Mount Lavinia beach, lies within the southern suburban area of Colombo and is the place to go to if your looking for sun and surf in the city. The wide sandy beach is dotted with guest houses and restaurants which are ideally suited if you plan to spend a day at the beach, but also offers a good collection of hotels for a longer stay. The most popular hotel in the locality is the Mount Lavinia Hotel, which was formally the residence of a Governor of Sri Lanka when the country was under British rule. The terrace at the Mount Lavina Hotel is an excellent venue to enjoy the setting sun and also view the night lights of Colombo city. On weekends the beach is crowded with citizens of the capital looking for a family day out, and can be rather congested.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass