Getting around · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Getting around Colombo
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Colombo stretches about 15 km along the coast, with most visitor areas strung along Galle Road. Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way around; the Fort, Pettah and Galle Face can be walked, and coastal trains are a scenic way south. Not for the city.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tuk-tuk
- Airports
- CMB
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Tuk-tuk
Three-wheelers are everywhere; many in Colombo have meters, and app-booked tuk-tuks show the fare in advance.
Choose a metered tuk-tuk or agree the fare first, and decline drivers who suggest shopping detours.
Ride-hailing
PickMe and Uber operate in Colombo for tuk-tuks and cars, with upfront prices; they are the easiest way to avoid fare disputes.
Train
The coastal line runs south from Fort station past Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and Wellawatte to Mount Lavinia and on to Galle; the main line goes inland to Kandy.
Sit on the right side heading south for sea views; avoid rush hour, when carriages are packed.
Bus
Red state buses and private buses run frequently along Galle Road and to most suburbs; they are very cheap but crowded and driven fast.
Walking
The Fort, Pettah and Galle Face Green are within walking distance of each other; elsewhere, heat and traffic make walking long distances tiring.
From the airport
Bandaranaike International Airport is at Katunayake, about 35 km north of central Colombo. The expressway takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour by taxi or app car; bus 187 runs to Colombo Fort more slowly and cheaply. Negombo's beach hotels are about 15 minutes from the airport.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city. For touring Sri Lanka, most visitors hire a car with driver rather than self-drive, as roads are busy and driving conventions take getting used to.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Galle Fort | About 1.5–2 hours by expressway; 2–3 hours by train | Car via the Southern Expressway, or coastal train from Fort |
| Negombo | About 1 hour by road | Car or app ride via the airport expressway; trains and buses also run |
| Bentota and Lunuganga | About 1.5 hours by road or train | Coastal train or car via Galle Road |
| Kandy | About 3–3.5 hours by train or road | Train from Fort station, or car |
| Kalutara | About 1–1.5 hours by train or road | Coastal train or car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Colombo?
Not for the city. For touring Sri Lanka, most visitors hire a car with driver rather than self-drive, as roads are busy and driving conventions take getting used to.
+How do you get from the airport to Colombo?
Bandaranaike International Airport is at Katunayake, about 35 km north of central Colombo. The expressway takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour by taxi or app car; bus 187 runs to Colombo Fort more slowly and cheaply. Negombo's beach hotels are about 15 minutes from the airport.
+What is the best way to get around Colombo?
Tuk-tuk: Three-wheelers are everywhere; many in Colombo have meters, and app-booked tuk-tuks show the fare in advance.