Sri Lanka Transport – How to Get Around Sri Lanka

There seem to be two different ways in which visitors travel around Sri Lanka.  There’s the budget way – picking the local buses, grabbing a tuk-tuk, using third-class trains.  And then there’s the private driver and car route.  Over the 8 weeks we’ve spent in Sri Lanka in separate visits we’ve traveled at both ends of the spectrum. We’ve taken trains and sat in first class, and stood for hours on trains in third class.  We’ve taken buses with standing room only, and four different types of tuk-tuk.  We’ve taken private drivers, used taxis, and hailed cabs using Sri Lanka’s Grab and Uber equivalents.  Here’s our guide to Sri Lanka Transportation and what to expect in getting around Sri Lanka.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

I’ll start by saying that the most important thing to know about Sri Lanka transport is when the public holidays and Poya days are.  When the locals travel for public holidays, then you’ll find transport sold out.  Train tickets sell out at the best of times.  If your dates are firm, book well ahead.  If your dates are flexible, then you’ll have choices.

Sri Lanka is very similar to other countries in Asia in terms of providing modes of transport.  There are airplanes, buses, tuk-tuks (even some you can rent yourself), trains and minivans. 

Getting to Sri Lanka

Unless you’re arriving in Sri Lanka on a cruise or private yacht then you’ll arrive by plane.  There was a ferry from South India years ago, which, after a 30 year sojourn was promised to return in January 2024.  The proposed high-speed ferry between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai did a couple of test runs in October 2023 but has failed to be fully functional (which is a huge shame), but I’ll update here if it does start running. If you wish to check for yourself, then try WhatsApp +919789879971.  The plan for the ferry was that the journey from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai port would take approximately four hours and would be priced at 13,000 INR (50000 LKR) for a one-way trip.  Let me know if you take the ferry!

Right enough dreaming about ferries. So you’re going to be entering Sri Lanka by plane and at the international airport. 

There are 22 airports in Sri Lanka and 5 of them are international.  However.  That said.  Most international visitors will fly into the main international airport, just north of Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo.

Arriving in Sri Lanka

Bandaranaike International Airport (aka Colombo Airport) is 35 kilometers (21.78 miles) to the north of the center of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city, which is where all the major transport links are.   The airport is closer to Negombo than Colombo.   If you’ve had a long flight and have no reason to go into Colombo straight after your flight, then stay in Negombo for the night.  It’s a pleasant spot.

Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo

Getting from the airport into Colombo is relatively easy.  Either pre-book a transfer or walk out and get a taxi or tuk-tuk.  If this is your first time in Sri Lanka, then be prepared for the throng of drivers who will approach you.  This is a poor country, and foreign tourists are a great source of income for drivers.

Taxis and Transfers from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo

There is an airport taxi service, which has set rates that you can see on their website here.  There is a counter in the arrivals hall that you can approach and ask for a taxi. Or you can pre-book a transfer.

Check here for the price of a transfer from Colombo Airport to your hotel.

Tuktuks from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo

Or you can simply walk out the airport and head towards the road and find yourself a taxi or tuk-tuk driver.  They will find you first.  I guarantee it.  Always agree on the price in advance before you get into a taxi or tuk-tuk.

It takes about an hour to go into Colombo from the airport, but this is traffic-dependent.   You can always work out what the price should be by checking the PickMe app.  While Uber operates in Sri Lanka (and works well), Sri Lankans tend to use the PickMe app.  We’ve used both.  Pickme is generally cheaper.  Simply punch in the destination and work out how much the ride is going to be. 

As I’m writing this I’ve just checked and the cost from Colombo Airport to the Galleface Hotel in Colombo is 4,200 LKR.  PickMe gives you the option to pay via card or cash.  We’ve always tried to use a card, and given a tip in cash.   You can also choose to request a car or a tuk-tuk.

Bus from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo

There is an express bus from the airport to Colombo.  It runs between 05:30 and 20:30 and costs 500LKR.  The journey takes the Expressway route (rather than the smaller roads) and takes an hour and upwards.  This bus from the airport to Colombo stops at the Central Bus Station, Pettah Fort, and Colombo Fort Train & Bus Station.  We’ve taken this bus once, and it was comfortable. 

There are also shared minivans that you can book from the airport.  You can see your options here.

But for me getting out of the airport and jumping into a tuk-tuk is just the way I like my Sri Lanka arrivals.

