Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport is about a 20 minutes drive north of the city. It features a single terminal building, and is protected by high levels of security. The terminal’s facilities include currency exchange counters, shops, snack bars, travel and tour services and a tourist information office.

Flights that service Colombo arrive mainly from Asian destinations, although European travellers can make the journey directly, typically on a carrier based in the Middle East, with a stopover in that region.

Arriving passengers can transfer from the airport to Colombo centre by taxi, hotel car or public bus. Taxis are readily available outside the Arrivals hall. Hotel pick ups needs to be arranged in advance of arrival, when booking your hotel. Public bus number 187 departs from outside the Arrivals hall on the half-hour between 04:30 and 23:00 for Pettah district.

Making your way around Colombo by public transport is straightforward, as both auto-rickshaws and taxis can be found at most intersections. For trips outside the city, there’s an extensive bus network connecting Colombo with the rest of the country and a less extensive rail network that links major points around the island.

The main bus stations in the city are all in located in Pettah, not far from Fort. From Saunders Place Station buses travel to Negombo, Ratnapura and Anuradhapura, and from Bastion Mawatha Station to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and the airport. Although service is frequent, delays in departure are quite common and should be taken into consideration when making travel plans.

Sri Lanka’s three main rail lines make for relatively easy access to major destinations on the island. The Main Line runs east from Colombo, linking the city with Kandy and Badulla; the Northern Line travels to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya; and the Coast Line travels to southern coastal towns such as Galle, Hikkaduwa and Aluthgama. As with bus services, trains often run late but make for scenic travel around the country.

Taxis can be a good means for getting around the city, and can also be booked for longer trips. In fact, you’ll find that some taxi drivers double as tour guides and you may be able to negotiate a good price and interesting itinerary from your base in Colombo.

Auto-rickshaws can be a good alternative to taxis for going shorter distances in and around the city. These vehicles are so plentiful that if you don’t find a driver who will agree to a fair price, it’s easy enough to move on to negotiate with the next one.