Sri Lanka is a popular destination for domestic tourists. It is more convenient to get to the island by plane. As well as moving on it for long distances. International airports are the gates and face of the country. More about their work: location, customs clearance, reviews.

Airports on the map

Sri Lanka has 3 airports that have international status. These include:

1. Bandaranaike- in Colombo.
2. Ratmalana south of Colombo. The airport has an international status, but regular passenger international flights the airport does not accept. It is used for domestic flights, as well as for charter and cargo transportation.
3. Mattala Rajapaksa in Hambantota.

Airports for domestic flights:

• Kogalla.
• Ampara.
• China Bay.
• Vavuniya.
• Jaffna.

There are also other terminals, much smaller. Domestic flights operate in a charter format called air taxis.

The northern part of the island has 3 airports. 2 are 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 near the city of Negombo. The city of Colombo is 35 km away. south side. Location - in the western part of the island. Therefore, it is better to fly here for those tourists who are planning their holidays in this part of the country.

Some tourists unknowingly come to Ratmalan Airport. This is a problem for those who trust Google, as it gives the nearest airport to Colombo.

In the southeast of the island is the second international airport - Mattala Rajapaksa. The complex is large, but only Flydubai flies here from foreign companies. Tourism is not so active in this part of the island.

Colombo (Bandaranaike Airport)

Among the airports of 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 has an Asian hustle and bustle.

Official website of the airport: www.airport.lk

On the example of this busiest airport, we will give information about the work, passing through customs control and feedback from visitors.

Customs clearance

Documents you need to have with you:

1. Passport valid for at least 3 months before the end of the trip;
2. Air tickets;
3. Insurance;
4. Money;
5. Bank statement, if more than $10,000 per person is imported.

Per person allowed to import 20 kg. If the suitcase is one for several persons, then its weight should not exceed 32 kg. Overweight will be subject to a surcharge. hand luggage- up to 5 kg. per person. Upon departure, everything is carefully checked.

Customs restrictions:

• No more than $10,000 in cash.
• Valuable equipment and jewelry are declared.
• Tobacco products are subject to a duty - 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 up to $250.

It is forbidden 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

A visa can be issued in advance via the Internet. In this case, it will cost $ 30.

Not everyone, for whatever reason, manages to get a visa in advance. But you can also get it at the airport. But it will cost more. The procedure is simple and not tiring. However, the latter depends on the queue.

Visa on arrival requirements:

1. Arrangement in order of first come first serve.
2. The cost is $35 per person. Children under 12 years old - free of charge.
3. Confirmation of cash for accommodation - in individual cases.

If you have to apply for a visa upon arrival at the airport, then you must have a return ticket on hand, in paper form. If it is not, the airline may not put you on a flight to Sri Lanka. In other words, there is a risk of not flying.

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 issued in a spacious hall, and the building itself is spacious. Toilets are basically standard, there is no depressing picture.

There are a large number of kiosks at the exit of the airport building. There you can also find currency exchange and buy a SIM card for communication. By the way, the Internet is distinguished by high speed on the island.

It is better to change money at the airport, because the exchange rate is too high at the hotel. By the way, keep your receipt. When you are going home, you can exchange money back, if any, at the same rate.

But on departure, the picture was somewhat different. The entrance is located elsewhere. There are many duty-free shops, as well as cafes and restaurants for every taste. However, everything is distinguished by a big 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, Hindu lack of culture is felt, since there are many of them. 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 are interesting for tourists.

Negative sides:

• Prices are higher compared to the rest of the country. But that's the case 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. Therefore, I have seen many airports. As for Colombo, he unexpectedly surprised me in a good way!

Advantages:

• Friendly staff;
• thoughtfulness;
• Large waiting room;
• Comfortable gates.

Disadvantages:

• Not everywhere air conditioners work (perhaps they did not have time to serve).
• Expensive shopping area.

The main airport is bustling. It will seem unpleasant for those who have visited only American or European countries. But one has only to get used to the Asian rhythm and everything is fine.

Passport control is fast, especially with a pre-arranged electronic permit. It remains only to fill out a migration card.

