When to go · Colombo
Colombo in December
Great month. Drier and slightly cooler; busy season.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 29° / 23°
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- High
- Sri Lanka overall
- Prices
- High
- Sri Lanka overall
Verdict
Drier and slightly cooler; busy season.
Weather in December
- ColomboHighs around 29 °C, lows around 23 °C, rain on about 12 days
- West and south coast, Sri Lanka · Colombo, Negombo, Bentota, Galle, Mirissabest weather
South-west monsoon May–Sep brings rough seas and red flags; October–November inter-monsoon storms are heavy in Colombo.
Dry season season
The most reliable weather window: warm, mostly dry, good for walking and the seafront.
Watch: Christmas and New Year crowds near Galle Face.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas
24–25 December · Churches, seafront hotels
Carol events and decorations along Galle Face; hotels near the seafront book up.
New Year's Eve
31 December · Galle Face Green and seafront hotels
A crowded countdown along the seafront; book a seafront dinner ahead if you want a view.
Christmas and New Year
Late Dec–early Jan
Hotels near Galle Face fill up; carol events and a countdown crowd on the seafront.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Sri Lanka overall
- High
- Prices · Sri Lanka overall
- High
Sri Lanka overall: South-west coast dry again; Adam's Peak season opens; book Christmas early.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast