From Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport, the quickest way to Kandy, Ella, Galle or Sigiriya is a car with a driver: about 2.5 hours to Galle, 3 to 4 hours to Kandy and around 4 hours to Sigiriya. Ella is too far to do comfortably on landing day, so most people break the trip. If you're on a budget, Galle is the easy one by public transport, thanks to a new airport express bus. Kandy and Sigiriya take a bus change, and there are no trains to Kandy right now.
Updated November 2026. Trains between Colombo and Kandy, and between Kandy and Nanu Oya, are suspended while the hill country line is repaired after Cyclone Ditwah. A short reopening from Colombo in October ended on 25 October 2026 after a landslide. The scenic Nanu Oya to Ella to Badulla section has been running since 20 June 2026. See our Kandy to Ella train guide for the latest status before you plan around a train.
At a glance
| Destination | Easiest option | Budget option | Rough road time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandy | Driver or airport taxi (Rs. 21,384 at the airport counter) | Bus 187 to Colombo, then a bus to Kandy | 3–4 hours |
| Sigiriya | Driver, or a Cinnamon Air flight | Bus to Colombo, then a bus to Dambulla and a tuk-tuk | About 4 hours |
| Galle | Driver on the Southern Expressway | Airport luxury bus to Makumbura (Rs. 410), then an expressway bus (Rs. 930) | About 2.5 hours |
| Ella | Driver, with a night on the way | Road to Nanu Oya, then the train to Ella | A long day; break it up |
Rupee figures are converted at about Rs. 333 to US$1 (Central Bank of Sri Lanka rate, early November 2026).
Before you leave the airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (code CMB) is in Katunayake, north of Colombo and around 15 minutes from Negombo. A few things are worth sorting in the arrivals hall:
- Get rupees. You'll need cash for buses, tuk-tuks and tolls if you're paying a taxi. Our guide to money in Sri Lanka covers ATMs and cards.
- Buy a SIM or set up an eSIM so you can use maps and ride apps straight away. See which SIM to buy at the airport.
- Check the time. The express bus to Makumbura stops in the early evening, and night arrivals are often better off sleeping in Negombo and setting off in the morning.
The five ways out of the airport
1. A car with a driver
This is what most first-time visitors do, and with the Kandy line closed it's the simplest way to reach the hill country. A driver can meet you in arrivals with a name board. You can book a one-way transfer or a driver for your whole trip.
Published 2026 rates for a sedan with driver run at roughly US$50–85 a day, and more for a van. One-way transfers are priced separately, so ask for a written quote that says whether expressway tolls and the driver's return trip are included. Our guide to hiring a driver in Sri Lanka explains what a fair quote covers.
2. The airport taxi counter
The airport's official taxi service has counters in arrivals with fixed, published fares by destination. In early November 2026 the published air-conditioned fare to Kandy was Rs. 21,384 (about US$64). Extra kilometres beyond your destination cost Rs. 130 each, and each extra drop-off Rs. 300. Ask at the counter for the fare to your exact hotel before you set off, and check whether expressway tolls are added.
3. Ride-hailing apps
PickMe, and in some areas Uber, show the fare before you book, so there's no haggling. They're handy for short hops, such as a tuk-tuk to a hotel in Negombo, and you can request a car for longer trips. For a long transfer, compare the app price with a driver's quote. A driver may know the route better and stop where you want.
4. Buses
Two airport buses connect you with the wider network:
- Airport luxury bus to Makumbura. Relaunched on 1 June 2026, it runs every 45 minutes from 5:15 am to 6:30 pm to the Makumbura Multimodal Centre near Kottawa, where the Southern Expressway buses leave. The fare is Rs. 410 and the ride takes about 50 minutes (News 1st, June 2026).
- Bus 187 to Colombo. An air-conditioned bus to Colombo Fort, around Rs. 325, from outside the departure terminal. From Fort you can catch long-distance buses and coastal trains.
There is no direct bus from the airport terminal to Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya or Ella, so plan on at least one change.
5. Domestic flights
Cinnamon Air runs small-plane flights from the international airport. Its winter 2026/27 schedule (1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027) lists daily flights to Sigiriya (11:00, about 30 minutes), Kandy (10:30, about 30 minutes), Castlereagh near Hatton in tea country (10:30), and Koggala near Galle (11:00, via Sigiriya). Checked baggage is limited to 23 kg and carry-on to 5 kg (Cinnamon Air schedule).
Fares for the new season weren't shown on the site when we checked. Last season, Colombo to Sigiriya and Colombo to Kandy were advertised from about US$100–110, so expect something in that range or more, and contact the airline for a quote. Flying makes most sense if you land in the morning and want to skip a long drive.
Colombo airport to Kandy
Kandy is about 113 km from the airport, typically 3 to 4 hours by road depending on traffic.
- Driver or taxi: the easiest choice. The airport counter fare was Rs. 21,384 in November 2026, and a pre-booked driver may be cheaper or include stops on the way.
- Flight: Cinnamon Air's daily 10:30 flight takes about 30 minutes.