Shops darkness. The prices are pleasant. However, why not buy a TV on vacation, and even in Sri Lanka? Here you can find banks for currency exchange. The rates at the airport are low, so you should not miss the moment. In the future, you can lose money on the island.

Everything is nearby at the airport, so you won't have to wander around it. There is a kind of cozy feeling. There are no labyrinths, as well as large corridors.

Duty free shops only accept US dollars. The remaining rupees can only be spent in cafes or buying souvenirs.

Mattala Rajapaksa airport

In the southern part of the island, a whole agro-complex was erected - Mattala Rajapaksa. But despite the scope of construction, investments were not justified. Therefore, the complex is mainly used for domestic flights.

Airport official website: http://www.airport.lk/mria/index.php#page=page-3

The nearest major city located on the coast is Hambanton. Up to 26 km, which takes about half an hour by taxi. Colombo is 262 km away, which is equivalent to 4.5 hours drive.

This airport can be convenient for the following reasons:

• For holidays in the southern part of the country.
• When the flight to Sri Lanka will cost less to this airport. But given the cost of tickets from Flydubai, this is unlikely for the domestic consumer. But depending on where you fly from.
• For domestic flights from the western part of the island to sightseeing. For example, to visit Yala, it is easier to fly from Colombo to Mattala and then go by car. The road from Mattala will take 2 hours, and from Colombo - 5.

Inside, everyone without exception will like it - 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 Katunayake 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.

Airport official website: http://www.airport.lk/rma/index.php#page=page-3

Koggala airport

The first flight from Koggala Airport was sent in 1942. So this is one of the oldest airports in the country. But its runway was laid after the end of the war. Koggala Airport serves the Sri Lankan Air Force.

You can take a taxi from the city to the airport. The complex is used not only for military aviation, but also for domestic flights. The government of the country has a plan to modernize the complex so that it meets international requirements. Perhaps over time it will accept international flights.

Finally, we offer for viewing an overview of the top 10 the best beaches Sri Lanka:

Any acquaintance of a tourist with an unfamiliar country, with rare exceptions, begins with the airport of arrival. If you are the one who will visit the island of Ceylon for the first time, you, like me in my time, I think it will be very interesting to have a small description of the gate through which the road to the sea, the beach and who else you want will open for you.

Where is?

Geographically located on the outskirts of the business capital of Sri Lanka - the city, at a distance of 31 kilometers in the direction north along the coast. The nearest city is Negombo. The nearest village katunayake .

About inaccuracies

I want to immediately determine that the airport in Colombo, in Negombo, in Katunayaka, as well as the phrase “international”, is equally applicable to one single building that actually exists in only one copy. In such a wide variety of existing names, one can only blame travel companies, which, depending on where the tour is sold, and call the airport accordingly, so that a person has the feeling that he does not have to go long and tiring to his hotel. Thus, if you are relaxing near Colombo, then most likely they will tell you that you are arriving at Colombo airport, but if you choose a hotel near Negombo, it is not difficult to guess what name the tour agent will give you to the question “where are we flying to?”.

A little help wouldn't hurt

I want you to understand right away that the country that you have been reading so much about lately is rather small in size. Most recently, by the standards of history, it survived a rather long and bloody civil war that lasted several decades and ended in 2009. Sri Lanka International Airport, an example of the rapid transformation of a once militarized state, tired of wars, into a modern resort, when the lack of funds is no excuse for developing your country exclusively in a peaceful way.

So, today, with a 100% probability, it will be true that your plane will land at the “Royal Military Airfield”, which, due to the changed situation in the country, the further, the more it becomes a civilian object, which stubbornly and consistently the authorities of the country suggest calling it “Bandaranaike”.

What is it?

Today, “Bandaranaike Airport” (the main name of the airport) already consists of 4 new terminals that serve about 200 civil flights daily from more than 45 countries of the world. More than 20 airlines: daily carry out dozens of flights connecting the island with remote corners of our planet. Today it consists of 4 terminals, which are equipped with the latest technology.

