Colombo airport guide
Colombo airport arrival guide
What to expect when you land at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), from passport control to the moment you're on the road.
Step by step
From the plane to your hotel
- 01
Before you fly
Check whether you need an ETA, Sri Lanka's electronic visa, and apply only on the official government website, as the rules change from time to time. Book your airport pickup with your flight number, so your driver can follow your flight.
- 02
Immigration and bags
Follow the signs to immigration, then to baggage claim. Depending on the queues, it can take from 30 minutes to more than an hour to reach the arrivals hall.
- 03
SIM card and money
Mobile networks and banks have counters in the arrivals hall, along with ATMs. A tourist SIM with plenty of data is cheap and quick to set up (bring your passport), and Sri Lanka uses the rupee (LKR).
- 04
Meet your driver
Walk out of the arrivals hall to the pickup area, where your driver waits with a name board showing your name. You'll have your driver's name and WhatsApp number before you fly.
Getting to your hotel
Taxi, app, bus or a pre-booked driver?
Your options for leaving the airport, honestly compared.
Pre-booked private transfer
A fixed price agreed before you fly, a driver waiting with your name, your flight tracked and help with your bags, in a car or a van for your whole group. The easiest option after a long flight, at night or with children.
Airport taxi counters
There are taxi counters in the arrivals hall. Fine for short trips, but agree the full price before you set off, especially for longer drives.
Ride-hailing apps
Apps like PickMe and Uber work around the airport, but you'll need a local SIM or Wi-Fi first, and you may have to meet the driver away from the arrivals exit.
Bus and train
The cheapest way to travel, but slow with big bags, and for most places you'll change in Colombo or Negombo first.
Night flights
Landing late at night?
Many flights reach Colombo between midnight and dawn. Our drivers meet flights at any hour, and your driver waits even if you're delayed. If you land after midnight, a first night in Negombo, 20 minutes away, lets you start the longer drives fresh.
Going home
Flying home from Colombo
Plan to reach the airport about 3 hours before an international flight. From Colombo that's about 45 min away, from Galle about 2 hrs 15 min and from Kandy about 3 hrs. We work out your pickup time for you.
Airport transfers
Driving times from the airport
Fixed prices per vehicle, one way. Tap a place for the route, prices and booking.
Airport pickups
Book your airport pickup
Tell us your flight and hotel. Your driver will be waiting with a name board when you land.
Good to know
Colombo airport questions
How far is Colombo airport from Colombo city?
About 35 km. The drive usually takes 45 min on the expressway, longer in rush hour.
Is Colombo airport open 24 hours?
Yes. Flights arrive and leave around the clock, and our drivers meet flights at any hour.
What is the airport code for Colombo?
CMB. The airport's full name is Bandaranaike International Airport, and it's in Katunayake.
Can I get a SIM card at Colombo airport?
Yes. Mobile networks have counters in the arrivals hall, after baggage claim. Bring your passport, as you need it to register a SIM.
How do I get from Colombo airport to Negombo?
It's about 12 km, around 20 min by car. A private transfer with us costs US$30 by car or US$40 by van, per vehicle.
Should I book my airport transfer in advance?
It isn't essential, but after a long flight it's easiest to have a driver waiting with your name and a fixed price, with no haggling. That matters most at night, with children or with lots of luggage.