How To Get From Colombo Airport To City Center Best Way

How To Get From Colombo Airport To City Center Best Way – You can go by bus, taxi and private transfer.

What Is The Distance From Colombo Airport To City Center?

The distance from Bandaranaike International Airport to the city center is 35 kilometers. Click here to book online Sri Lanka activities and day trips

The travel time by taxi from Colombo airport to city center is around $15 USD and it will take 35-40 minutes. Read here things to do in Sri Lanka

What Is The Cheapest Way From Colombo Airport To City Center?

The cheapest way from Colombo Airport to city center is by bus for less than $1 USD and it will take 1 hour.

Read here Sri Lanka sim card for tourist and how to get from Colombo airport to Galle and Colombo airport to Negombo

WHERE TO STAY IN SRI LANKA

You can get accommodation starting from $15-20 USD for a room in a guesthouse. If you are two of you traveling in Sri Lanka it will be $10 USD each.  If you are looking for budget accommodation in Sri Lanka you can also try AirBnB starting from $15 USD.

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HOW TO GET FROM COLOMBO AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

If you are getting to Sri Lanka at Colombo International Airport (Bandaranaike International Airport) you will have a few options to get from Colombo Airport to city center by bus, taxi, Grab and private transportation.

Bus From Colombo Airport to City Center

Express Bus From The Airport

The bus from Colombo airport to city starts at 5 30 am until 8 30pm and it’s running every 30 minutes. To get the bus you have to cross the pedestrian walk to the other side of the road where the bus will stop. You will see a few more people going there.

The bus fare from Colombo airport to city is 130 LKR which is less than $1 USD. And it will take around 1 hour depending on the traffic. The bus will stop in the Central Bus Station, Pettah Fort, and Colombo Fort Station. If you are going from Colombo city center to the airport you can also get the bus in these stops.

If you are getting to Sri Lanka in this Bus Express schedule from 5 30 am until 8 30 for sure it’s a great option if you aren’t bringing so much luggage.

Public Bus Number 187

The Public ordinary Bus Number 187 costs 100 LKR and it runs 24 hours every 45 minutes. But it’s not available at the airport you will have to walk 1 kilometer until Katunayake Bus Stop or you can get the Free Shuttle from the airport to the Bus Terminal.

It will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes since it has so many stops. Sometimes the driver try to overcharge for the luggage and it can be crowded. It’s not only this ordinary bus going to the airport but also in general traveling in Sri Lanka. They aren’t so comfortable but so affordable for those ones traveling on a budget.

I don’t recommend this option if you are bringing so much luggage since the ride is so long much better the Express Bus faster for only a few cents of dollar.

Taxi From Colombo Airport To City

You can get a taxi from Colombo airport to city for 2500-3000 LKR which is around $15 USD you can book online. Just make sure you agree the price and you have good negotiation skills making clear your final destination.

I personally wouldn’t recommend going by taxi from Sri Lanka airport since they always try to overcharge. I would go by Pick Me or Uber since I find easier. It will take 40 minutes from Bandaranaike International Airport to city center to drive 35 kilometers.

Uber And Pick Me From Colombo Airport To City

You can use Uber and Pick Me for transportation from Colombo airport to city. These apps are so useful and they are usually cheaper than a taxi and you will know the exact price to your final destination with no overcharge. The fare from the airport to the city can be from 1800-2000 LKR which is around $10 USD.

Pick Me is so popular between locals in Sri Lanka because it has better rates than Uber. It will take 40 minutes to get to city center. You can ask for a ride to the airport and you don’t have to go outside in other countries Uber it’s not allowed to pick inside the airport passengers.

Click here to book your transfer from Colombo International airport!

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IN SRI LANKA

Transportation is incredibly cheap in Sri Lanka. Buses and train rides will cost you $3-5 USD for long distances. The most challenge thing is dealing with the tuk tuk drivers. They always try to hike up the prices especially with foreigners, just be calm if they do and ask around about how much is the usual price so you can avoid paying absurd prices for the ride. 

Trains and buses are super crowded and sometimes you will have to go standing for a few minutes or a few hours like riding the bus from Ella to Matara. And also the famous train ride from Kandy to Ella.

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Happy Travels!