Services

The airport has:

• Visa Center (where you can apply for an ETA visa on arrival);
• Banks with the most favorable exchange rate;
• Car rental and guide services;
• Taxi service.

Luggage storage at the airport

As soon as you leave the main airport building, you will have a canopy above you that stretches to the right and left of the airport building. Actually there are two cameras. One on the left, the second on the right side of the exit. They work alternately, so most likely you won’t guess where to go the first time. Maximum term luggage storage is 45 days, the cost for storage is $1 per day at the exchange rate. Be sure to change dollars in the arrivals area first.

When we arrived and were about to go to, we decided to give away all the winter clothes, of which there was a whole full-weight bag. Neither the first nor the second cells turned out to be open, we went to the police station to clarify what was the matter, it turned out that the "servant" of the storage room dozed off inside, having closed. So we had to come back and knock for 10 minutes until they opened it for us. Be prepared for the fact that in the presence of a policeman your things will be opened and carefully sorted out by hand, times are not calm now, you understand.

Sri Lankan Airlines

One of the first steps in the development of Sri Lanka as tourist country, was the creation of a state-owned airline, which was called very simply “Srilankian airways”.

Today, this company is a confident middle peasant in the world ranking of air carriers. The development of the company cannot be underestimated during the period of origin and implementation of the first, so-called trial tours from Europe. After all, you will agree, after civil war, which left most of the country in ruins, it is very difficult to convince a large airline business to work on its territory. It was thanks to this airline that, in just a few years, Sri Lanka, from an unknown country, from which scarce shocking news about the atrocities of the “Tamil tigers” constantly came, suddenly turned into a very recognizable and unique tourist product that is consumed more and more every year. and more tourists, from an ever-increasing range of countries.

Where to stay

Other airports

Near largest city Sri Lanka has 2 air ports at once - Bandaranaike Airport and Ratmalana Airport. The first is the main international airport in Sri Lanka, passing the main flow through its terminal foreign tourists arriving in the country.

How long is the flight to Colombo from Moscow?

Travel time: 10 hours (1 transfer)
Time difference with Moscow: -1.5 hours

Colombo International Airport (CMB)

Address: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Canada Friendship Road, Katunayake 11450,Negombo,Western Province, Sri Lanka
Phone: +(94 11) 225-28-61

Sri Lanka's main international airport is known by several names: Colombo Airport, Bandaranaike Airport, Katunayake Airport, and Negombo Airport. It is located 35 km. north of Colombo, near the village of Katunayake.

Colombo Airport (zone map and) was originally used as a base for the British Air Force, however, after reconstruction in 1983, it received the status of the largest and most modern airport not only in Sri Lanka, but in the entire region.

More than 20 of the world's largest air carriers operate with Colombo Airport, including Emirates, Air India, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Jet Airways. It is the home hub for the largest airline Sri Lanka - SriLankan Airlines.

Buy a local SIM card and exchange the brought currency for
Sri Lankan rupees are most convenient on the territory of Colombo Airport.

Colombo Airport consists of 1 runway and 1 terminal, equipped with all necessary services, shops and food outlets. Near the terminal of Colombo airport there is a paid car parking, as well as a parking lot for local taxi drivers

Transportation from / to Colombo Airport

From Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo, Negombo and other nearby cities can be reached both by public transport and by taxi.

Public transport - buses to Colombo (No. 240, ticket - 50 lan. rupees / 13 rubles) and Negombo (No. 240, 240/3) depart from the Averivatta bus station, located 500 meters from the terminal building. Shuttle buses run every 15 minutes between the bus station and Colombo Airport Terminal. You can also use the bus number 187 passing by the airport (ticket - 200 lan. rupees / 53 rubles), but before that you need to walk to a stop located on the highway outside the airport.

From Colombo airport to the city can be reached by train. To do this, you need to get (on foot or take a tuk-tuk) to the Katunayaka South station, located 1 km away. from the terminal. From this station for 100 lan. rupees (27 rubles) you can get to Colombo Central Station Colombo Fort.

