Why go
- Most populous city of Sri Lanka.
- Served by Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML).
History
Colombo is Sri Lanka's executive and judicial capital, as well as the country's most populous city. It is also the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is located on the west coast of the island. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 25 airlines, 41 direct destinations
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A320, A330-200, A340-300, A321, CNC) · 37 routes: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain*, Bangalore, Bangkok, Beijing, Dammam, Delhi, Dhaka*, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Jakarta*, Jeddah, Karachi, Kochi, Koggala, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London, Madras, Madurai*, Mahe*, Male, Mattala, Moscow, Mumbai, Muscat, Paris, Riyadh, Rome, Shanghai, Sharjah, Sigiriya, Singapore, Tiruchirappalli, Tokyo, Trivandrum
- L MJ (A320, A340-300, A330-200, A321) · 25 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Bahrain, Bangalore*, Bangkok*, Dammam*, Delhi*, Dhaka, Dubai*, Jakarta, Jeddah*, Kochi*, Kuala Lumpur*, Kuwait*, Madras*, Madurai, Mahe, Male*, Mattala*, Mumbai*, Muscat*, Riyadh*, Sharjah, Singapore*, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum*
- Malaysia Airlines MH (A320, A330-200, A340-300, 737-800) · 4 routes: Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Male*, Rome
- Air India Limited AI (A320, A321) · 3 routes: Delhi*, Madras, Mumbai*
- Oman Air WY (32C, A330-200, A330-300, A340-300, 737-800) · 3 routes: Male*, Muscat, Singapore*
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (777-200, A340-300) · 3 routes: Dammam*, Jeddah, Riyadh
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A330-200, A340-300) · 2 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Rome*
- Cathay Pacific CX (777-300) · 2 routes: Bangkok, Singapore
- China Eastern Airlines MU (737) · 2 routes: Kunming, Male
- Emirates EK (777-300, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Dubai, Male
- Korean Air KE (A330-300) · 2 routes: Male, Seoul
- Maldivian Q2 (A320) · 2 routes: Gan Island, Male
- Spicejet SG (DH8) · 2 routes: Madras, Madurai
- Air Arabia G9 (A320) · 1 route: Sharjah
- AirAsia X D7 (330) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- American Airlines AA (A320) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi*
- British Airways BA (777) · 1 route: Male
- Etihad Airways EY (A320) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Fly Dubai FZ (737-800) · 1 route: Dubai
- Jet Airways 9W (737-800) · 1 route: Mumbai
- Kuwait Airways KU (AB6) · 1 route: Kuwait
- Qatar Airways QR (A320, A321, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Doha
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300) · 1 route: Singapore
- Thai Airways International TG (A320) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Turkish Airlines TK (330) · 1 route: Male
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CMB has direct flights to 41 destinations on 25 airlines (incl. Male, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur…). By water: 2 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Diggala Ferry, 17 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Colombo, Sri Lanka. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.