Colombo Bandaranaike airport departure board online. From the airport to Colombo by train Colombo International Airport
The island state of Sri Lanka (in old Ceylon) has only three air ports, two of which are international. These are Bandaranaike and Mattala Rajapaksa airports. The third airport terminal, Colombo Ratmalana, serves domestic flights. Currently, there are no direct flights from Moscow to Sri Lanka (except for charters); many tourists fly through the UAE, making a transfer to Dubai, as well as through Doha (Qatar), Turkey, etc.
Historical reference
The first airport on the island of Sri Lanka appeared in 1935, when the island belonged to the British crown and was called Ceylon. It was named Ratmalana after the name of a nearby settlement.
In 1940, Great Britain established an airfield near the capital Colombo. After the British lost their airfields in India and Nepal, it was used as a military air base during the Second World War. Later, in the 1980s, Colombo Bandaranaike Airport, as a result of large-scale modernization, restructuring and expansion, acquired the status of the main international air port of Sri Lanka.
4 years ago, in 2013, construction was completed and another international airport began operations - Mattala Rajapaksa, which is located in the south of the country, near Hambantota. It was built with the aim of establishing air traffic in the south of the country.
All Sri Lanka airports are located on the map of the island as follows:
- on the west coast - Colombo Bandaranaike and Colombo Ratmalana airports,
- and in the south - Mattala Rajapaksa.
Currently, the issue of organizing an international airport in the north of Sri Lanka near the city of Jaffna is being considered. This is due to the annually growing flow of tourists heading on holiday to Sri Lanka.
Basic information and contacts
Sri Lanka Bandaranaike International Airport is the main airport of the island and one of the busiest airports in South Asia - its passenger traffic exceeds 7 million people per year.
- Name: Bandaranaike International Airport, second name – Katunayake International Airport, usually called Colombo Bandaranaike Airport;
- Location: near the city of Negombo, 35 km from the capital Colombo;
- IATA – CMB;
- ICAO – VCBI;
- Contact details:
- postal address: Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka;
- Director's reception (tel./fax): +94 11 225 26 66, +94 11 225 94 35;
- Help Desk: +94 11 225 28 61;
- Email - [email protected].
- Official website – www.airport.lk;
- Opening hours: 24 hours a day.
On the official website of the airport you can find all the information a passenger needs, as well as an online scoreboard. The site version is in English. You can view it in the Flight Info section by clicking on Flight status and selecting Arrivals or Departures. Navigating the site is not difficult even for a user with minimal knowledge of English.
Important! Information in the online scoreboard, posted in Russian on Russian information portals, is sometimes displayed with a time delay.
Services at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
The airport has 3 passenger terminals. The largest and first terminal was put into operation in 1967. It has an arrival and departure area, and 12 boarding gates. All international flights depart from here. The infrastructure is presented:
- 2 recreation areas;
- duty free shops;
- tea shops;
- cafes and restaurants;
- mother and child room;
- currency exchange;
- free wifi.
The second terminal is planned to be put into operation in 2017, although de facto it has been operating since the end of 2016 in test mode. There will be 8 gates and 14 modern telescopic gangways.
The third terminal has been operating since 2012 and serves flights throughout the country.
The Serenediva Colombo Hotel is located in the airport's transit area, where temporary guests will be surrounded by Asian hospitality and care. For accurate information, please contact the airport information desk.
Currently, the airport is the main base of the following Sri Lankan air carriers:
- SriLankan Airlines;
- Mihin Lanka;
- Lankan Cargo.
The airport also serves many major world airlines, such as:
- Emirates;
- Korean Airlines;
- Qatar Airlines;
- FlyDubai;
- Oman Air;
- Air Asia and many others.
Sri Lanka's new international airport began operations recently, in 2013, with the goal of decongesting the Colombo airport and bringing tourists closer to popular southern resorts.
- Name: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, second name – Hambantota International Airport;
- Location: 26 km north of the city of Hambantota;
- Coding according to IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Association):
- IATA – HRI;
- ICAO - VCRI.