Bus station and railway station at Colombo airport on the map

Also, directly in the airport building you can order a taxi - a car, minibus or tuk-tuk. The main taxi operator at Colombo Airport is the state-owned Airport and Aviation Services (+(94 11) 225-28-61 ext. 3097), whose desk is located right in the arrivals area. Also, a taxi at Colombo Airport can be ordered by phone at Airport Express (+(94 11) 555-50-50), Quick radio Cabs (+(94 11) 2502888 / 9)

The average cost of a taxi ride to Colombo is 1500 lan. rupees / 398 rubles. (passenger car), 2000 lan. rupees / 531 rubles (minivan) or 1000 lan. rupees / 265 rubles. (knock Knock). Taxi fares to other cities in Sri Lanka can be viewed.

Colombo International Airport on the map

Ratmalana International Airport (RML)

Address: Ratmalana International Airport, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Colombo,Western Province, Sri Lanka
Phone: +(94 11) 262-30-30

Ratmalana is the second largest and most important airport serving main city Sri Lanka, which is also the main base of the local Air Force. Prior to the modernization of Bandaranaike Airport, it remained the country's central airport for a long time.

This Sri Lanka airport is located on the coast, next to the popular beach resort Mount Lavinia, 13 km. south of Colombo. Ratmalan Airport is mainly used for flights by local (Expo Aviation, AeroLanka) or small international carriers.

Due to the lack of regular flights here public transport, you can get from Ratmalana Airport to Colombo either by taxi or by bus that transfers from the hotel.

Sri Lanka Colombo International Airport

The main international airport of Sri Lanka is located in the city of Katunayake, 33 km north of the actual capital of the country, Colombo. Management is run by SriLankan Airlines (the national passenger and cargo carrier). It is at this airport that the bulk of international flights arrive, the second Hambantota International Airport is practically not focused on the arrival of tourists. How to get from the airport to the resort town and how much is a taxi from Colombo airport.

Colombo airport names (CMB)

The international airport has several names, the last two of which are often used to this day:

• Negombo(Negombo International Airport) - the first, British name, after the nearest major city.
• katunayake(Katunayake International Airport) - the second, Ceylon name, in the place of its immediate location.
• Bandaranaike(Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)) is the third Ceylon name in honor of the Prime Minister, still in use today.
• Colombo(Colombo International Airport (CMB)) - fourth official name, used on this moment.

Colombo airport address, location on the map

Address: Colombo International Airport (CMB), Canada Friendship Road, Katunayake 11450

Website: airport.lk

History of Colombo Airport

In 1944, during the Second World War, the history of the largest international airport in Sri Lanka began. The Royal British Air Force built a small airfield in Negombo, which lasted until 1957, when the British left the island, and Solomon Bandaranaike, the 4th Prime Minister of the then Ceylon, whose name the airport is currently named, closed all British military airfields in the country. Negombo Airport was renamed Katunayake after its location and was placed under the control of the Royal Ceylon Air Force.

Between 1964 and 1967, with the help of Canada, a new international airport and national air carrier Air Ceylon began flying with the help of three British airliner corporations. In honor of this, the street in Negombo, directly on which the airport stands, is named "Canada Friendship Road".

In 1970, the airport was named after former Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, but was then renamed Katunayake International Airport in 1977. Further, in 1995, it was again renamed back to the International Airport. S. Bandaranaike. The first tourist flight accepted by Bandaranaike Airport is considered to be a flight on November 7, 1971 - then the first Boeing 747-200B brought German tourists from Frankfurt to Colombo.

Colombo International Airport Map

The maps below are diagrams of the departure and arrival zones of the international airport. Bandaranaike (BIA) in Sri Lanka. The international airport was built in the suburbs of Colombo - the city of Negombo in 1944 and was named after the Prime Minister of Ceylon Sirimavo Bandaranaike - Bandaranaike International Airport. However, the airport was later renamed Katunayake, after its location. And, although the airport is located in the suburbs of Colombo in Negombo, the name "Colombo Airport" (CMB) is most often found.

