Getting to Sri Lanka: Colombo, connections and the electronic permit

The island's main airport, popular connecting hubs, the season and what to check about entry before buying a ticket.

The main international flights to Sri Lanka arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike airport (CMB), roughly half an hour to an hour's drive from the northern part of the capital and a few hours from the southern beaches. Where you stay determines how much time you spend on the road: from the airport to the south of the island, the hill country and the east it is easier to go by train, bus or a hired car.

Direct flight or connection

From many cities in the region there are no direct flights to Sri Lanka, and people fly with a connection, for example via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Delhi or other hubs. Compare not only the price but also the length of the connection and whether a transit visa is needed. If the legs are bought separately and the first flight is late, the second airline owes you nothing, so allow a margin or buy a single ticket.

Season

The weather on the island depends on the coast: on the south-west and west and on the east the best beach season falls in different months, and the price peak coincides with the dry period. If your dates are flexible, shifting by a week or two sometimes cuts the price noticeably, and the low-price calendar shows it.

Before you buy

To enter Sri Lanka most foreigners need an electronic permit obtained online in advance, and the terms depend on citizenship and change. Apply only on official government sites, not through intermediaries with a mark-up. Below is a partner flight card (advertising), and our converter makes it easy to work out the total costs.