- Contact details:
- Postal Address: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, P.O. Box 67654, Hambantota, Sri Lanka;
- Director's reception (tel./fax): +94 47 203 1100, + 94 47 203 1133;
- Help Desk: +94 72 031 000;
- Email - [email protected] ;
- Official website – http://www.airport.lk/mria;
- Opening hours: 24 hours a day.
The site interface is similar to the site of Colombo Bandaranaike Airport, because... is one of its sections.
Colombo Ramatlana Airport
The oldest airport in the country today serves domestic flights and air cargo.
- Name – Colombo Ratmalana Airport;
- Location – suburb of Colombo;
- Coding according to IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Association):
- IATA – RML;
- ICAO - VCCC.
Additional Information. A special feature of Sri Lanka airports is that they all have IATA and ICAO codes, even if they have not received international status.
Transport connection
There are different ways to get from the airport to the city or anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Air Taxi
Bus
The most inexpensive way to get out of the airport is the free shuttle that runs between the airport and the city of Katunayaka. You need to take the bus marked Katunayake – Airport. He goes to the city bus station, from where he can go to almost any locality in the country.
You can also leave Bandaranaike Airport for Colombo by express number 187 on the route Colombo - Katunayake. The fare costs 120 Sri Lankan rupees (about $1), and you do not have to pay for luggage. It will take about an hour to drive, it all depends on traffic jams. The express runs on schedule, the first one departs from Bandaranaike at 5-30 in the morning, and the last one at 9-00 in the evening. The last bus from the city to the airport leaves at 8:30 in the evening. The final destination of the route is the central bus station, next to the Colombo Fort railway station. The waiting time for the bus will be from 15 to 30 minutes.
A minibus with the same number runs on a similar route around the clock, the fare is also 120 Sri Lankan rupees, luggage is free. The drive takes 1-1.5 hours, because... it stops at all stops. The end of the route is Colombo railway station.
Important! Very often there are no information signs on buses. Before boarding the bus, ask the driver which route he will take.
Taxi
As elsewhere, the most convenient and fastest way to get from the airport to the city is still a taxi. Taxi drivers stop near the exit from the arrivals hall. Taxi service cost:
- on a regular car – 1,500 Sri Lankan rupees ($10);
- minivan per group – 2000 Sri Lankan rupees ($14);
- tuk-tuk – 1000 Sri Lankan rupees ($7).
The trip will take about an hour, depending on how busy the route is.
Additional Information. If you want to get to the beaches of the Negombo resort, a taxi will cost 1300-1500 rupees ($9-10).
Transfer from/to the airport
If you worry in advance, you can order a meeting at the airport and transfer to the desired location. This can be done on any internet taxi service. The trip will cost $23-40.
Some hotels offer free transfers from/to the airport for their guests, mostly high-level resort hotels.
Car rent
At the airport in the arrivals area there are mini-offices of all the leaders in the car rental market, such as:
- Herz;
- AVIS;
- Budget;
- Europcar;
- Casons;
- RCSL;
- SR Rent A Car.
The cost per day of rental starts from $40, the price depends on the class of the car and additional options.
Parking at the airport
There are 3 open parking lots at the airport, located near the terminals.
- Terminal Car Park – located in front of the first terminal and has a capacity of 400 cars. Parking costs are:
- passenger cars – 200 Sri Lankan rupees per hour;
- minivans and minibuses – 250 Sri Lankan rupees per hour.
- Remote Car Park – located 300 m from the terminal, prices are lower here:
- New Car Park – also a short walk from the terminal, price:
- motorcycle – 50 Sri Lankan rupees per hour;
- passenger car – 100 Sri Lankan rupees per hour;
- minivans and minibuses – 200 Sri Lankan rupees per hour.
Additional Information. Conditions for longer parking must be obtained on site from the parking administration.
Due to the increasing importance of Sri Lanka as a world-class resort, the government plans to further develop air services on the island. The launch of the new terminal in 2017 will increase the airport's capacity to 15 million people per year.
Video
There are several airports in Sri Lanka. The largest is called Bandaranaike. This is the international airport in Colombo. (Western part of the island). This is where planes from Russia arrive.
I will tell you about the airport itself and what else is convenient at Bandaranaike Airport
Name: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport.
