Getting to Trincomalee, transportation

Trincomalee is about 270 kilometers from Colombo and 240 from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (Trincomalee on the map of Sri Lanka). The city is well connected by public transport with other resorts and major cities of the country, but sometimes to get from somewhere, you have to make transfers. Within one light day you can get to Trincomalee from almost anywhere in the country, the main thing is to leave early and plan the route correctly. Here is a brief description of the ways to get from different places in the country:

• Colombo airport. Go directly by taxi, or transfer to a bus or train via Colombo.
• From Colombo. You can get there by direct bus or night train, 8-10 hours on the way. Buses leave every 30-60 minutes during the day, and several times at night. You can also take the day train to Batikaloa, and there change to the bus.
• From Negombo. Several times a day there are buses, 7-9 hours on the way. By train only connecting via Colombo.
• From the resorts of the south and South-West (Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Galle, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Tangale, etc.). There is a direct bus number 49 from Tangale via Colombo that goes through all the resorts on the coast, departs twice a day early in the morning. Or go to Colombo with a transfer by train or bus.
• From Kandy. At least 7 times a day there are direct buses No. 45, 5-7 hours on the way.
• From Anuradhapura. Very frequent bus service, 2-3 hours on the way.
• From Badulla. Direct bus #218.
• From Jaffna. There are direct buses, or you can get there with a transfer by train+bus or bus+bus via Vavuniya or Anuradhapura.
• From Ella. Direct bus once a day at 17:50, or take a bus or train to Kandy, and change to a bus there.
• From Nuwara Eliya, Haputale and other cities of the center. Take a bus or train to Badulla or Kandy and change to a bus there. It is also possible to take a bus to Guadaloa, and change the bus there.
• Arugam Bay. With a transfer by bus to Batikaloa or Kalmunai, go often and quickly.
• Dambulla, Sigiriya. There is a passing bus from Kurunegala twice a day.
• Polonnaruwa. There is no direct transport, take buses with a transfer in Anuradhapura, or go to Habarana where you take a passing bus from Kurunegala.

And now more about each of the ways to get to Trincomalee:

✈ By plane

The country's main and only international airport is Colombo Bandaranaike airport (airport on the map). It operates regular direct and connecting flights from Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation and CIS countries. Direct flights are operated only by Sri Lanka airlines, and it is more expensive than flying with a transfer, so if you want to save money, it is better to buy a transfer flight. Pick up flights to Sri Lanka, including transfers at the best price, you can use the search form from the best Russian search engine Aviasale:

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 45278 ₽	1 пересадка		18.06.2026	16.07.2026
Купить от 54858 ₽	1 пересадка		09.07.2026	16.07.2026
Купить от 54684 ₽	1 пересадка		09.08.2026	08.09.2026
Купить от 51095 ₽	2 пересадки		25.09.2026	08.10.2026
Купить от 52732 ₽	1 пересадка		07.10.2026	22.10.2026
Купить от 51416 ₽	2 пересадки		30.11.2026	21.12.2026

Theoretically it is also possible to fly to a small local airport (Trincomalee Airport, also China Bay Airport, airport on the map), where several flights a week are operated by small propeller aircraft or helicopter from Ratmalana Airport, which is located in the south of Colombo. But in fact, this method is not very convenient, and in time and cost it will be even worse than immediately taking a taxi from Bandaranaike to the resort.

But if you still decide, then the following airlines operate at Ratmalana airport:

• HeliTours - regular flights three times a week, charter booking
• FirstAir - charters only
• SimplyFly (Millenium Airlines) - charters only

You can also take a charter flight directly from Bandaranaike airport.:

• Cinnamon Air
• SimplyFly

How to get from Trincomalee airport

Bandaranaike airport is located 240 kilometers from Trincomalee. The only way to get from it directly is by taxi. By bus or train you will have to go with a transfer to Colombo.

To get a taxi, you can use the order at the counter at the airport in the arrivals hall. The price is fixed (not by the counter), they usually ask for $ 140 for two (140 USD), but you can bargain. Be sure to make sure before the trip that you haggled to the right price, and it will be a fee for all, not for one. You can get there much cheaper if you order a taxi through the Uber or PickMe apps (see for more information about taxis in Sri Lanka). A trip via Uber or PickMe in the afternoon will cost from 10 00 rupees (30.22 USD, see Sri Lankan currency), but at night this taxi is usually not available.

If you do not want to get involved with local cunning taxi drivers, you can book a tourist transfer in advance. This is almost the same as a taxi, but more comfortable. The driver will be waiting for you upon arrival, will meet you with a sign, and will take you to the desired hotel in Trincomalee without unnecessary questions and problems with the language barrier. You can book such a transfer through the search form from Kiwitaxi:

If the budget does not allow you to get by taxi or tourist transfer, then you can get quite budget, but you will have to make a transfer to Colombo.

The easiest way to go by bus. To do this, from the airport you need to take bus number 187. Large state buses run along this route often during the day, and at night small private minibuses run once an hour. Their stop is located directly opposite the exit from the arrival terminal, you just need to cross the road. And do not believe taxi drivers or "helpers" who say that there is no bus. Cost from 100 rupees (0.3 USD), and in private buses they can also request payment for large luggage and an increased fare at night, but you can bargain. The real price is not more than 150 rupees.

The 187 bus will take you to the centre of Colombo to one of the two bus stations (public and private), both are nearby within a 5 minute walk. Private minibuses end up at the private bus station, and large public ones go to the state bus station and drive a little further to the railway station, so you need to get off before the final stop. At any of these bus stations, you need to change to a bus to Trincomalee, which leaves during the day 30-60 minutes, and several times at night.

