---
title: "Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel vs Shalimar Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel or Shalimar Hotel in Colombo? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/colombo-downtown-monkey-hostel-colombo-vs-shalimar-hotel-colombo/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-29
---

# Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel vs Shalimar Hotel

Both are in Colombo, 2.1 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hostel · L B Gate
## [Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/colombo-downtown-monkey-hostel-colombo/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.0 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 7.6

- **Score by category:** 3 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1300287/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★ · Maligawatte
## [Shalimar Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/shalimar-hotel-colombo/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.1 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 5.3

- **Score by category:** 0 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2079425/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel

It leads in 3 of 4 categories. 2.1 km apart.

### Choose Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (8.0 / 7.1)
-   to be closer to the beach (570 m / 2.4 km)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (97 / 15)

### Choose Shalimar Hotel if you want

-   to walk to the sights (4.2 km / 5.0 km)

### Why is Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel better than Shalimar Hotel?

1.  Higher guest rating (8.0 vs 7.1) (+0.9)
2.  1.8 km closer to the beach (570 m vs 2.4 km) (−1.8 km)
3.  More guest reviews (388 vs 153), so the rating is more reliable (×2.5)
4.  82 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+82)
5.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 77 vs 44) (+33)
6.  3 more sights within 1 km (+3)

### Why is Shalimar Hotel better than Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel?

1.  Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h)
2.  Later check-out (12:00 vs 11:00) (+1h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel | Shalimar Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.0  (+0.9) | 7.1 |
| Location | 7.6  (+2.3) | 5.3 |
| Beach access | 8.4  (+6.4) | 2.0 |
| Public transport | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.0  (+0.8) | 7.3 |
| Guest rating | 8.0  (+0.9) | 7.1 |
| Number of reviews | 388  (+235) | 153 |
| Rank in Colombo | bottom 41%  (+31%) | bottom 10% |
| Location |
| Location score | 7.6  (+2.3) | 5.3 |
| Distance to the centre | 5.0 km | 4.2 km  (−780 m) |
| To the beach | 570 m  (−1.8 km) | 2.4 km |
| To public transport | 20 m  (−80 m) | 110 m |
| To the airport | 13 km | 12 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 97  (+82) | 15 |
| To the nearest food shop | 440 m  (−660 m) | 1.1 km |
| Shops within 500 m | 10  (+10) | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 4  (+3) | 1 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | – | ★★ |
| Rooms | 4 | – |
| Floors | 1 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2018 | – |
| Listed amenities | 9 | – |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 12:00  (−2h) |
| Check-out until | 11:00 | 12:00  (+1h) |
| Amenities |
| Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Parking | ✓ | – |
| Shuttle | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | – |
| Free breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| Kitchen | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Beach holidays | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

2.1 km apart

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel: city centre: 5.0 km, nearest station Secretariat Railway: 20 m, Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML): 13 km, beach: 570 m, 97 places to eat within 500 m, 4 sights within 1 km.

Shalimar Hotel: city centre: 4.2 km, nearest station Maradana Railway Station: 110 m, Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML): 12 km, beach: 2.4 km, 15 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Colombo

[Colombo weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/sri-lanka/western-province/colombo/weather)

## Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel or Shalimar Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel or Shalimar Hotel?

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel leads in 3 of 4 categories, including guest rating, location, beach access.

### Which is cheaper, Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel or Shalimar Hotel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Shalimar Hotel is closer: 4.2 km from the centre, against 5.0 km for Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel is 570 m from the nearest beach; Shalimar Hotel is 2.4 km.

### How far apart are Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel and Shalimar Hotel?

The two hotels are 2.1 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel vs CityRest Fort](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cityrest-fort-colombo-vs-colombo-downtown-monkey-hostel-colombo/)
-   [Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel vs Hostel at Galle Face- Colombo](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/colombo-downtown-monkey-hostel-colombo-vs-hostel-at-galle-face-colombo-colombo/)
-   [Shalimar Hotel vs Opulence Colombo](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/opulence-colombo-colombo-vs-shalimar-hotel-colombo/)
-   [Shalimar Hotel vs Earl's Red Colombo](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/earl-s-red-colombo-colombo-vs-shalimar-hotel-colombo/)
-   [Shalimar Hotel vs Thilhara Days Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/shalimar-hotel-colombo-vs-thilhara-days-inn-colombo/)
-   [Shalimar Hotel vs Metro Port City Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/metro-port-city-hotel-colombo-vs-shalimar-hotel-colombo/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/colombo-downtown-monkey-hostel-colombo-vs-shalimar-hotel-colombo/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/