There are other names for this airport: Katunayake International Airport (Katunayake), airport in Negombo. This is all the same airport.
Time zone GMT (winter/summer): +5:30/+5:30
Geographic coordinates of the airport: Latitude (7.18), Longitude (79.88)
Location: 35 km north of Colombo
Number of terminals: 1
Postal address: Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka
Airport management telephone: +94 11 225 26 66
Airport information telephone: +94 11 225 28 61
Official website of the airport: www.airport.lk
The airport is small and spacious. What is very convenient for tourists is that it has only one terminal. So, it is impossible to make a mistake: both arrival and departure are in the same place.
The airport has comfortable conditions for tourists. There are toilets, showers, rest rooms, rooms for children, and a smoking room. Snack bars and restaurants. Prayer room. Shops, banks, exchangers, telephone communications, ordering transfers, taxis, excursions. Everything you need for a comfortable arrival at the international airport.
Map of the airport Arrival Hall
Airport map Departure hall
How to get from/to Bandaranaike Airport
The airport is located 35 km from Colombo city.
The easiest way to get to Colombo is by taxi. Parking lot next to the exit from the airport. The approximate cost of a taxi ride to Colombo is 1500 LAN. rupees / 540 rub. (passenger car), 2000 lan. rupees / 720 rub. (minivan) or 1000 lan. rupees / 360 rub. (knock Knock). Information updated as of June 2015.
If you like to plan everything in advance and want to be met at the airport, then you need to book a transfer in advance. You can do this online using the form below. We used their services and liked everything. At the time of booking you need to pay about 15% of the transfer cost, the rest of the amount is paid in cash to the driver.
By expressway you can get from the airport to Colombo by express bus No. 187 direction Colombo - Katunayake or by minibus No. 187.
The express bus fare is 120 rupees, luggage is free. The ticket is sold by the conductor on the bus itself. Travel time ranges from 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on the congestion of the highway - it takes longer to travel during the evening rush hour).
The express bus starts at 5:30, the last bus from the airport is at 21:00, the last bus from Colombo is at 20:30.
The express bus stop is marked on the map above (hover over the red circles and click). The number and direction on the bus are not always indicated, so check with local residents (employees) on site whether it is the right bus. The final bus stop is the Central Bus station. Colombo Fort railway station is nearby.
The minibus runs around the clock along the regular road. Travel time is an hour/hour and a half. The final destination is Colombo Fort railway station.
You can get from Colombo to the airport by the same buses.
Many tourists do not stop in Colombo, but immediately go to relax (30 minutes by taxi) to the beach in Negombo. A taxi to Negombo costs 1380 - 1518 Sri Lankan rupees (Currency of Sri Lanka. Link will be here)
If you still decide to stay in Colombo, then contact your hotel or host. In 99 cases they are ready to provide a transfer.
What else can you do at Bandaranaike Airport?
The airport is a neutral zone. To leave it for the country you need. Sri Lanka is a visa country.
Visa
You can also get a visa at Bandaranaike Airport. Although it's better to do it at home
- at the consulate of the state of Sri Lanka
- or get it online on the official website of Sri Lanka
But cases are different. I'll tell you mine:
When going to Sri Lanka, check your passport in advance. When applying for a visa, Sri Lankans have the following rule: “The validity of your passport after the day of your arrival from the state of Sri Lanka must be at least 6 months.”
I didn’t look at my passport (I just didn’t have it for 6 months), so there were worries in connection with the opening of a visa. I called the consulate, where they offered me different options:
— you can come to the consulate for an appointment and receive a document according to which a visa will be issued for you at the airport
— you need to make a new passport and get a visa at the same airport. But for some reason Sri Lankans don’t like this option. Maybe they don’t want to create a queue at the airport (as they themselves explain).
I chose the option with a new passport, but still checked to see if there would be any problems on the spot. There were no problems. Queues too. It took about 5 minutes to get a visa at the airport.