Sri Lanka Transport Modes Explained

Each time we return to Sri Lanka there’s a new extension onto the Expressways, and travel between destinations is getting quicker and quicker.   A lot of foreign visitors to Sri Lanka have come here for two weeks. They hire a driver and zip between cultural attractions. That’s a pretty common way to see the country.  And I’m not saying that’s a bad way to see the country.  It’s certainly the most comfortable and easiest way to do it.  But to truly experience Sri Lanka you need to try out a few modes of transport.  Mix with the locals.  And take a car and driver for some of the trip.   When we went from Galle to Yala National Park recently we could have taken a combination of a train, bus, and tuk-tuk, but it would have taken us all day.

Right.  Let’s go through the different transport options that you have in Sri Lanka.

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Plane – Flights in Sri Lanka

There are two operators when it comes to domestic flights in Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan Airlines and Cinnamon Air.  The timetables are limited, and it does tend to be expensive.  You can see the air routes here from Cinnamon Air.  They’ll show you the flight time as well as how long it will take to drive the route.

Similarly, Sri Lankan Airlines flies most of the same routes.  You can see their route map here.

Some of these routes use seaplanes, so if you’ve never flown in a seaplane here is your opportunity.  We haven’t taken any internal flights in Sri Lanka, we’ve been having too much fun with ground transportation!

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Train

There are 1,508 kilometers (937 miles) of train tracks in Sri Lanka.  All tracks and trains are run by Sri Lankan Railways, the railway here was founded in 1858.  There are some relatively fast trains, but most of them chug along quite slowly and sedately.  And take you through some stunning countryside.

We took our first train within two hours of landing in the nation’s capital, Colombo. We’d received our Ministry of Defence permission and were heading directly to Jaffna in the Northern Province. Why? Well just because we could.

When we landed that first time the rail lines north had just reopened in October 2014, being rebuilt after the civil war that tore apart the country for 30 years. The civil war didn’t end until 2009 and it’s possible in Jaffna to still see a lot of war damage.  We took the 07:00 train from Colombo Fort Station to Jaffna – buying tickets from the Colombo Fort station. You can read about that journey here.

Routes we’ve used trains in Sri Lanka for

• Colombo to Galle
• Going from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
• Nuwara Eliya to Colombo
• Colombo to Jaffna
• Jaffna to Anuradhapura

The Must-Do Train Journey in Sri Lanka

Some of the train journeys in Sri Lanka are absolutely stunning and it is still my favorite way to travel around the country and there are some absolute MUST-do train journeys here in Sri Lanka. If you take just one train trip in Sri Lanka make it the train between Ella and Nuwara Eliya.  It is magical. 

Buying Tickets on Sri Lankan Trains

I’ve got an entire article on buying Sri Lankan train tickets here.  But for now here are some of the main details about taking the train in Sri Lanka.

There are two types of tickets you can buy on Sri Lankan trains. Reserved seat tickets and just tickets. When it comes to reserved seat tickets your options are then the observation car (more on this later), first class, and second class. If those options are available on a particular train of course. There’s no online booking here. There is, however, a useful board in the Colombo Fort Ticket Office that indicates if you’re likely to be able to buy a reserved seat ticket for certain trains.

You can also buy tickets for unreserved second and third classes and just join the scrum to get a seat when the train pulls in. We did this recently. Going from Colombo to Galle. The day before Christmas Eve. I do NOT recommend it. Book ahead. Get a seat. Trust me.

And while the Sri Lanka railway website –  is very good at providing timetables and costs, booking online is a pain. I’ve written a full guide about buying Sri Lankan Train tickets online here.  Read it NOW.  Sooner rather than later.  Trust me. 

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Bus

Where the trains don’t go, for geographic reasons, local buses go.  And they go everywhere in Sri Lanka.  This is the budget travel option for Sri Lanka.  Some (more these days) are air-conditioned and run on the expressways between cities and towns.  Others, inland or on the coast, stop what seems like every 200 meters or so.  Our guide to buses in Sri Lanka is here.

Or rather they slow down to a crawling pace, without actually stopping, so you can leap on or off.

Routes we’ve done by bus in Sri Lanka

If there was a train we’d take it, but where there wasn’t a train and it was a longer journey we took the bus.  Here are the routes that we’ve done by bus in Sri Lanka.

