How to get to Sri Lanka airport from Colombo and island resorts. Airport in Colombo in Sri Lanka. What is convenient, where is Colombo Airport - Bandaranaike
You can follow the changes in Colombo Bandaranaike Airport schedule online, constantly being aware of flight schedules. At Colombo Bandaranaike Airport itself, flight schedules can be found on the online departure and arrival board, at the information desk or by calling the airport.
* Airplane schedules show local time for each airport.
Be careful! Airplane schedules are subject to change. Please call for details
Buy cheap air tickets from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
We are looking for cheap air tickets for flights from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport among more than 728 airlines around the world, more than 45 online ticket offices and air ticket agencies, and verified booking systems. Find the cheapest flights from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport to any other destination around the world!
To buy an air ticket from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport - indicate the direction, date of flight, number of adults and children. The system will then compare prices and offer all possible air ticket options in the direction you need. You just need to choose the most suitable option and buy a ticket online for a flight from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport. Using filters, you can sort your search results by departure time, arrival time, travel duration, airline or price.
Hotels and accommodations near Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
You can also book a hotel room either near Colombo Bandaranaike Airport or in the city center.
VIP lounge at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
Many airports have so-called VIP lounges for waiting for flights at the airport. Book a VIP lounge online VIP lounges at airports.
Taxi to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
How to get to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport, you can book online a taxi to the airport or from the airport to the city center Taxi to the airport.
Rent a car at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
If you need to rent a car, you can rent a car online Car rental.
Travel insurance
In order to buy travel insurance, you can use the price comparison service from our partners Insurance.
Get a visa at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
Many passengers only think about a visa to a particular country at the airport. But you can get a home visa without leaving your home
The latitude at which the airport is located: 7.180000000000, in turn, the longitude of the airport corresponds to: 79.880000000000. Geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude determine the location of the airport on the earth's surface. To completely determine the position of the airport in three-dimensional space, a third coordinate is also needed - height. The height of the airport above sea level is 9 meters. The airport is located in the time zone: +5.5 GMT. Airplane tickets always indicate the local time of departure and arrival of the airport according to time zones.Online arrivals and departures boards at Bandaranayake Airport (CMB).
The most up-to-date information about flight times and possible delays is usually located on the online arrivals board and online departure board of the official website of Bandaranayake Airport (CMB): . Also on the official website of the CMB airport you can usually find information about the route to the airport, information about parking on the territory, a map of the airport itself, information about services, rules and other reference information for passengers.Sri Lanka's main international airport, Bandaranaike, is located 35 km from Colombo. There are several options to get from the airport to Colombo or back - from the city to the airport. Each option has its own pros and cons, and its own price. Some will prefer the economy option of taking a bus, while others will prefer a comfortable taxi ride.
From this article you will learn:
1 | A budget option to get from the airport to Colombo is by bus
During the daytime, the so-called “express bus” number 187-E3 runs between the airport and the Colombo central bus station.
Airport - Colombo Express Bus Schedule: every 30 minutes, from 5:30 am to 20:30 pm (times are approximate, as there is no clear schedule). The last bus from the airport leaves at approximately 20:30; I took the last bus from Colombo towards the airport at 18:00.
Express bus from Colombo to airport Bus fare- 120 rupees (~$0.85).
Duration of the bus ride- 1 hour. But if the bus is not full, the driver may make several stops to pick up passengers. My personal experience of traveling on this bus showed that the road from Colombo to the airport can take up to 2.5 hours (and it’s good that I was not late for the plane).
Comfort level on the Airport - Colombo bus: all the way, heart-warming clips are shown on TV, the air conditioning is on maximum (take something to wear so as not to freeze). While the bus was at the station, sellers of traditional delicacies walked around the cabin.
How to find the Airport - Colombo bus stop:
- At the airport, the bus stop is located 50 meters to the left of the arrivals area. You need to leave the arrivals area and walk along the building to the left. From the corner of the building you should already be able to see buses parked slightly ahead and to the right (the coordinates of the bus stop on the map are 7.174812, 79.888673).
- from Colombo the bus departs from the central bus station in the Pettah area (Colombo Central Bus Stand), which is located near the Colombo fort railway station (bus station coordinates on the map - 6.934858, 79.854641).
Things to know before your trip by bus from the airport to Colombo or back: A government bus with the inscription SLTB (Sri Lankan Transport Board) on the windshield operates only during the day. At night, you can get from the airport to Colombo by private buses or minibuses numbered 187 or 187-E3, which are usually parked at the airport a little further than the state bus. If you are traveling from Colombo to the airport, private buses can be found opposite the central bus station at Bastian Mawatha Bus station.
2 | Taxi at the airport (upon arrival)
Where to get a taxi at the airport: There is a taxi counter in the arrivals hall with official fixed prices for taxis to Colombo and other cities in Sri Lanka. If there is a line at the counter, feel free to go outside. There is another window for ordering a taxi (their prices are exactly the same).
