How to reach Colombo, Flights, Buses and Taxi to Colombo

How to Reach Colombo from India

Many direct flights operate between Colombo and cities of south India such as Trivandrum, Bengaluru, Chennai and other international airports. From Mumbai and New Delhi, Sri Lankan Airlines operates direct flights to Colombo. Other cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh and other northern cities have connecting flights to Colombo. These routes are mostly operated by Sri Lankan Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India.

Most frequently searched routes to Colombo

Route Name	Distance	Time	More Information
Kandy to Colombo	123 km	3 Hours	View Details
Galle to Colombo	145 Km	2 Hours 13 Mins	View Details
Bentota to Colombo	102.8 Km	1 hr 44 mins	View Details
Anuradhapura to Colombo	199 Km	3 hr 30 mins	View Details
Nuwara Eliya to Colombo	173.3 km	4 hr 45 mins	View Details
Negombo to Colombo	37 Km	43 Mins	View Details

How to reach Colombo by flight

Colombo doesn't have an international airport of it's own. The main international airport of Sri Lanka is Katunayake, which is just more than an hour north of Colombo. Flights from all over the globe land here, from Europe, US, Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia. The prime carrier is the national airline, Sri Lankan Airlines. Other international airlines such as Qatar, Malaysian, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific also operate the routes.

How to reach Colombo by road

Sri Lanka currently has 3 expressways, with two more expected to be opened by 2017. Of these, 2 run to Colombo, one from the airport, and the other is 128km long and connects Colombo with a few towns.

How to reach Colombo by train

Sri Lanka's railway line hasn't really developed all that much yet. Colombo's railway station is the at Fort, and trains run along the coastline to and from the city, with a few routes also going into the mainland.

How to reach Colombo by bus

Buses are the most popular mode of transport in Sri Lanka. They are by far the most used form of transportation in the country. Lots of buses run to Colombo from nearby villages and cities.

Local transport in Colombo

Colombo is extensively connected by it's vast public bus service. These are run by both private contractors and government bodies. The city is not very well connected by rail, with only a few train stations. The trains and buses however, are very crowded, especially during the peak hours. A lot of auto rickshaws run throughout the city as well.