• Colombo Airport to Colombo
• Ella to Matara to Mirissa
• Delhouse to Hatton

Cost of travel by bus in Sri Lanka

Buses are VERY cheap in Sri Lanka, especially the local ones.  If you’re traveling with luggage, then expect to be parted from it, as it will need to stay in an area close to the driver.    Most of the local buses we’ve been on are crowded and busy, but I felt completely safe (as a woman) on them, even on the absolutely jammed bus to the cricket ground in Kandy, when it seemed like all of Sri Lanka was going to the Sri Lanka v England game.

There’s more on the routes that we’ve taken buses in Sri Lanka and our experiences with Sri Lankan buses here.

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Minivan

There are limited numbers of minivans available in Sri Lanka.  They tend to be on routes where it’s a specific tourist transport – like traveling to World’s End or taking a day trip around Ella. 

There are also shared minivans available on routes like from Colombo to Colombo Airport

Taxis and Private Transfers in Sri Lanka

You’ll find taxis and private transfers in all towns and cities in Sri Lanka.  Your hotel will ALWAYS be able to arrange something for you.  You’ll find taxis on the street and everything is negotiable.  You can also arrange taxis through Uber – with varying levels of comfort – and you can opt to pay cash or with a card.  If you use an Expressway and there is a toll, agree up front who’s paying the toll, it will have to be in cash.

Hiring a Car and Driver in Sri Lanka

This is the most common way for foreign tourists to get around Sri Lanka.  And it has its place.  It’s usually best to have a different car and driver for each segment of our journey and the easiest way to arrange this is to have your hotel arrange it for you. 

Routes we’ve used a car and driver for

• Galle to Yala National Park
• Yala National Park to Ella
• Anuradhapura (Sightseeing day)

Don’t forget to check the PickMe app and see approximately how much you should be paying before you blithely agree to whatever rate you’re told.  The rates that you’ll pay depend on the route, and remember sometimes if it’s a long trip, your driver has to figure out how he’s going to get home too.   And it’s unlikely that he’ll find a return fare. 

The best ways to arrange drivers in Sri Lanka

1. Arrange with your hotel at each stop.
2. Use the PickMe app for a price and rate and to find a driver.
3. Use Uber in Sri Lanka the same way you do PickMe.  We tended to find more drivers on PickMe and slightly cheaper prices.
4. Use 12GoAsia to arrange drivers for point-to-point transport.

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Tuk Tuk

When we come back to Sri Lanka (and we will) we’re planning on renting a Tuk Tuk and driving it around the country. It would be an amazing way to see the country, but for our trips to date, I had to contend with being a passenger in a variety of tuk-tuks.

There are four different types of tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka. There’s the four-stroke TVS. There’s the two-stroke Bajaj, the four-stroke Bajaj and then there’s the Piaggio Ape. To the layman, it’s relatively easy to figure out the difference. The two strokes are usually the ones that everything else overtakes.

And the Piaggios?  The Piaggios sound very distinctly different. They’re loud, they’re more rattly, they’re tinny. They’re Italian.  And there’s clearly a program out here called Pimp My Tuk Tuk because some folks go all out.

There are meters on some tuk-tuks.  On many, it’s well hidden.  It’s best to negotiate your rate before you get in or agree that you’re using the meter.  And beware of the pronunciation issues between “15 and 50”.

They are a GREAT way to get around.  I would take a tuk-tuk ride, just because.  I buy ice cream from tuk-tuk ice cream vans.  They are fabulous contraptions.

If I could take one home I would. It’d be marvelous to drive on a road without bumps or scary big buses hurtling towards you on the wrong side of the road.  In a lot of ways they’re like a London Taxi, they can turn “on a dime”, they’re recognizable and their drivers will talk the hind leg off a donkey.

They have curtains for when it rains. We spent a month in Sri Lanka on our first trip and it rained for a month.  We had a lot of curtains in our tuk-tuks

Ride Sharing Apps in Sri Lanka

Downloading a couple of ride sharing apps before you get to Sri Lanka is a great idea, it will help you get around and understand the cost of certain routes too.   There are two ride sharing apps that work in Sri Lanka.

PickMe is (IMHO) the best ride sharing app in Sri Lanka.  It is always our go-to app.  You can use it to request a ride in a car or a tuk-tuk.  You’ll most likely find rides for shorter routes or around town with PickMe.  It tends to be cheaper than Uber.  If you can’t find a ride on PickMe, then look on Uber.  You might find the same drivers, but they get a little more on Uber.

Uber is present in Sri Lanka and we’ve used it alongside PickMe.  It tends to be more cars than tuktuks although they do have tuk-tuks too.  It tends to be a little more expensive than PickMe, and if you can’t find a ride on PickMe, then head on over to Uber.

