Colombo, one word to describe it would be ‘vibrant’. From the many attractions, to the cuisine and to its streets, vibrancy is everywhere, especially in the shopping hotspots that sell vibrant merchandise from readymade clothes, materials, Sri Lankan arts and crafts and anything else shopaholics crave for. So if you’re wondering where to shop till you drop in Colombo there are a myriad of spots to head for, ranging from the high fashion outlets to the cheap flea markets. It’s a shopper’s paradise here in Colombo!

Shopping is done best when you’re comfortably settled down in a conveniently located Colombo city hotel, and that is why The Steuart by Citrus is an ideal choice. While being located in the Colombo Fort area, the hotel is within easy distance to the city’s shopping hotspots such as Majestic City that’s just a short 15 minutes Tuk-Tuk ride away. Majestic City is undoubtedly one of Colombo’s most popular shopping malls. Located in the seaside town of Bambalapitiya, this multi-storeyed shopping mall offers everything from clothes to electronics and various handicrafts and furniture items as well as a high technology cinema complex that includes a 3D cinema, a food court and also a game zone. Other popular shopping complexes in Colombo include Crescat Boulevard, Liberty Plaza and the recently opened Arcade Independence Square. The Arcade Independence Square, which is situated close by to the Independence Memorial Hall and Gardens, gives you the chance to shop for high-end local brands as well as international brands such as Charles and Keith and FCUK. It also has other attractions such as a majestically–carved Lion’s Fountain and a tempered glass roofed fish tank that you can walk on! Sri Lanka’s first department store, ODEL is also a great shopping destination that consists of a range of brands, international as well as its own. You can find ODEL branches in several areas of Colombo and even out of Colombo, but the main outlet store is located at No 5, Alexandra Place. If you want to shop for traditional Sri Lankan arts and crafts, Laksala, down Bauddhaloka Mawatha and Lakpahana situated along Reid Avenue are some of the best options you can find.

After some high-end shopping, hit the streets! Colombo’s streets are the best places to buy cheap merchandise and the best out of these would be that of Pettah and Pamunuwa. Pettah Market is a bustling market where you will find anything from clothes, cloth materials, electronic items and accessories, fruits, sweets, plastic flowers, paper, shoes, luggage…the list goes on! While shopping at Pettah you can also see monuments such as the Red Mosque, the Dutch Museum, the new and old Kathiresan Kovils, Khan Clock Tower and the Floating Market. Pamunuwa Market, located in suburban area of Maharagama, is known as the ‘Textile Paradise’ as it is famous for readymade garments as well as cloth materials.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+