It’s easy enough to navigate yourself around Colombo . Just remember that the Fort District is to the north, with shopping, banks, the clock tower, and the World Trade Center towers. Galle Face Green is to the south, offering seafront parks that often host cricket games and kite flying. A bit farther south is Cinnamon Gardens , an upscale neighborhood with splendid mansions and the city’s largest park. And the Pettah bazaar district is to the east, with stalls selling everything from meat and produce to jewelry and electronics.

If you don’t want to walk around town, consider hailing a three-wheeler or renting a motorbike. If you plan to travel outside the city, your options include renting a car without or without a driver, hopping on the train or bus, or booking a taxi.

It’s a good idea to keep some identification documents on you at all times. But make sure they are secured, in, say, a money belt. Also make copies of your passport and other important documents and leave them back at the hotel.