Colombo Airport Arrivals, Sri Lanka

Resolution: 2136*1593

Open the map of the Arrivals area at the airport Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo International Airport is a fairly modern and large transport hub that receives both international and local routes. For the convenience of travelers, the arrivals area is equipped with an evaluator, at the exit from the hall there are currency exchange points, operators' offices mobile communications, as well as a round-the-clock desk of the official airport taxi.

Colombo airport departure area, Sri Lanka

Resolution: 2126*1737

Open the full size map of the Departures area in Colombo airport in a new tab.

Colombo Airport Terminals (CMB)

The airport has 4 terminals:

1. Terminal 1 (opened in 1967) is the largest of the two operating terminals, it has 12 gates that currently serve all international flights with a horizontal system of separation of departure and arrival zones. Over time, after the opening, it is planned to transfer international flights to the second terminal.
2. Terminal 2 (opening planned). The plans include the opening of a terminal with 8 gates with a vertical system for separating departure and arrival zones.
3. Terminal 3 (opened in 2012) - the smallest of the two operating terminals, serves all domestic flights countries. Horizontal system for separating departure and arrival zones.
4. cargo terminal (opened in 2009) - to handle cargo flights, it also has a horizontal zone separation system.

List of passenger airlines

This list of passenger air carriers is indicated with departure from terminal No. 1 of Colombo airport.

Airlines		Directions
	Air Arabia	Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
	AirAsia
		Chennai, India
	Air India Express	Chennai, India
	Air China	China
		London-Gatwick, England Male (Male), Maldives
		Hong Kong, China
	China Southern Airlines	China
	China Eastern Airlines	Kunming, China Male (Male), Maldives
		Male (Male), Maldives Singapore (Singapore), Singapore
	Etihad Airways	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
		Dubai - International airport (Dubai-International), United Arab Emirates
	Gulf Air	Bahrain
	Indigo	Cities of India
		Chennai, India Mumbai, India
		Male (Male), Maldives, Seoul - Incheon International Airport (Seoul-Incheon), South Korea
	KLM	Amsterdam, Netherlands
		Kuwait, Kuwait Muscat, Oman
		Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
	Malindo Air	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
		Muscat, Oman
		Doha, Qatar
		Amman - International a / p im. Queen Alia (Amman-Queen Alia), Jordan
		Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
	silk air	Singapore (Singapore), Singapore
		Chennai, India, Madurai, India.
		Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi International Airport (new) (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi), Thailand Beijing Capital - International Airport (Beijing-Capital), China Bangalore, India Chennai, India Dammam, Saudi Arabia Delhi, India Doha, Qatar Dubai - International airport (Dubai-International), United Arab Emirates Frankfurt, Germany Guangzhou, China Hong Kong, China Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Karachi, Pakistan Kochin, India Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kuwait, Kuwait London - Heathrow, England Male, Maldives Madurai, India Mumbai, India Muscat, Oman Paris (Paris-Charles de Gaulle), France Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Rome - Fiumicino, Italy Shanghai - Pudong International Airport (Shanghai-Pudong), China Singapore (Singapore), Singapore Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum (Thiruvanathapuram), India Tiruchipalli, India Tokyo - Narita International Airport (Tokyo-Narita), Japan
	Thai Smile Air	Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi International Airport (new) (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi), Thailand
		Istanbul - International a / p im. Ataturk (Istanbul-Atatürk), Turkey
	Ukraine International	Ukraine

The main international airport of Sri Lanka, Bandaranaike, is located 35 km from the city of Colombo. There are several options to get from the airport to Colombo or vice versa - from the city to the airport. Each option has its pros and cons, and its price. Someone will prefer the economy option by bus, someone prefers a comfortable taxi ride.

From this article you will learn:

1 | Budget option to get from the airport to Colombo - bus

During the daytime, the so-called "express bus" number 187-E3 runs between the airport and the central bus station of Colombo.

Express bus schedule Airport - Colombo: every 30 minutes, from 5:30 am to 8:30 pm (times are approximate, as there is no clear schedule). The last bus from the airport leaves at approximately 20:30, from Colombo towards the airport I rode last bus at 18:00.

Express bus from Colombo to airport

Bus fare- 120 rupees (~$0.85).