- Bus: take bus 187 to Colombo, then a long-distance bus to Kandy. Seats on state (SLTB) buses can be booked online at sltb.eseat.lk. It's cheap but takes most of the day once you add the change.
- Train: not possible right now. Colombo to Kandy trains are suspended. Sri Lanka Railways has talked about a reopening target, but nothing was confirmed in mid-November 2026, so check before relying on it.
Colombo airport to Sigiriya
Many travellers head straight to Sigiriya on landing day and start their trip in the Cultural Triangle. It's about 4 hours by road.
- Driver: the most popular option. Leave the airport by early afternoon if you can, so you arrive before dark.
- Flight: the daily 11:00 Cinnamon Air flight takes about 30 minutes. It's the fastest way there, at a price.
- Bus: there's no direct service. The usual budget route is to get to Colombo, take a long-distance bus to Dambulla, then a local bus or tuk-tuk for the last stretch. It's a long, hot day with luggage, so most people only do this with plenty of time.
Sigiriya Rock costs US$35 for foreign adults in 2026. Our 7-day itinerary starts with exactly this transfer.
Colombo airport to Galle
Galle is the simplest of the four. The Outer Circular Highway links to the Southern Expressway, and a driver takes about 2.5 hours.
- Driver or taxi: the fastest door-to-door option. Leave a buffer for traffic around Colombo.
- Bus (best value): take the airport luxury bus to Makumbura (Rs. 410, about 50 minutes). From there, expressway buses run to Galle. The National Transport Commission's full expressway fare to Galle was Rs. 930 from 6 July 2026, and the ride is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours (fare table via Serendib Atlas). Buses to Matara (Rs. 1,170) are the ones to take for Mirissa, with a short local ride at the end. Route numbers and timetables differ between sources, so check the board at Makumbura.
- Train: take bus 187 to Colombo Fort, then a coastal line train to Galle. The coastal line is running normally, and third class costs around Rs. 240. It's slower than the expressway bus but has sea views for much of the way. Booking tips are in our train tickets guide.
- Flight: Cinnamon Air flies to Koggala, a short drive from Galle, but via Sigiriya, so it takes longer than the drive.
Colombo airport to Ella
There's no quick way to Ella. It's deep in the hill country, and with the Kandy line closed you can't take the train the whole way from Colombo. Plan on a full day, or better, split it with a night on the way.
- Road, then the scenic train (recommended): drive to Nuwara Eliya, stay the night, then take the morning train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about 3 hours. This is the most beautiful part of the line, and it's running. Reserved seats open 30 days ahead and sell out quickly. Details are in our Kandy to Ella train guide.
- Driver all the way: possible in one long day, but you'll arrive tired after an international flight. Most drivers suggest stopping in Kandy or Nuwara Eliya.
- Fly part of the way: Cinnamon Air's 10:30 flight to Castlereagh, near Hatton, cuts out the drive up from Colombo. You'd still need a car from Hatton.
- Bus: buses run from Colombo to Badulla, which pass Ella, but it's a very long day on the road. It's better split with a stop.
If you land late at night
Many long-haul flights arrive in the evening or overnight. Don't try to reach the hill country in the dark. Negombo is about 15 minutes from the airport and has plenty of hotels. Take a taxi or a PickMe tuk-tuk there (around Rs. 750 by tuk-tuk on a recent ride), sleep, and set off in the morning. The express bus to Makumbura stops after its 6:30 pm departure, so late arrivals heading to Galle also need a car.
Which option should you choose?
- Short trip or first visit: book a driver. It saves hours, especially while the Kandy line is closed.
- Budget traveller going south: the airport bus to Makumbura plus an expressway bus to Galle costs about Rs. 1,340 (around US$4).
- Short on time and money isn't the issue: fly to Sigiriya or Kandy with Cinnamon Air in the morning.
- Going to Ella: split the journey and save the Nanu Oya to Ella train for the second day.
For how transport fits a full trip budget, see how much a trip to Sri Lanka costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Colombo airport to Kandy?
No. There's no train from the airport, and trains between Colombo and Kandy were suspended as of mid-November 2026. Go by road, which takes about 3 to 4 hours.
How much is a taxi from Colombo airport to Kandy?
The airport's official taxi counter listed Rs. 21,384 (about US$64) for an air-conditioned car to Kandy in November 2026. Pre-booked drivers quote their own prices.
What's the cheapest way from the airport to Galle?
The airport luxury bus to Makumbura (Rs. 410), then an expressway bus to Galle (Rs. 930 full fare). The total is about US$4, and the trip takes roughly 3 hours with the change.
Can I get from the airport to Ella in one day?
By car, yes, but it's a very long day. Most travellers stop overnight in Kandy or Nuwara Eliya, then take the Nanu Oya to Ella train the next morning.
Are there flights from Colombo airport to Sigiriya?
Yes. In the 2026/27 winter season, Cinnamon Air lists a daily flight from the international airport to Sigiriya at 11:00, taking about 30 minutes.
