1. Sri Lanka
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  3. How to get from the airport

How and how to get from Colombo airport to resorts

Colombo Airport is not located in the code itself, but 35 kilometers from it in the town of Katunayake (see the airport on the interactive map). Even closer to it is the resort town of Negombo. And it is Negombo, not Colombo, that more often becomes the first stopover for rest after a flight.

Unfortunately, public transport for airport services is poorly developed: there are no airport express buses to Colombo, there is no railway. Getting to the right place in Sri Lanka from the airport is not always easy and cheap, but there are still options. Here are all the ways to get from the airport inexpensively and on what:

Read also our separate instructions on the topic:

We have many more such instructions for all resorts in Sri Lanka, read them on the links in our guidebooks.

🚖 By taxi

Colombo Airport Taxi

If finances allow, then this is the best way to get to any place in Sri Lanka. Cost from $18 (up to Negombo) and up to $ 240 (a trip to the NationalYala Park). You can order a taxi at the counter in the exit area of the terminal, you can agree to a trip with private traders, but carefully coordinate the price.

To order, you can use the Uber and PickMe applications, which even includes tuk-tuks. By installing it at home, you can order a car right at the airport using free airport WiFi. Prices via apps are lower than airport taxis or cars on the street. For example, you can get to the Colombo city center for 3000 rupees in the afternoon (9.06 USD), to Negombo for 700 rupees. The price of tuk-tuks is still about 30% lower.

Here are the prices from the airport to popular resorts for a guide (the price is per car, not per person)

If you are determined to save money, you can check the price of a taxi on arrival in both applications, and already relying on it to bargain with taxi drivers in the parking lot. Although, of course, this does not guarantee at all that they will necessarily agree to a trip at a price lower than the application, this is already a matter of luck.

Well, if you don't care much about the price of the issue, and comfort is a priority, then instead of a taxi, you can use the service of ordering tourist transfers. This is an analogue of a taxi, but with an increased level of service, a meeting at the airport with a sign, and Russian-language support. You can check prices and order on the websites Kiwitaxi or Intui.travel, or via the search form:

🛺 On tuk-tuk

Tuk-tuk at Colombo Airport

Immediately upon leaving the parking lot outside the airport, it is 100 meters from the exit, you can catch a local tuk-tuk that will be ready to take you anywhere. Tuk-tukers will even meet you immediately upon leaving the arrivals hall, and will take you to their transport.

The fare in tuk-tuks is almost two times lower than by car taxi, but it is necessary to bargain for a long time. Don't be surprised if they initially ask for a price even higher than a taxi. Therefore, you should bargain and bargain. Or just order a tuk-tuk through the Uber or PickMe apps, you will immediately see the price there.

However, we do not recommend using a tuk-tuk for long-distance travel due to inconvenience. They have little space for large luggage, and they are of an open type. That is, it's one thing to drive 50 kilometers per hour to Colombo, and it's another thing to drive 4-6 hours to Trincomalee, it will be very difficult.

🚌 By bus

Night bus No. 187

With buses at Colombo airport, not everything is favorable, but it is the cheapest way to get away from here. Moreover, you can get anywhere in the country, but in most cases with transplants.

Before you go by bus, we advise you to study our guide about Sri Lankan buses and how to use them, and then you will know everything. The article also includes a video tutorial about Sri Lankan buses.

  • Colombo Bus No. 187

    There is a bus route No. 187 from the airport to Colombo. It departs often during the day, and about 1 time per hour at night, 50 minutes on the way. The cost is 290 rupees (0.88 USD), plus they can request payment for large luggage. Their stop is located between the domestic and international terminals, it is to the right of the exit from the international terminal about 50 meters away. That is, get out of the terminal after arrival, and immediately go along the building to the right, do not miss the stop (parking of 187 buses on the map).

    Bus stop No. 187 at Colombo Airport

    There are even cheaper city and large buses No. 187, they cost from 100 rupees. But they depart from the Avariwatta bus station 2 kilometers from the airport exit. But more on that below.

    In Colombo, bus No.187 arrives in the city center in the Pettah area at a stop near the main bus station and railway station (bus stop 187 in Colombo on the map). From here you can continue to any point of the country by bus or train. You can get to the hotel in Colombo from here on foot, by city buses or call a tuk-tuk through applications.