So, you can get a visa at the airport, but it’s better to clarify the rules. Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly popular among tourists and entry rules may change.
mobile connection
At the airport you can buy a SIM card from the local telephone company. So a card from the Sri Lankan mobile operator DialogEverything costs $10. This money is immediately credited to your account as a deposit. The cost of a call to Russia is about 7 cents per minute. There is access to an international line (*100# country code and subscriber's home number).
There is access to mobile Internet. Using a GPS map is convenient to determine your location and search for attractions.
A call to Ukraine costs approximately $4 per minute - you need to buy another card. Perhaps this is the mobile operator AirTel. Check on the spot!
Money exchange
It is very convenient to exchange most of the money at the airport. Bandaranaika has the best rate. Upon exchange, you will be given a check and a document (something like an invoice). Save these documents.
After the trip, we usually have local money in our hands and it is very difficult to exchange them for rubles or dollars. Either impossible or a very low rate in the city. At the airport, you can exchange the remaining rupees at the same rate as you exchanged upon arrival. You will need to present your receipt and invoice.
Buy souvenirs
At the airport there are souvenir shops with teas, sweets, souvenirs, and national clothing. But prices are no longer the same as in the city, but higher.
Sri Lanka is a popular destination for domestic tourists. It is more convenient to get to the island by plane. As well as moving along it over long distances. International airports are the gateway and face of the country. More details about their work: location, customs clearance, reviews.
Airports on the map
Sri Lanka has 3 airports that have international status. These include:
- Bandaranaike- in Colombo.
- Ratmalana- south of Colombo. The airport has international status, but regular international passenger flights to the airport does not accept. It is used for domestic flights, as well as for charter flights and cargo transportation.
- Mattala Rajapaksa- in Hambantota.
Airports for domestic flights:
- Kogalla.
- Ampara.
- China Bay.
- Vavuniya.
- Jaffna.
There are also other airports, much smaller. Domestic flights operate in charter format called air taxis.
The northern part of the island has 3 airports. 2 are located in the west and east. There are also 2 airports in the south. The central part is mountainous, so there are no airfields there.
International airports
Bandaranaike Airport is located not far from the city of Negombo. It is 35 km away from the city of Colombo. to the south. Location - in the western part of the island. Therefore, it is better for those tourists who are planning their vacation in this part of the country to fly here.
Some tourists unknowingly come to Ratmalana Airport. This is a problem for those who trust Google because it gives the nearest airport to Colombo.
The second international airport, Mattala Rajapaksa, is located in the southeast of the island. The complex is large, but only Flydubai flies here from foreign companies. Tourism is not developing so actively in this part of the island.
Colombo (Bandaranaike Airport)
Among the airports in Sri Lanka, Bandaranaike should be highlighted. This is the main international airport. It is distinguished by coziness and high comfort for visitors. At the same time, it is characterized by Asian fuss.
Official website of the airport: www.airport.lk
Using this busiest airport as an example, we will provide information about work, customs control and reviews from visitors.
Clearing customs
Documents you need to have with you:
- A foreign passport valid for at least 3 months before the end of the trip;
- Flights;
- Insurance;
- Money;
- Certificate from the bank if importing more than $10 thousand per person.
You are allowed to import 20 kg per person. If there is one suitcase for several persons, then its weight should not exceed 32 kg. For excess there will be an additional payment. Hand luggage – up to 5 kg. per person. Upon departure, everything is carefully checked.
Customs restrictions:
- No more than $10 thousand in cash.
- Valuable equipment and jewelry are declared.
- Tobacco products are subject to a duty of 7 rupees per cigarette or 1300 rupees per 1 kg. tobacco
- You can import 6 kg. tea per person.
- Allowed to import 2 bottles of wine or 1.5 liters. strong alcohol.
- Cosmetics are allowed for an amount not exceeding $250.
It is prohibited to import: drugs, ammunition, weapons, pornography, gold.
Export prohibited:
- Antiques;
- Ancient manuscripts and other cultural values;
- Precious stones;
- Animals;
- Plants.
Online scoreboard
Airport plan
Visa at the airport
You can apply for a visa in advance via the Internet. In this case it will cost $30.
For some reason, not everyone is able to obtain a visa in advance. But you can also get it at the airport. But it will cost more. The procedure is simple and not tedious. However, the latter depends on the queue.