There is an option with a transfer by train, but there is only one direct train: night at 21:30 , arrives in Trincomalee at 05:30. There is also an option with a transfer by train, see below. Trains depart from Colombo fort Railway Station. To get to it, you also need to take bus number 187 from the airport and go to the final one on a large state bus, or on a private minibus number 187 to their final one, and walk 10 minutes on foot to the railway station. Tickets for seated 2nd and 3rd classes are purchased one hour before departure, for sleeping first class only in advance.

🚌 By bus

This is the best way to get to Trincomalee from Colombo airport or from other resorts in Sri Lanka. The route from the airport will take about 8 hours, while you will spend a little more than 5000 rupees with a successful scenario (15.11 USD).

You can get by bus from almost any city in Sri Lanka, but not always directly. Sometimes you have to go with transfers, but in any case during daylight you can get from anywhere. For transfer schemes when traveling from different resorts, see above.

Buses arrive and depart from the bus station in the city center (bus station on the map). From here, hotels within the city limits can be reached on foot or by tuk tuk (up to Rs 200), Upuveli or Nilaveli can be reached by commuter bus to Pulmodai (Pulmodai, also Pulmudei). They depart directly from the bus station platform from 04:30 to 19:30 hours with a frequency of 30-60 minutes, cost from 44 rupees. Tuk-tukers ask for a trip to Upuveli 400 rupees, to Nilaveli from 1000.

The bus schedule does not exist online, moreover, it often changes, so you can finally find out only from local residents on the spot or already at bus stations. Here is the timetable information at Trincomalee bus station for the landmark as of May 2019:

• Colombo. They depart every 30-60 minutes during the day, and several times at night, 7-8 hours on the way. Cost from 357 rupees simple bus, 1070 rupees air conditioned private.
• Jaffna. Direct flights (via Vavuniya) from 4 am to 7 pm every 1-3 hours, 6 hours on the road, from 350 rupees. If there are no direct flights at the right time, then go with a transfer through Vavuniya.
• Vavuniya and Anuradhapura. Approximately every hour, a journey of 2 hours, from 150 rupees.
• Tangalle. Two buses leave early in the morning (approximately 6 and 7 am), and go through Dikwela, Matara, Mirissa, Weligama, Koggale, Unawatuna, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Colombo. On the road all day, from 600 rupees.
• Kandy. 7 buses per day with departure from 03:00 to 15:00, 4-5 hours on the way, from 250 rupees.
• Kurunegala. It takes you to / from Dambulla, Sigiriya. Departs twice a day after lunch, from Rs 230.
• Hambantota. Once a day at 19:00 a night bus is poisoned, goes through Ella and Badulla, from 600 rupees.
• Kalmunai and Apara via Battikaloa. From 3:00 to 18:00 approximately every hour.

🚆 By train

A railway line connects Trincomalee with Colombo. It is served by the only direct daily train via Habarana and Guadaloa: departure 21:30 , arrival 05:30. The cost is 285 and 450 rupees in seated third and second class respectively. Tickets are purchased at the ticket office at the stations immediately before departure.

If a direct night flight does not suit you, then you can get there with a transfer:

• 1. From Colombo, take the train to Bangalore (depart 06:05, approx 14:45 and depart 19:00, approx. 03:55), and there transfer to the bus to Trincomalee (departure every hour).
• 2. From Colombo, take the train to Galoya Junction station (this is the train Tooa, depart 06:05, approx 11:36), and from there change to the train to Trincomalee (depart 06:05, approx 11:36). 12:00, approx. 13:40).

Since the schedule may change, you can check it on the official website of the railway of Sri Lanka - https://eservices.railway.gov.lk. There is no need to buy tickets in advance, there are almost always places in this direction. An exception can only be the period of the New Year.

The train station in Trincomalee is located in the city center (Station on the map). To get from it to the hotel in the city, you can use a tuk-tuk for 200 rupees. To reach the beaches of Nilaveli and Upuveli, take a bus to Pulmodai (Pulmodai, also Pulmudei). Buses depart from the bus station from 04:30 to 19:30 hours with a frequency of 30-60 minutes, cost from 44 rupees pass along the Main Street near the railway station.

Read more about traveling by train in Sri Lanka...

And here are the train and bus schedules in Trincomalee available for online booking:

Transport

To move around Trincomalee transport is not needed, the city is not very large. But since the main resort area is located on the beaches of Upuveli and Niaveli, transport will still be needed.

There is no car taxi in Trincomalee, it is replaced by tuk-tuks. A tuk-tuk ride within the city limits should not cost more than 100 rupees (0.3 USD), from the center to Upuveli 400, Nilaveli from 1000. But with the drivers of tuk-tuks you need to bargain, tourists are called inflated prices.

It is much cheaper to travel between the beaches by local bus Trincomalee-Pulmodai. He goes from 04:30 to 19:30 hours with a frequency of 30-60 minutes on the main road, the beaches themselves do not call. Travel costs from 44 rupees depending on the distance. Payment is made to the conductor in the cabin, you need to name the destination.

In Trincomalee, you can rent a low-power motorcycle (Motobike). There are many places to rent, but not in the city itself, but on the beaches of Nilaveli and Upuveli. The standard price is 2200 rupees per day (6.65 USD), but if you bargain or search, you can find it for 3200. On Nilaveli beach you can find rent even for 2000 rupees. As a pledge, they usually do not ask for anything, the contract is not concluded, everything is on your word of Honor.

In theory, to drive a motorcycle in Sri Lanka, you need at least an international license (International Driving Permit), which are presented with a national driving license. If they are not, then you can get a temporary permit on the spot and on the basis of ordinary Russian (national) rights in Colombo, but you must have an open category "A". Read more about renting motorcycles in Sri Lanka and what rights you need here...