Booking Transport in Sri Lanka

Aside from the ride sharing apps – PickMe and Uber – booking transport in Sri Lanka is the same as other Asian countries. 

Use Welcome Pickups for Airport transfers in Sri Lanka

Welcome Pickups are the best for airport transfers and pickups.  Especially if this is your first trip to Sri Lanka I’d recommend using Welcome Pickups for your first introduction to Sri Lanka.  You can check the rates for an airport transfer here.

Use 12goasia to book transport in Sri Lanka

When it comes to booking your bus, train, flight, and minivan tickets, you can use 12go.Asia. It’s a reputable website that provides great coverage for Sri Lankan trains and some intercity buses.  You can see the schedules, the cost, and instructions on how to board your transportation before you book or pay for anything. You can pay using your bank card.  Check timetables and book Sri Lanka Transport with 12goAsia here.

Use Bookaway for some transport in Sri Lanka

Bookaway is a second platform that offers online booking of transport in Sri Lanka.  They don’t tend to have as many options as 12goAsia, but you’ll often find additional times too.  Check timetables and book Sri Lanka Transport with Bookaway here.

Transport & Popular Routes in Sri Lanka

• Here’s our guide to travel and transport in Sri Lanka
• Here’s how to buy train tickets in Sri Lanka – online, on the phone and in person
• Want to know what Sri Lankan buses are like? Here’s our guide.

• How to go from Colombo to Galle
• Going from Galle to Yala National Park
• How to go from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo
• How to go from Colombo to Kandy
• How to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
• How to go from Jaffna to Anuradhapura
• How to go from Colombo to Jaffna

FAQS for Transportation in Sri Lanka

Here are the questions that we get asked about getting around Sri Lanka – don’t forget if you have a question about how to travel around Sri Lanka you can send us an email, or ask in the comments below and we’ll answer for everyone else to see.

What’s the cheapest form of transport in Sri Lanka

Local buses are the most affordable way to get around Sri Lanka. However, the best way to experience Sri Lanka is to mix up your transport.  Take some of the unique and best train journeys in Sri Lanka.  Take a private car and driver when you have no other options or don’t have the time for the long bus journey.  Take a minivan option to head to places like World’s End.

Is Grab available in Sri Lanka?

No, Grab doesn’t operate in Sri Lanka. But you can use PickMe or Uber in Sri Lanka

What’s the best way to get around Sri Lanka?

The best way to get around Sri Lanka is to mix up your transport options.  Take the train when it’s a great train journey, take a bus into the hill country (and watch the tea plantations whizz by), a driver if you’re traveling on public holidays or POYA days.  Take tuk-tuks to go short distances, or when you want a really local experience.

Can you drive a car around Sri Lanka?

Technically yes you can drive a car around Sri Lanka.  However, there are a few hoops to jump through to do this.  You’ll need your driver’s license AND an international driving permit AND you will also need a Sri Lankan driving permit, which you get from the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Colombo.  Their office is only open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 16:00.  You’ll get a permit that is valid for 12 months and it will be issued there and then.

If you’ve read what I’ve written about overtaking buses and tuk-tuks, and sharing the road with them, then you should be aware and remember that:

• In Sri Lanka, you drive on the left
• Buses and trucks travel fast and can be in the middle of the road for no reason that is discernible to you. 
• Drivers overtake on blind bends.

Travel Tips for Exploring Sri Lanka

• Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
• Get online immediately with an eSIM for Sri Lanka
• Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Sri Lanka > discount coupon here
• Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups
• Read about transport in Sri Lanka in our guide here
• Our guide to booking trains in Sri Lanka
• You will 99% likely need a power adapter for Sri Lanka – there’s more here.
• Book the best Sri Lanka tours and guides on Get Your Guide
• Save money in Sri Lanka with a Wise debit card
• Book Trains in Sri Lanka with 12goAsia
• Book accommodation in Sri Lanka with Booking

Final Words on Transportation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of my favorite countries to travel around.  I love the people, the transport, and the food.  I love the landscape.  Their trains are not the fastest, they’re not the newest, but they are truly glorious.  The local buses are friendly, somewhat scary sometimes, but they’re extremely cheap.  The Sri Lankan tuk-tuk is, I think, at risk of offending all other tuk-tuk nations, the best in the world.  There are heaps of ways to get around and the transport in Sri Lanka is an experience in itself.  Make sure you try all of it!

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