Most visitors to Sri Lanka land at Bandaranaike International Airport, near Colombo, and the first decision is how to get from the arrivals hall to wherever they are staying. There are four real options: a driver you booked in advance, the official taxi counters, the Uber and PickMe apps, and the bus.
Which one is right depends mostly on two things: what time you land and how far you are going. This page explains each option, what it costs, and exactly what happens between stepping off the plane and getting into a car.
The short answer
- Late at night, with family, or going far: book a driver before you fly
- Didn’t book, going somewhere near: the official airport taxi counters
- Travelling light to Colombo or Negombo: Uber or PickMe
- Tight budget, going to Colombo, landing in the day: the airport bus
Where the airport actually is
The airport is at Katunayake, north of Colombo, not in the city itself, and you will often see it called Katunayake airport for that reason. Colombo city is roughly 30 to 35 kilometres away, linked by the airport expressway. Negombo, a beach town popular for a first or last night, is much closer.
That matters for price. People often book “Colombo airport to Colombo” expecting a short hop, when it is closer to an hour’s drive depending on traffic.
What happens when you land
Knowing the order saves stress, especially at night.
- Immigration. Have your visa or travel authorisation ready.
- Baggage reclaim.
- Customs.
- The arrivals hall. This is the public area, and it is where everything you need is: counters for SIM cards, money exchange, ATMs, and the people waiting to meet arriving passengers.
Do two things before you look for your driver.
Get a local SIM card. The main mobile networks have counters in the arrivals hall. With a working local number and data, you can call or message your driver, book a ride app, and use maps. It is the single most useful thing you can do in the first ten minutes.
Get some rupees. Many drivers and taxis are paid in cash, and card payment is not always possible. Change a small amount at the exchange counters or use an ATM, enough for the ride and a tip.
Option 1: A pre-booked driver
Best for: late night arrivals, families, lots of luggage, and anyone going further than Colombo or Negombo.
You arrange the pickup before you fly. When you come out into the arrivals area, your driver is usually waiting there holding a board with your name. They help with your bags, take you to the car and drive you straight to your hotel.
The big advantage is certainty. You land knowing someone is there, and you know the price before you leave home. For a long trip inland, it also means your driver is the same person who will get you there, rather than a taxi you found in a hurry.
Give your driver your flight number, not just your arrival time. That way they can check whether your flight is delayed, instead of leaving when it is an hour late.
What it costs
As a planning figure, for a car:
| From the airport to | Budget around |
|---|---|
| Negombo | LKR 2,500 |
| Colombo city | LKR 8,000 |
| Kandy | LKR 17,000 to 24,000 |
| Sigiriya | LKR 17,000 to 27,000 |
These figures are deliberately on the safe side, because prices change and tolls sometimes get added on the day. A van for a larger group costs more. For the long trips, our guides to Colombo Airport to Kandy and Colombo to Sigiriya explain what moves the price and which roads drivers use.
Option 2: The official airport taxi counters
Best for: people who did not book ahead and are going somewhere reasonably close.
The airport has official taxi counters in the arrivals area, run under the supervision of the airport operator. You tell them where you are going, they arrange a car, and you are on your way without having to negotiate with anyone on the pavement.
Before you walk to the car, confirm the total price and what it includes. Ask whether it covers expressway tolls. It is easier to settle this at the counter than at your hotel door.
Counter prices are not usually the cheapest option. What you are paying for is convenience, and a car that is ready when you are.
Option 3: Uber and PickMe
Best for: travellers with light luggage going to Colombo or Negombo, who already have a local SIM or Wi-Fi.
Yes, there is Uber in Sri Lanka, and there is also PickMe, the local app, which usually has more drivers and prices in rupees. Both operate at Bandaranaike International Airport and have pickup points there, and the app shows you where to go.
A few things to know:
- You need data. Buy a SIM in the arrivals hall, or use Wi-Fi, before you try to book.
- Download both apps before you fly, and set up payment at home. Doing it on arrival is slow.
- Fares change with demand. When several long haul flights land at once, especially very early in the morning or late in the evening, prices can jump.
- Long trips are harder. A driver may be reluctant to accept a three or four hour trip inland from the airport. For Kandy, Sigiriya or the south coast, a pre-booked driver is usually more reliable.
- Check the car before you get in. Match the number plate and the driver’s name in the app.
Option 4: The airport bus
Best for: budget travellers, with light bags, going to Colombo, and landing during the day.
There are buses from the airport to Colombo, including a service that runs to Colombo Fort along the airport expressway. It is by far the cheapest way to reach the city, and Colombo Fort is also the main railway station, which is useful if you are catching a train onward.
The drawbacks are the obvious ones. Space for large suitcases is limited, and you may be charged extra for big bags. Buses do not run on the same schedule all night, so if you land late, check when the last bus leaves, rather than counting on one being there. And if your hotel is not near the bus stop, you still need a tuk tuk or taxi for the last part.
Arriving late at night
A lot of long haul flights land in the evening or in the early hours of the morning. If yours does:
- Book a driver in advance. At 2am you want to walk out and see your name, not start comparing options.
- Consider a first night in Negombo. It is close to the airport, so you are in bed quickly, and you can start the long drive inland the next morning after some sleep.
- Have your hotel’s address and phone number saved offline, in case your phone has no signal when you land.
If you cannot find your driver
It happens, usually because arrivals is busy or the flight landed early.
- Look properly along the waiting area for the board with your name.
- Call or message your driver on the number you were given. This is where the local SIM earns its money.
- Do not go with someone just because they say they are your driver. A real pre-booked driver knows your name and your destination. Ask them to tell you where you are going before you hand over your bags.
- Wait somewhere obvious inside the arrivals area, rather than wandering outside.
Airport pickup and drop: booking both ways
If you are flying home from Colombo too, it is worth arranging the drop off at the same time as the pickup, or once you know your last stop.
Two things to allow for on the way back:
- The drive to the airport takes longer than you think, especially from Colombo in weekday traffic or from anywhere inland.
- Airlines generally ask you to arrive about three hours before an international flight. Work backwards from that, then add time for the road.
If your last night is somewhere far from the airport, a night in Negombo before an early flight takes a lot of pressure off the final day.
What to send your driver
Whoever you book, give them:
- Your flight number and date
- The name to put on the board
- How many people and how many bags, so the vehicle is big enough
- Your hotel’s exact name and address
- A phone number or WhatsApp they can reach you on
Booking an airport pickup through Let’s Ride
You can post your airport pickup for free and let vehicle owners offer their price. Put the airport as the pickup point and your hotel as the drop off, then use the special requirements box for the details above: flight number, the name for the board, and your luggage.
It is also worth adding “SLTDA registered driver preferred, please include your registration number.” Registered drivers can put their number in the note with their offer, and you can check it on the official Sri Lanka Tourism directory before you accept. Our car hire with driver guide explains how.
You compare the offers, look at the vehicle photos, and choose one. Posting is free, you pay the driver directly, and we never take a booking fee. For the step by step version, see how to post a trip.
Before you fly
- Decide which option fits your arrival time and how far you are going
- If you are booking a driver, share your flight number and name for the board
- Download Uber and PickMe if you might use them
- Save your hotel address and your driver’s number offline
- Plan to get a SIM card and a little cash in the arrivals hall
- If you are also flying out, plan the drop off and allow plenty of time