Tips for obtaining a visa on arrival:
- Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Cost is $35 per person. Children under 12 years old are free.
- Confirmation of cash for accommodation - in individual cases.
If you have to apply for a visa upon arrival at the airport, you must have a return ticket in hand, in paper form. If you don't have it, the airline may not put you on your flight to Sri Lanka. In other words, there is a risk of not being able to fly away.
Watch a video of a walk through Colombo Airport:
Reviews
Below is information from visitors to the airport in Colombo. People felt the atmosphere and appreciated the quality of the services. Travelers have something to compare with, so their opinion is worth listening to.
Alexander Ivanichev, 34 years old
The flight arrived in the morning, so there were very few people. Luggage is handed out in a spacious hall, and the building itself is spacious. The toilets are basically standard, there is no depressing picture.
There are a large number of kiosks at the exit from the airport building. There you can also find a currency exchange and buy a SIM card for communication. By the way, the Internet on the island is characterized by high speed.
It is better to change money at the airport, since the exchange rate at the hotel is too high. By the way, keep the receipt. When you get ready to go home, you can exchange the money back, if you have any left, at the same rate.
But upon departure the picture was somewhat different. The entrance is located in a different place. There are many duty-free shops there, as well as cafes and restaurants for every taste. However, everything is distinguished by a high price. In principle, nothing surprising for a busy international airport.
As for the hall itself, everything is neat, no worse than in the USA or Saudi Arabia. However, one can feel the Hindu lack of culture, since there are many of them there. Some even sleep on the floor.
Passport control was not without a queue. The waiting room with metal chairs is quite comfortable. It is somewhat reminiscent of Dubai Airport.
Positive points:
- You can easily find a cafe with good food.
- There are many shops with various products, which is interesting for tourists.
Negative sides:
- Prices are higher compared to the rest of the country. But this is true almost all over the world.
- Queues, which is also predictable for an international airport.
Marina Ilyintseva, 41 years old
Due to the nature of my profession, I have to fly a lot. That's why I've seen a lot of airports. As for Columbo, he unexpectedly surprised me in a good way!
Advantages:
- Friendly staff;
- Thoughtfulness;
- Large waiting room;
- Comfort gates.
Flaws:
- Air conditioners do not work everywhere (perhaps they did not have time to service them).
- Expensive shopping area.
The main airport is bustling. It will seem unpleasant to those who have visited only American or European countries. But you just have to get used to the Asian rhythm and everything is fine.
Passport control is fast, especially with a pre-issued electronic permit. All that remains is to fill out the migration card.
There are tons of shops. The prices are good. However, why not buy a TV on vacation, especially in Sri Lanka? You can also find banks for currency exchange here. The rates at the airport are low, so don't miss out. In the future, you can lose money on the island.
Everything at the airport is close by, so you don't have to wander around. There is a feeling of some kind of comfort. There are no labyrinths, nor large corridors.
Duty free shops only accept dollars. The remaining rupees can only be spent in a cafe or to buy souvenirs.
Mattala Rajapaksa Airport
In the southern part of the island, an entire agricultural complex was erected - Mattala Rajapaksa. But despite the scale of construction, the investment was not justified. Therefore, the complex is mainly used for domestic flights.
Official website of the airport: http://www.airport.lk/mria/index.php#page=page-3
The nearest large city is located on the coast - Hambantona. Up to 26 km, which will take about half an hour by taxi. Colombo is 262 km away, which is equivalent to a 4.5 hour drive.
This airport may be convenient for the following reasons:
- For a holiday in the southern part of the country.
- When is it cheaper to fly to Sri Lanka to this airport? But given the cost of tickets from Flydubai, this is unlikely for domestic consumers. But, depending on where you fly from.
- For domestic flights from the western part of the island for sightseeing. For example, to visit Yala it is easier to fly from Colombo to Mattala and then drive. The journey from Mattala will take 2 hours, and from Colombo – 5.
Everyone, without exception, will like the inside - the building is too magnificently built.
