The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Colombo

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Colombo

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Colombo, Sri Lanka? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Colombo, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Colombo to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Colombo, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Colombo for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Colombo for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Maradha Colombo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Hotel Maradha, Marine Drive, Maradha Colombo has great rooms from $88 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 4.1 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, a bar, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services at this relaxing hotel. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


View hotels on the map:

The Den 23

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $35 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Colombo
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

A great place to stay is The Den 23 which has nice rooms starting at $35. Offering a casino, a restaurant, a bar, rooms with kitchens, and city views, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 23 Norris Canal Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a game room, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.2 km from the city center. The kitchen in the room is great, because you can cook your own meals to save time and money. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms


Cinnamon Grand Colombo

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $87 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Cinnamon Grand Colombo to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $87. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 77, Galle Road. You'll also find child care, laundry services, city views, a hot tub, and a spa which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.6 km from the center of town. The indoor pool at this hotel is very nice, and is a great place to unwind and relax on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Seconds Colombo

Hostel with prices starting at $14 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Colombo
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $14, Seconds Colombo, at 44 Kirulapone Avenue Colombo 05 provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, a bar, and pet-friendly rooms. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers city views, a game room, free parking, evening entertainment, and laundry facilities. It's located just 6.5 km from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Sayura House

Guest house with prices starting at $55 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Sayura House has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10, and offers a restaurant, scuba diving, laundry services, a game room, and horse riding. The great rooms here start at $55 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 65 International Buddhist Center Road. Furthermore, it also offers laundry facilities, bicycle rental, family rooms, a tour desk, and air-conditioning, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 7.1 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave


ITC Ratnadipa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Colombo

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of ITC Ratnadipa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Colombo is 9.00 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $193, and it's located at 21 Galle Face Centre Road. We also love the a bar, parking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.8 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $129 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Colombo
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams because it has great rooms that start at $129. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at No. 01, Justice Akbar Mawatha. Only 0.8 km from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, child care, laundry services, city views, and a spa at this convenient hotel. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Zylan Colombo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $66 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Zylan Colombo offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $66 (before taxes). It's located at 115, Rosmead Place and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and free parking which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.5 km from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Breakfast in the room


Shangri-La Colombo

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $172 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Colombo
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 1 Galle Face, Shangri-La Colombo has great rooms from $172 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and rooms with kitchenettes. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, city views, a spa, and an indoor pool which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.6 km from the center of town. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


Amari Colombo, Sri Lanka

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $94 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Amari Colombo, Sri Lanka which has nice rooms starting at $94. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at No. 254, Galle Road. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, city views, free parking, and evening entertainment. It's located just 2.3 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Kandy, Galle, Negombo, Hikkaduwa, and Tangalla.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Colombo, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Colombo, Best Luxury Hotels in Colombo, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Colombo, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Colombo, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Colombo, Best Hotels for One Week in Colombo, Best Hotels for One Night in Colombo, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Colombo, Best Party Hotels in Colombo, or Best Business Hotels in Colombo.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Colombo?

Colombo Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$76

Travelers to Colombo, Sri Lanka will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 52 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $76. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Colombo.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $105
  • 4-star hotels: $89
  • 3-star hotels: $47
  • 2-star hotels: $27


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