you plan to spend your entire vacation in Negombo, it is better to choose a hotel with a pool, since the local ocean waters are not too suitable for swimming.

And one more tip: If you arrive in Negombo late in the evening or at night, you should book accommodation in advance and at the same time warn the hosts if possible that you will arrive late. The fact is that some guest houses and hotels are closed here for the night tightly, and you simply can not reach them, let alone even check in.

You can find and book a hotel in Negombo on these sites, or through the search form:

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Negombo on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Negombo on Trip.com (💥 our choice)
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Hotels in Negombo on the map

Negombo Districts

Negombo can be divided into two areas: the city center, or as the locals call it – Negombo town; tourist area. For recreation, it is better to choose a hotel in a tourist area closer to Porutota rd, where the cleanest beach in the city is located.

• Negombo Centre

  This is the commercial area of the city, but there are no hotels and beaches here. The tourist area and the nearest beach are 2 kilometers away. there are practically no hotels, but this is the economic center of the city. It is formed by Main street, Green street and others adjacent to them (Center on the map). It is here that shopping centers, shops, a market, currency exchange offices with the most favorable rate, as well as bus and train stations are located. If you want to find an inexpensive non-tourist cafe, then you are also here.

  You can get to the center from the tourist area in 20-30 minutes on foot or by tuk-tuk for 250-500 rupees (after bargaining). Keep in mind that in the city center on the streets you can find signs "Hotel...something's out there". But this does not mean that this is really a hotel. Sometimes under the signs of the Hotel in Sri Lanka are designated local restaurants.

  

• Tourist area

  It stretches along the shore along Lewis Place and then along Porutota rd (tourist area on the map). Most of the hotels and hostels, restaurants, cafes, travel agencies, some entertainment, transport rental, diving offices are located here. There are few locals and their homes in the area, and those that are, for the most part, work as guest houses. There are also more or less clean and cozy beaches. In general, the whole tourist life of the city is concentrated here, and it is here that you should go if you want to look for accommodation on the spot. And in general, there is simply no point in staying in Negombo anywhere else, except in this area.

  The cheapest hostels are located across the street from the beach and further, from the beach a little more expensive. Keep in mind that there is no accommodation at all along Sea street, which gradually transitions into Lewis Place. Hotels and hostels are starting to come across only on Lewis Place and further north.

  If you are located in this area, then to the center of Negombo, where all the city infrastructure, railway and bus station are located, you will either have to walk far on foot or go by tuk-tuk for 250 rupees. But it also has its own railway station Kattuwa, which stops all trains going from Colombo to Negombo and back.

  

In addition to these areas, you can find hotels in the south and north of Negombo. If you move further north along the coast, then up to the town of Chilaw (and this is about 30 kilometers from Negombo) you can find rare hotels on the beaches related to Negombo. There is little point in settling there, unless you are caught on the road at night or you do not want to be away from Negombo. However, it is worth saying that the beaches there are objectively cleaner.

South of the city (towards Colombo) is the Negombo lagoon, on the shore of which there are several good hotels. This area is not tourist (there are houses of local residents everywhere, and there is nowhere to eat outside the hotel), but if you plan to rent transport, you can stay there and go to the tourist area at any time (10-15 minutes drive).