Online scoreboard
Ratmalana is a domestic airport serving the city of Colombo. It was the first and only international airport in Sri Lanka until the opening of Bandaranaike at Katunaike in 1967. To date, the airport has been opened for international and charter flights. The airport is located 15 km south of the city of Colombo.
Official website of the airport: http://www.airport.lk/rma/index.php#page=page-3
Koggala Airport
The first flight from Koggala Airport was in 1942. So it is one of the oldest airports in the country. But its runway was built after the end of the war. Koggala Airport is served by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
From the city you can get to the airport by taxi. The complex is used not only for military aviation, but also for domestic flights. The country's government has a plan to modernize the complex so that it meets international requirements. Perhaps over time it will accept international flights.
Finally, we offer you a review of the top 10 best beaches in Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport, also known by its former names Katunayake Airpor or Colombo International Airport, is the island's largest airport, consisting of 3 passenger terminals and 3 runways. The airport is located approximately 30 km north of the central areas of Colombo (the capital of the island). After purchasing tickets, you can simply see the airport code in your tickets (IATA: CMB; ICAO: VCBI; WMO: 43450).
In 2017, the airport's passenger turnover amounted to almost 10 million people. This surge in passengers is mainly due to the development of tourism on the island. Therefore, today many major airlines in Asia and Europe fly here, and a total of 42 airlines operate flights here.
- Aeroflot: flights from Moscow from October 2018
- Ukrainian Airlines: Kyiv
- Emirates: Dubai, Singapore, Male International Airport (Maldives)
- Etihad Airways: Abu Dhabi
- flydubai: Dubai
- Korean Air: Seoul
- Malaysia Airlines: Kuala Lumpur
- Qatar Airways: Doha
- Singapore Airlines: Singapore
- SriLankan Airlines: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Beijing-Capital, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dammam, Delhi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Gan (Maldives), Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Jakarta-Sukarno-Hatta, Jeddah, Karachi, Kochi, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur International, Kuwait, Lahore, London-Heathrow, Madurai, Mahe, Male, Melbourne, Mumbai, Muscat, Riyadh, Shanghai-Pudong, Singapore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchippappalli, Tokyo- Narita, Visakhapatnam
As for the flight, the cost of air tickets from Moscow to Sri Lanka starts from $403 roundtrip; St. Petersburg - Sri Lanka from $496 two ways.
Travel time for a direct flight Moscow - Sri Lanka: 8-9 hours.
All flights arriving at this airport can be seen on the arrivals and departures board on the official website of Bandaranaike Airport Airport.lk.
To visit Sri Lanka, citizens of some countries need a visa, including Russians. An electronic visa can be issued on the official website Eta.gov.lk ($35).
It is important for travelers to know that the local currency is called the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR or Rs): The rupee exchange rate for 2018 is as follows: 1 Euro = 187 rupees; $1 = 162 rupees. 100 rubles = 233 rupees.
Sri Lanka airport terminals
- Terminal 1 is an active international terminal built in 1967 with 12 boarding gates.
- Terminal 2 is a new international terminal scheduled to open in 2019. It is planned that the terminal will have 8 boarding gates.
- Terminal 3 will become the new domestic terminal. The terminal was opened in November 2012.
The airport terminals offer a wide variety of shops and restaurants. For example, there are about 15 electronics stores, Duty Free shops with alcoholic beverages, perfumes, chocolate and tea. In addition, there are souvenir departments and shops with locally produced goods.
As for food, there are not many food places at the airport - about 7. There are restaurants with traditional Indian food, the famous fast food restaurant Burger king, coffee shops, etc. Therefore, if you are very hungry after the flight, you can eat something -have a quick snack.
Below I post a map of the arrivals area of the Sri Lanka airport.
Bus from Sri Lanka Airport to Colombo
From Sri Lanka Airport you can get to the capital of the island, Colombo, by bus using the E03 Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. Buses depart every 15-30 minutes. Approximate bus schedule: 5:30 - 18:30. Thanks to the highway, travel time to Colombo is stated to be 30 minutes. In fact, depending on traffic volume, travel time takes up to 50 minutes.
To travel you will need bus number 167. The bus stop is located near the exit from the arrivals hall. The bus is very hard not to notice, as the inscription Colombo Fort is emblazoned on its windshield. Colombo Fort is the main railway station of Colombo, 250 meters from which is the Colombo Central Bus Stand.