Taxi counter at Colombo International Airport Personal experience showed that the taxi car may be very shabby. It’s hard to call it comfortable to drive on low, loose seats without headrests, in a car that is long overdue for a wash and a bunch of stinking trash thrown out.
Taxi fare depends on where exactly you need to go in Colombo. The trip "Airport - Colombo Fort" costs 2650 rupees (~$18). An additional fee for travel on the expressway is 300 rupees (~$2).
3 | Individual transfer from the airport to the hotel
A transfer (pre-booked taxi from the airport to the hotel) will cost only a little more than a classic taxi at the airport. However, the transfer has several significant advantages:
- you choose and order a car of a certain brand and size in accordance with your preferences;
- you are met at the airport with a sign and helped with your luggage - there is no need to look for a taxi stand or stand in line waiting for a car;
- the driver thinks through the route in advance and knows which hotel to take you to, and does not ask passers-by how to get there (I personally encountered this).
Transfer cost from Bandaranaike Airport to a hotel in Colombo: from $21 per car.
You can book a comfortable taxi from the airport to your hotel on the website.
4 | From the airport to Colombo by train
You can also travel from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo by train. But this is not the easiest way, since there are a number of nuances.
The nearest train station is 3 km from the airport. Therefore, you still need to get there or get there. To get to the station, the cheapest way is to use a tuk-tuk. But since tuk-tuks are prohibited from entering the airport, you yourself need to go out to them. A 3 km tuk-tuk ride to Katunayake Railway Station will cost 150 - 300 rupees (you need to negotiate the price before getting into the tuk-tuk and be sure to bargain).
There are about 10 trains heading towards Colombo during the day (the first one at 7 am and the last one at 8 pm). The train fare is 30 rupees (~$0.20). The train will take you to Colombo Fort Central Station. Then you will still need to somehow get to your hotel.
5 | What is the best transport to get from the airport to Colombo?
If you are traveling lightly, are not in a hurry, and prefer to save money, you can take a bus. This way you will immediately immerse yourself in the local flavor and appreciate
Of the three airports, only the capital has international status, serving all international flights in the country.
Colombo Airport - Bandaranaike
The only international airport on the island of Sri Lanka, located near the largest city of Colombo. The official name is Bandaranaike, although people sometimes call it by the name of the town of Negombo in which it is located. The most important transport hub in South Asia, serving approximately 8 million passengers per year. The national airline, SriLankan Airlines, based at the airport, operates most domestic flights and a few international ones.
Airport infrastructure
Consists of three terminals:
- Terminal No. 1- the main building of the airport - all international flights. Currently very overloaded.
- Terminal No. 2- is currently under construction, although it is already partially operational. It is planned to be commissioned in 2017, which will greatly help the first terminal with an increased flow of passengers.
- Terminal No. 3- serves all domestic flights.
Passenger traffic is growing every year, so the main building of the first terminal does not fully cope with its functions. The most necessary set of services is presented from the infrastructure. Several cafes and shops, including Duty Free.
Airport diagram.
Airport online display, flight schedule
How to get to Colombo Airport and back?
The airport is located 30 km from the city of Colombo in the town of Negombo. You should not expect much comfort from the proposed public transport.
By bus
Regular bus number 187 goes to Colombo Central Bus Station. The stop is located outside the airport near the parking lot in the arrivals area. The route starts operating at 05:30 to 21:00 with an interval of 15-30 minutes. Travel time ranges from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on road congestion and traffic jams. Ticket price 120 LKR 44₽, 0.8$, 0.6€, which can be bought on the bus.
By train
First you need to get to the nearest railway station “Katunayaka South”, located 2 km from the airport. You can make this journey on foot or by tuk-tuk for 100 LKR 37₽, 0.6$, 0.5€. The train ticket costs everything 30 LKR 11₽, 0.2$, 0.2€, but you can wait a long time for it, because... walks a couple of times a day.
Taxi to Colombo from the airport
The most convenient way to get there is by taxi. There is a parking lot near the terminal exit where drivers of various types of transport will wait. A standard taxi car will cost 1,500 LKR 555₽, 9.6$, 7.8€, knock Knock 1,000 LKR 370₽, 6.4$, 5.2€.
Before traveling, it is advisable to change your currency to local rupees, otherwise the cost will be more expensive. To avoid standing in lines at the airport and haggling with taxi drivers, it is more convenient to order the service in advance individual transfer via the KiwiTaxi service A neat driver in a white shirt in a comfortable car will wait right at the exit from the terminal and will take you directly to the hotel entrance.
