Sri Lanka is often glanced over as a vacation destination by Western tourists, but the island, which sits off the southern tip of India, offers some incredible experiences in the ways of nature, culture, and history. Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the nation’s largest city by population, and it’s been experiencing a major boom in the last decade. Skyscrapers, posh hotels, and new roads have been popping up all over Colombo, all watched over by the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia as of 2019, the Lotus Tower.
Colombo, sometimes called by its British colonial name Ceylon, has developed into quite a bustling and vibrant city, with the districts of Colombo 1 and Fort Area being the centers of the action. The city is also very culturally diverse, with large populations of Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. While Colombo doesn’t really have any monuments that stand out on an international stage, there is still an abundance of things to do in the city. If you want to experience all that Sri Lanka’s capital city has to offer, rent a motorcycle and start exploring.
Here is everything you need to know about hiring a motorcycle in Colombo. Most things here can also be applied if you are renting a scooter. This guide includes:
- Whether you need an international driving permit to rent a motorbike in Sri Lanka
- Where to hire a motorcycle in Colombo
- The price of motorcycle hire in Colombo
- Safety issues related to driving a motorbike in Colombo
- Unique things to do in Colombo by motorcycle
Do You Need an International Driving Permit To Drive a Motorcycle in Sri Lanka?
Driving laws for foreigners in Sri Lanka are stricter than most other countries in the world. If you do not have a Sri Lankan license, you will need to get an international driving permit issued to you by your home country. If you want to drive in Sri Lanka, you can apply for your IDP here. There is an application fee of $20 and the permit typically takes around two weeks to arrive in the mail, so make sure to send your application at least two weeks before departing for Sri Lanka. The permit is valid for one year.
Once you get your international driving permit, however, you are still not legally eligible to drive. You are required to have your foreign license verified by the Sri Lankan government before operating a motor vehicle within the country, including a motorcycle. Once you present them with a valid license from your home country and an IDP, they’ll issue you a permit to drive within the country. This permit will last you up to 6 months. If you want to drive in Sri Lanka for any longer than that, you’ll have to apply for the same license that a Sri Lankan citizen would have.
Where Can You Rent a Motorbike in Colombo?
The best places to rent a motorcycle within the city limits of Colombo are the areas around the Colombo International Financial City, which is right next to the Fort Area and Colombo 1. If you stay near that general area, you should have no problem finding a bunch of different motorbike rental shops.
If you plan on flying into Bandaranaike International Airport, the closest airport to the city of Colombo, there are certain online services where you can hire a motorcycle and have it delivered to the airport so that you can drive it directly to your accommodation when you arrive.
What Is the Price of Motorbike Hire In Colombo?
In general, hiring a motorbike in Colombo is extremely affordable. Most of the motorcycles you’re going to find at the rental shops are going to be Indian-made, like a Bajaj CT 100 or a Bajaj Pulsar 135LS. On the low end, motorcycle hire can be as little as $7 per day, especially if you rent a motorbike for a week or a month.
If you have your heart set on riding a motorcycle from a different part of the world, such as a BMW or Harley Davidson, you may have trouble finding one in Sri Lanka. However, finding motorcycles from Japanese brands such as Honda, Kawasaki, or Yamaha shouldn’t be a problem.
Is It Safe To Drive a Motorcycle in Colombo?
Driving a rental scooter or motorbike in a foreign country is always a bit of a gamble, but driving in Colombo is another level of chaotic. There don’t seem to be any rules of the road whatsoever. Taxis, motorcycles, rickshaws, and buses are all constantly jockeying for space. If you’re not a confident and careful motorcycle driver, you should not be driving on the roads of Colombo, and probably not in Sri Lanka at all.
If driving during the daytime in Colombo is scary, driving at night is an absolute nightmare. Drunk drivers run rampant through the city, as it seems like most of the police officers have abandoned their posts for the night. No matter how good you are at steering a motorbike, it’s probably better to avoid driving at night in Colombo.
Buses have a reputation for driving very fast and rarely giving way to other drivers. To make matters worse, they’re usually entirely overcrowded and may even lean to one side or the other based on the positions of the passengers.
To add another element of danger, Sri Lankans drive on the left side of the road, which can be a difficult adjustment for drivers from the United States.
What Are Some Unique Things To Do in Colombo By Motorcycle?
Now that you know all of the necessary information for hiring a motorbike in Colombo, here are some places to visit in the city:
National Museum
Located right across the way from Viharamahadevi Park and about an 8 minute drive south from the Fort Area, Colombo’s National Museum is one of the best places to learn about the history of Sri Lanka. The museum holds many artifacts from ancient Sri Lanka and from the country’s royal family.
The admission price to the museum is 250 rupees for adults, which is currently only about $3. There’s a parking lot right outside the museum, and on the off chance that the lot is full, there is plenty of street parking in the area as well.
Gangaramaya Temple
Take a 3 minute drive north from the National Museum and you’ll come to the Gangaramaya Temple, which sits right next to the Beira Lake. The impressive Buddhist temple complex has a wealth of statues that range from resplendently beautiful to downright bizarre. Apparently, somewhere in the temple is also a piece of Gautama Buddha’s hair.
The temple was founded in the late 19th century and is still used as an institution of learning and spiritual practice for Buddhist devotees to this day. Upon entering the temple, you’re asked to give a donation of 100 rupees, which is equivalent to a little over $1.
Lotus Tower
A 6 minute drive northeast from the Gangaramaya Temple will take you to the greatest engineering feat in Colombo, the Lotus Tower. The tower stands at 356 meters tall, making it the 19th tallest tower in the world. Its main purpose is for radio and television transmissions, but there’s a whole lot to do for tourists as well.
The tower contains banquet halls, restaurants, shopping malls, auditoriums, hotels, and museums. You could spend an entire day inside the Lotus Tower and never get bored. If you’re looking for something to eat or drink, Elevate Restaurant offers one of the best views in the whole city.
Explore the Streets of Colombo by Motorcycle
Whether you plan to stay in Sri Lanka for a day or a month, riding a motorcycle in Colombo will give you the opportunity to get around at your own pace. Just be careful on the roads, however, because driving in Colombo is not for the faint of heart.
Do you still have questions about scooter rentals in Colombo? No worries, you can always contact us by phone, email, or our website's live chat.
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