The bus traveling in this direction is red. And it looks pretty decent compared to the many old buses on the island, and it has air conditioning. The only negative is that the bus does not have a luggage compartment, and if you have large, weighty luggage, you will have a hard time.
The fare is 125 rupees ($0.77) per person, the money must be paid to the conductor.
Train from Sri Lanka Airport
Katunayaka South Railway Station is located 5 km from the airport. It is almost impossible to reach the station on foot, and travel by tuk-tuk will cost 1,500 rupees ($9.26). This station belongs to the high-speed electrified railway. Trains from this station arrive at Colombo Fort Railway Station. Trains run approximately once every 2 hours, so taking the train to Colombo is an inconvenient way.
From Sri Lanka airport to island resorts
If you decide to get from the Sri Lanka airport to any resort on your own, then keep in mind that this island is not small, its length is 432 km, width is 224 km. On the map of Sri Lanka you can see where the island's best resorts for a beach holiday are located: Negombo, Hikkaduwa, Wadduwa, Bentota, Unawatuna, Trincomalee, Mirissa, Galle.
Most of these resorts can be reached from the Colombo Fort Main Railway Station or from the nearby main bus station, where bus number 167 arrives, which I described above. I talk about how to understand the intricacies of bus routes in the article “”. In short, most tourists choose luxury air-conditioned express buses to travel between resorts. Because traveling on local old trains and buses is extremely uncomfortable due to smells, music, lack of air conditioning and lack of seats.
Car rental at Sri Lanka airport
If you decide to explore the island in a rented car, you need to be prepared for chaos on the roads and nervous driving. By the way, there are car rental points right at the airport. The car is picked up at one of the 3 airport parking lots.
What do you need to know when renting a car in Sri Lanka?
- You can only rent a car with an international driver's license.
- Know the speed limits in Sri Lanka. In cities: 40 km/h; roads outside the city: 70 km/h; motorways: 70-100 km/h. Speed on motorway E03: 80 km/h.
- Driving in Sri Lanka is on the left.
- I would recommend renting bikes only to experienced drivers and not driving long distances.
- And, if you are afraid of all this chaos, then it is better to rent a car with a driver for the day. This service is available in large cities; the rental cost is approximately $50-70.
- Renting a car per day, for example, from other rental companies, is approximately $20 - 80.
- Diesel fuel 113 rupees ($0.7), gasoline 157 rupees ($0.97).
- Please note that the speed of movement around the island will not be particularly high, because... roads constantly intersect with towns, and there are also traffic jams. In addition, animals often jump out onto the roads: large lizards, dogs, goats, cows and even elephants!
Taxi from Sri Lanka airport
Taxi is the most convenient form of transport to get to your hotel or other destination from the airport.
When leaving the arrivals area, you will see a lot of taxis, these are small cars, mostly Indian made, Tata Nano or Tata Indigo, yellow or grayish in color, with checkered roofs. Travel time to hotels in the center of Colombo is approximately 20-30 minutes without traffic jams.
Taxi fares in Sri Lanka are as follows: 1 km - 50-75 rupees ($0.3-0.46), there is a surcharge for travel outside cities. As of 2016, all taxis in Sri Lanka must be metered.
But be careful when traveling by taxi! Taxi drivers here, as expected, are impudent, and will ask for fabulous sums of up to $100 for travel from the airport. You can and should bargain with them, but they are very uncompromising. In addition, the taxi driver may not take you to the hotel, and in the middle of the way he may demand an additional payment for travel to the hotel or may not give change for a large bill. In general, a wild country and corresponding morals.
If you are traveling on your own and want to get to a hotel comfortably and quickly after a long flight, then you can contact a reliable company with a Russian version of the site and Russian support in advance. A transfer is an opportunity to get to the hotel door safely and without nerves at a fixed price. On the one hand, it may seem that a transfer is more expensive than a taxi at the exit from the arrivals area, but, you understand, no one will take you from the airport at the official price.
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
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Hotels and accommodations near Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
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Taxi to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport
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