Getting to Colombo and Onward by Scenic Sri Lanka Trains

Colombo serves as the international air gateway to Sri Lanka and the hub of the national rail and expressway network. Because the historic port, central railway station and bus terminals all sit clustered together on the northern edge of the city between Fort and Pettah, starting or finishing an island loop here is remarkably convenient.

From Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to central Colombo

Colombo's main international airport sits 32 kilometres north of Fort in Katunayake (close to the beach town of Negombo). Thanks to the elevated Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (E03), the journey into the city takes around 40 to 50 minutes outside weekday rush hours:

• Official airport taxi counter and PickMe / Uber: the fixed-rate airport taxi desk in the arrivals hall and app-hailed cars (PickMe or Uber) both use the E03 toll highway to drop you directly at your hotel in Galle Face, Fort or Cinnamon Gardens.
• Air-conditioned highway bus (Route 187-E03): departs from outside the terminal along the expressway to the central bus terminal beside Colombo Fort Railway Station, from where a short metered tuk-tuk hop reaches any hotel.

Colombo Fort Railway Station: trains to Kandy, Ella and Galle

Located on Olcott Mawatha between Fort and Pettah Bazaar, Colombo Fort Railway Station is the departure point for Sri Lanka's two most famous rail routes: the Main Line climbing east through lush hills and tea estates to Kandy, Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) and Ella, and the Coastal Line running right beside the Indian Ocean down to Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Matara. First-class air-conditioned observation cars and reserved second-class seats can be booked online via the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation portal (which opens thirty days before travel); if reserved tickets are sold out, unreserved second- and third-class tickets are sold at the station on the day of travel. Always check the official Sri Lanka Railways schedule for current platform numbers and departure windows.

Getting around Colombo by PickMe, Uber and foot

Within individual neighbourhoods such as Fort, Pettah or around Beira Lake, walking is rewarding in the morning and late afternoon. For cross-town hops, use the PickMe or Uber app to hail metered three-wheelers or air-conditioned hatchbacks with the exact route shown on screen.