Bus trip duration- 1 hour. But if the bus is not full, the driver may make several stops to pick up passengers. My personal experience trips on this bus showed that the road from Colombo to the airport can take up to 2.5 hours (and it’s good that I didn’t miss the plane).

Comfort level in the bus Airport - Colombo: heartbreaking clips are shown on TV all the way, the air conditioner is working at maximum (take something to wear so as not to freeze). While the bus was at the station, vendors of traditional goodies walked around the cabin.

How to find the bus stop Airport - Colombo:

• at the airport, the bus stop is located 50 meters to the left of the arrivals area. You need to exit the arrivals area and go along the building to the left. From the corner of the building you should already be able to see the buses parked a little ahead and to the right (the coordinates of the bus stop on the map are 7.174812, 79.888673).
• from Colombo, the bus departs from the central bus station in the Pettah area (Colombo Central Bus Stand), which is located near the Colombo fort railway station (the coordinates of the bus station on the map are 6.934858, 79.854641).

What to know before traveling by bus from the airport to Colombo or vice versa: government bus with the inscription SLTB (Sri Lankan Transport Board) on the windshield travels only during the day. At night, you can get from the airport to Colombo by private buses or minibuses under the number 187 or 187-E3, which usually park at the airport a little further than the state bus. If you travel from Colombo to the airport, then private buses can be found in front of the central bus station at the Bastian Mawatha Bus station.

2 | Taxi at the airport (upon arrival)

Where to get a taxi at the airport: there is a taxi stand in the arrivals hall with official fixed taxi prices to Colombo and other cities in Sri Lanka. If there is a queue at the counter, feel free to go outside. There is another window for ordering a taxi (their prices are exactly the same).

Taxi stand in international airport Colombo

Personal experience showed that a taxi car can be very shabby. It is difficult to call comfortable riding on low, loose seats without headrests, in a car that is long overdue to be washed and thrown away with a bunch of stinking rubbish.

Taxi fare depends on where exactly you need to go in Colombo. The trip "Airport - Colombo Fort" costs 2650 rupees (~$18). Additionally, travel on the expressway is paid - 300 rupees (~ $ 2).

3 | Private transfer from airport to hotel

Transfer (a pre-booked taxi from the airport to the hotel) will cost only a little more than a classic taxi at the airport. At the same time, the transfer has several significant advantages:

• you choose and order a car of a certain brand and size according to your preferences;
• you are met at the airport with a sign and help with luggage - there is no need to look for a taxi stand or stand in line waiting for a car;
• the driver thinks over the route in advance and knows which hotel to take you to, and does not ask passers-by how to get there (I personally encountered this).

The cost of a transfer from Bandaranaike Airport to a hotel in Colombo: from $21 per car.

You can book a comfortable taxi from the airport to your hotel on the website.

4 | From the airport to Colombo by train

From Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo, you can also take the train. But this is not the easiest way, as there are a number of nuances.

nearest railroad station located 3 km from the airport. Therefore, you still need to get there or get there. To get to the station, the cheapest way is to use a tuk-tuk. But since tuk-tuks are forbidden to enter the airport, you yourself need to go to them. 3 km by tuk-tuk to the Katunayake Railway Station will cost 150 - 300 rupees (the price must be negotiated before getting into the tuk-tuk and be sure to bargain).

There are about 10 trains to Colombo during the day (the first at 7 am and the last at 8 pm). The fare on the train is 30 rupees (~$0.20). The train will take you to Colombo Fort Central Station. Then you still need to somehow get to your hotel.

5 | What is the best transport to get from the airport to Colombo

If you are light, do not rush anywhere, prefer to save money - you can take a bus. So you will immediately plunge into the local flavor and appreciate the delights of local transport.

If you are traveling with children or bulky suitcases, after a long flight you want to get to the hotel as soon as possible - and start your holiday in Sri Lanka with a comfortable and quick trip from the airport to the hotel.

Love to travel by car? In Sri Lanka, you can get it at the Colombo airport.

6 | Tools that will save you time and money:

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