  • Other buses from the airport

    In addition to No. 187, other buses do not depart directly from the airport terminal. But to leave here by bus to any other place in Sri Lanka is not a problem. You just have to do transplants.

    One option is to take the bus number 187 to the center of Colombo, and then transfer to the bus or train to where you need to go.

    Another option is the airport station Averiwatta (Avariwatta). This bus station is located two kilometers from the airport (Averivatta bus station on the map). You can get to it by tuk-tuk for 100 rupees or even on foot with a light backpack in 20-30 minutes.

    And this is the Averiwatta or Avariwatta bus station

    There are a lot of local buses leaving Averivatta station, and theoretically, with transfers, you can get anywhere from here during the day. But after a hard flight, it will certainly not be easy. Direct buses to Averivaty run at least to Colombo (bus 187), Negombo and Kandy (bus 01). There is also a bus to Kurunegala, where you can transfer to other intercity routes. In general, in all these cities you can change the bus and go further.

    Which city should I choose to transfer to:

    There are no scoreboards or timetables at Averiwatta Station. Buses depart constantly, but only during the day. To find the bus you need, just tell the people at the station the name of where you need to go, and they will take you to the bus you need.

    Finally, next to the airport exit to the left on the main road there is another useful bus stop with the name "18Th Mile Post" (stop "18Th Mile Post" on the map). At least the passing bus No. 01 from Kandy to Negombo and back stops there. So if you need to go to Kandy or Negombo, you can go to this stop, it is closer than Averivata. True, buses run less often from here, you may have to wait an hour.

🚆 🚆 By train

Train from the airport

Approximately three kilometers from the arrival terminal is the railway station Katunayaka South (station on the map), from where you can get to Colombo, Negombo and Maravila. Moreover, if you are lucky with the departure of the train, you will arrive in the city even faster than by bus. The train passes there several times a day. You can check the schedule here - https://eservices.railway.gov.lk

You can get from the terminal to the railway station Katunayaka South station by tuk-tuk for 200 rupees or 3 kilometers on foot. At the station, buy a ticket for the next train to Colombo and wait for it. All trains are passing here and are usually late. These are the cheapest commuter trains like our electric trains with seats without a guaranteed seat, but usually they run almost empty. The ticket price starts from 50 rupees.

Colombo Fort Railway Station in Colombo

But if you want to get to other places in Sri Lanka besides Colombo, Negombo and Maravila, then it's best to start by train from the main junction railway station of the country Colombo Fort Railway Station in the center of Colombo. About this railway station we have a separate guide-instructions here, you will find out everything there. You can get to this station in any of the ways described above, including by bus number 187. From the bus stop to the railway station you will have to walk a few hundred meters.

✈ By plane

The plane in Sri Lanka

From Colombo Airport you can get to other parts of the country on small propeller planes. There are two local airlines operating on the routes.

If their offers do not suit you, but you still want to fly through Sri Lanka by plane or helicopter, you can use the flight from Ratmalana Airport, where you can take a taxi for $ 30. Companies operate flights from there:

However, it is fair to say that flights around the country are not very justified both in terms of cost and time. Given the size of Sri Lanka, in fact, in most cases it is faster and cheaper to get to the right place in the country by taxi than to fly. Flights by airplanes and helicopters are rather more interesting as sightseeing tours for sightseeing from a height.

🚗 Car rental

Rented car in Sri Lanka

There are rental offices at the airport, so you can get a car immediately upon arrival and go to the place of rest behind the wheel. To drive a car, you need an International Driver's License (IDP or International Driving Permit) in the form of a booklet, which can be obtained at home in addition to national rights. In Russia, IDUs are issued by units of the REO traffic police (traffic police) without re-passing exams and medical commissions, only valid national rights are needed. The easiest way to issue an IDP is through the website of the State Service, pay a fee of 3200 rubles there, after which it will only be necessary to arrive at the appointed time at the selected department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and immediately get an IDP on the spot. For more information about what rights are needed in Sri Lanka, read the instructions here...

You can rent a car online and get it at the airport upon arrival at one of these reliable car rental search and booking aggregators:

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