Car rental at Colombo airport
You can rent a car right at the airport, but there is a small caveat. To drive a car on the island, you must obtain permission from the local authorities. Rental companies help with this, and the procedure takes several days. Therefore, it is better to provide copies of documents by e-mail and pay for their services in advance. Other nuances of traveling on the country's roads can be read on the page
The official name of Colombo Airport (CMB) is Bandaranaike International Airport. In English it is Bandaranaike International Airport. Today Bandaranaike is the most important airport in Sri Lanka, receiving almost 42 thousand flights a year and almost 5 million passengers. In addition, Colombo Airport handles over 170,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The current operator of Sri Lanka's main airport is Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Colombo Airport was built during World War II and served as a Royal Air Force base. It is still used for military purposes, but today the airport is used primarily for civil aviation. Colombo Bandaranaike Airport is very important for Sri Lanka. Currently, the airport has 4 gates with 39 check-in counters and 3 cargo terminals. It serves 25 airlines, including well-known airlines such as Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, as well as major Asian airlines Indian Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Emirates.
Although Colombo Airport does not fully meet international standards, it has received numerous awards from various airlines and magazines.
Colombo Airport on the map of Sri Lanka
Despite the fact that the airport is classified as Colombo, it is actually located quite far from this city, about 35 km north of the capital of Sri Lanka. The city of Negombo is much closer to Bandaranaike Airport, but in general this airport is located on the territory of the village of Katunayak.Online scoreboard of Colombo airport
How to get from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo
To get from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo city, you can take a taxi or bus. You can also rent a car, but this is not as easy to do in Sri Lanka as in many other countries in the world.
The cost of a taxi from Bandaranaike Airport to the capital of Sri Lanka is about 3,000 rupees. If you want to take the expressway, there is usually an additional charge of 300 rupees. Taxi cars are waiting for passengers at any time of the day, but you can always order a taxi in advance on the Kiwi-Taxi website.
Airport bus - Colombo
If you do not want to spend a lot of money on a trip from Colombo airport to the capital of Sri Lanka, you can take a bus.Buses from the airport to Colombo run every half hour from 05:30 to 18:30, and a one-way trip costs only 130 rupees. The journey to Colombo Main Bus Station takes approximately 45 minutes. You need to take Express Bus 187. This bus travels from Colombo International Airport on the new expressway, which saves a lot of time.
After 18:30, some private air-conditioned 187 buses may be waiting for tourists near the airport, but they operate at their own discretion. That is, it depends on your luck.
The bus goes to the main bus station in Colombo, where you can change buses and get to your desired location in Sri Lanka. There is also a train station nearby, from where you can travel by train.
Services and facilities at Colombo Airport
Like any international airport, Bandaranaike Airport offers travelers different options to satisfy their hunger or thirst. Sri Lankan Airlines even has its own restaurant in the departure hall with delicious cuisine. It serves national and international cuisine. The Sri Lankan Airlines restaurant offers hot and cold drinks. Of course, there are other restaurants and cafes.
Six banks offer passengers the opportunity to exchange currency at Colombo Airport. All exchange offices can be found in the arrivals hall. So you will not have problems exchanging currency before further traveling around the island. Although the exchange rate at the exchange offices at Colombo airport is not the most favorable, it is still noticeably more favorable than in most hotels in Sri Lanka.
Bandaranaike Airport in Sri Lanka has a variety of shops to help you pass the time and buy something interesting. For example, here you can buy local souvenirs, handmade fabrics and other goods. Duty-free shops also welcome guests and offer a variety of electronic products, liquor, jewelry and perfumes.
If you decide to go on holiday with children, Colombo Airport will provide special facilities for young guests. Here children can play or watch cartoons.
A medical center can be found in the Colombo Airport arrivals hall. In addition to trained nurses and emergency physicians, the medical center also provides rapid transportation to the hospital in the event of an emergency.
History of Colombo Airport
Finally, I would like to tell you briefly about the history of the main airport of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's civil aviation industry was born in the 1930s with the construction of the Ratmalana airfield. Bandaranaike Airport was built by the British in the mid-1940s primarily as an air force base and supply center for World War II aircraft. With assistance from the Government of Canada, the airport was upgraded to handle 150,000 passengers per year in 1968. In 1981, with the assistance of the Dutch government, the Airport Master Plan was developed. The Japanese government assisted in the further development of the airport with all the necessary facilities to ensure an annual passenger turnover of 3.5 million people. Colombo Airport reached such a passenger turnover in 1988. The Japanese government also helped expand the airport and create a modern terminal building with 8 contact gates and 14 check-in stands. The project was completed in 2005 and gave the airport the capacity to handle 6 million passengers per year.
Following the end of the internal conflict in Sri Lanka, which had hampered economic growth for about 30 years, the Sri Lankan economy began to grow in many aspects in 2009. Profit from foreign tourists in 2010 increased by almost 50 percent compared to 2009. In response to increased demand, a new airport terminal was designed to serve an additional 9 million passengers per year. With this expansion, the airport's capacity was increased to 15 million passengers per year.