Colombo airport (CMB) — arrivals, drive times and transfers
Bandaranaike International Airport (IATA code CMB) at Katunayake is Sri Lanka's main gateway — about 35 km north of Colombo and only 12 km from Negombo beach. This is what to expect when you land, and how to get where you are going.
- 35 km from Colombo
- 12 km from Negombo
- Open 24 hours
Where Colombo airport actually is
Despite the name, CMB is not in Colombo. It sits at Katunayake, roughly 35 km north of the capital and a 45-minute run on the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway. Negombo is much closer at around 20 to 25 minutes, which is why so many travellers spend their first or last night there.
A second airport, Ratmalana (RML), south of Colombo, handles domestic flights, and Mattala (HRI) in the south sees very little traffic. Almost every international visitor arrives at CMB.
Arriving: the terminal in order
- Immigration — have your ETA/visa approval and your hotel address ready.
- Baggage claim, with trolleys free of charge.
- Arrivals duty-free, unusual in that it sells electronics and appliances.
- SIM card counters — all the major networks, cheap tourist data packages.
- Currency exchange and ATMs, with better rates than most city hotels.
- Customs, then the exit into the public greeting area where drivers wait with name boards.
Departing from CMB
Departures are on the upper level, reached by a ramp from the access road. Check-in generally opens three hours before the flight and closes an hour before, and only ticketed passengers pass the first security check. Allow the full three hours: security and immigration queues at peak times are real.
Drive times from Colombo airport
| Destination from CMB | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo city | ~35 km | ~45 min |
| Negombo | ~12 km | ~24 min |
| Kandy | ~130 km | ~3.5 h |
| Sigiriya | ~150 km | ~3.5 h |
| Galle | ~150 km | ~2.5 h |
| Mirissa | ~190 km | ~3 h |
| Ella | ~230 km | ~5.5 h |
| Nuwara Eliya | ~175 km | ~4.5 h |
Getting from Colombo airport to your hotel
- Pre-booked private transfer — driver waiting in arrivals with your name, fixed price, any destination on the island, day or night.
- Airport taxi rank — available, but you negotiate after a long flight and vehicle size is whatever is at the front of the queue.
- Ride-hailing apps — workable for Colombo and Negombo if you have a local SIM and data; long-distance trips are often declined.
- Airport express bus — cheapest option into Colombo, but no luggage space to speak of and no help at the far end.
- Train — the nearest station is not at the terminal, so it involves a taxi first anyway.
Colombo airport — frequently asked questions
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Arriving at Colombo airport?
Tell us your flight and hotel — your driver will be waiting in arrivals.