Transport in Colombo and how to get around

What transport is available in Colombo and how to get around

Colombo has a developed public transport system in the form of buses, there is even urban railway transport. The fare on them is very inexpensive, the route network is extensive, and they run frequently.

But, in our opinion, both of these types of transport are inconvenient to use during a short trip, and it is much easier to use taxis, tuk-tuks, or rented transport for trips around the city. Let's talk about all the ways, how and what you can get around in Colombo:

On foot

• 🕑 Operating hours: around the clock
• 💵 Fare: free.

In the center of Colombo, especially in the Colombo Fort and Pettah districts, it is quite possible to get around on foot. The distances here are short, the streets are narrow, so sometimes it's even faster and more convenient to walk than to sit in traffic on transport.

However, be careful: there are very few traffic lights here, and drivers hardly yield at pedestrian crossings.

Tuk-tuks

• 🕑 Operating hours: around the clock
• 💵 Fare: from 250 LKR / 0.77 USD.

Tuk-tuks or motorized rickshaws, also known as Bajaj – are motor scooters with a roof designed to carry passengers. This is perhaps the most optimal way to get around in Colombo, and in Sri Lanka in general. They can quite comfortably carry even three people + driver. They are cheaper than car taxis by about a third, or even half, though they are somewhat less comfortable and more dangerous. Firstly, they don't have air conditioning; and secondly, when riding them during rush hour, you'll have to inhale exhaust fumes and swallow dust. But visiting Colombo and not riding a tuk-tuk is simply impossible. Also, finding a tuk-tuk is much easier than finding a car taxi.

Tuk-tuks in theory come with meters and without them (those with meters are sometimes marked with a sticker or a sign "taxi-meter" on the front). But in practice, almost no one uses meters anymore, instead offering rides at a fixed negotiated price or through apps. Through apps is the most convenient, as you immediately see the price of the ride and can be sure you won't overpay.

In Colombo, the PickMe and Uber international version apps work. We advise installing them even at home, they register with Russian SIM cards. If you suddenly have problems with registration, then try selecting the country Kazakhstan (code +7 like Russia), and check the confirmation code not in SMS, but in the WhatsApp app.

Using the apps is very easy, everything is exactly the same as YandexGo and other aggregators. You see the price for the ride immediately, and you can choose a motorbike taxi, tuk-tuk, or car. Payment is in cash at the end of the ride or you can link a card, but Russian cards do not work at all.

Sometimes local tuk-tuk drivers, whom you hire on the street, cheat in a simple way: they seem to agree to the price you named after bargaining, inviting you to get into the tuk-tuk. But when you arrive at the place, the tuk-tuk driver starts demanding a larger amount from you and acts surprised as if he did not agree to your price, but simply offered you to get into the tuk-tuk. It can lead to serious scandals. Therefore, before starting the trip, get an affirmative answer from him that he definitely understood and accepted your price, and for the entire trip, not per person or per kilometer.

Another popular scam from tuk-tuk drivers is offers to ride around the attractions at a very attractive price. For example, you may be offered to ride all day for only 2000 LKR (6.15 USD). But this is an unrealistic price for a ride, realistically you can hire a tuk-tuk driver for a full day from 5000 LKR (15.37 USD). The catch is that you will actually be taken not to attractions, but to shops and salons where you will be "persuaded" to make expensive purchases. You can watch our video about this:

Taxi

• 🕑 Operating hours: around the clock
• 💵 Fare: from 400 LKR / 1.23 USD.

Car taxis are not very common in Colombo, there are far fewer cars than tuk-tuks, but you can find them. It is best to use taxis with a meter (Taxi-meter) or apps.

Often taxi drivers on the street or at tourist places offer rides at a fixed price or say they don't have a meter. It's better to refuse such rides if you don't know the real cost of the trip on the route and don't want to bargain. Well, the best way is to use the PickMe or Uber apps. If you don't have mobile internet, you can use free WiFi at the airport, cafes, hotels to order.

City buses

• 🕑 Operating hours: from 05:00 to 24:00
• 📅 Frequency of service: very frequent
• 💵 Fare: from 40 LKR / 0.12 USD.

Colombo has a good extensive network of city buses, but getting around on them as an unprepared tourist is quite an adventure. Their routes are confusing, there are no air conditioners, they go very slowly and almost always packed, and passengers jump on and off almost on the move. Some buses are suburban and go far outside the city. Although in general this mode of transportation is quite convenient and costs pennies, but the main thing here is to learn how to use them.

The fare is paid in cash to the conductor on board, they will come to you. The cost of the trip depends on the distance and is determined by the conductor, you just need to tell him your destination. Conductors do not always understand tourists, and may simply name the price to the final stop, but even in this case, the trip will be much cheaper than a taxi or tuk-tuk. The minimum fare is currently 40 LKR. Sometimes buses skip stops, so to get off at the right place, you need to tell the driver or press the bell button, usually they are installed on the ceiling.

Buses have a number indicated (without knowledge of routes and a map, this won't help you) and the area where the bus is going. If you decide to use buses, it's better to buy a route map or at least use Google Maps for planning, plotting a route there on public transport. You can also just come to the nearest stop and ask other passengers how to get to the right place. We ourselves used this scheme many times, we were always helped.

And here is a map of bus routes in Colombo for reference, but it is not complete, only the main routes:

Railway transport

• 🕑 Operating hours: from 05:00 to 22:00
• 📅 Frequency of service: according to schedule every 10-40 minutes
• 💵 Fare: from 40 LKR / 0.12 USD.

Colombo has a railway, on which suburban trains run (similar to our commuter trains, but not electric). All of them arrive and depart from the main railway station Colombo Fort, from where you can get to the outskirts of the city.

The southern line is of the greatest interest. From the city center Colombo Fort, trains on it go south along the coast, making fairly frequent stops at city stations. You can get very inexpensively, including to the popular tourist district of Colombo Maunt Lavinia (Mt Lavinia), and it will be much more comfortable and faster than by bus. However, sometimes 3rd class trains are also overcrowded, you have to stand.

Trains on the Colombo Fort – Mount Lavinia route run on schedule many times a day. You can just come to the station and buy a ticket at the ticket office for the nearest train, maybe you'll just have to wait a bit for the next departure. If you want to know the exact schedule, you can check it on the official railway website https://eservices.railway.gov.lk

And if you want to learn more about how to use trains in Sri Lanka, read our guide here.