Colombo by Tuk Tuk – A Ride Through the City’s Hidden Gems 🛺✨
Text by: John. Photos by: John
What a ride!
Colombo, the buzzing heart of Sri Lanka 🇱🇰, is a city full of culture, flavors, and hidden corners. We discovered it in the most epic way possible — with Tuk It Easy, a unique tuk tuk safari through Colombo led by Oliver, a passionate Frenchman with endless energy and love for the city.
Coffee & Culture ☕🌱
Our morning began at The Beans Coffee Factory, a small roastery serving some of the best coffee in Colombo. Here, we got a close look at how local Arabica beans are roasted and learned about the island’s growing coffee culture. From bean to cup, every sip tasted even better when you know the story behind it.
Cinnamon Island 🌿
One of the highlights was learning about Sri Lanka’s most famous export — true Ceylon cinnamon. Did you know that 80–90% of the world’s Ceylon cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka? Lighter, sweeter, and more delicate than other types, it’s no wonder the island is nicknamed Cinnamon Island. 🌍
Sweet Surprises 🍩
Exploring Colombo by tuk tuk also means tasting local favorites. Somewhere between the temples and markets, we stumbled upon what might be the best sugar donut we’ve ever had. Simple, sweet, and unforgettable — and yes, Maria was in donut heaven 😆
Temples & Traditions 🛕✨
Dressed in sarongs, we stepped inside one of Colombo’s most stunning temples. The colors, carvings, and calm atmosphere were breathtaking. Inside, we saw rituals, wisdom keepers, and even lit traditional oil lamps together — a quiet, magical moment of peace and blessings.
Markets & Organized Chaos 🛺🍊📦
No trip to Colombo is complete without diving into its old markets. Textiles, herbs, spices, and fruits surrounded us as tuk tuks honked and traders shouted. It was organized chaos at its finest — raw, real, and full of life.
Rooftop Finale 🌆🍺
The adventure ended on a hidden rooftop bar overlooking the city. With a cold local beer in hand, we looked out at the same streets we had just explored by tuk tuk. The perfect ending to a perfect ride.
Fun Facts About Colombo 🇱🇰
📌 Colombo has over 200,000 tuk tuks — and more than 1.2 million across Sri Lanka!
📌 Colombo isn’t the official capital (that’s Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte).
📌 The city once had a tram system (1899–1960s).
📌 Sri Lanka produces 80–90% of the world’s true cinnamon.
📌 Galle Face Green is the spot for sunsets and street food.
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Plan Your Tuk Tuk Safari
If you want to feel the real pulse of Colombo, we can highly recommend booking a ride with Tuk It Easy. It’s more than a tour — it’s a journey into the city’s heart, with stories, flavors, and experiences you’ll never forget.
