The drive from Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo 5 is about thirty-two kilometers. It can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours. The way you make it matters more than the distance.
What follows is what we tell our guests when they ask. There are three reasonable ways to do it. Each one is right for a different kind of arrival. We will tell you what each one costs, how long it takes, and which one we would choose for ourselves.
The trip, in numbers
Bandaranaike International Airport is in Katunayake, on the coast about thirty-five kilometers north of central Colombo. The airport code is CMB. From the runway to our front gate in Kirulapone, the route is one of two: the Katunayake Expressway (E03) for most of the way, or the older coastal road through Negombo for the whole way.
By expressway, in light traffic, the journey is thirty to fifty minutes. By coastal road, in normal traffic, it is one hour to ninety minutes. Either route, in the school-run hour or after a long-haul arrival at five in the afternoon, can stretch to two hours. The expressway has a toll of about LKR 300, which is included in most fares quoted to you. You do not pay it separately.
The pre-arranged hotel transfer
The most expensive option, and the one we recommend for late-night arrivals or first-time visitors who would rather not think.
Cost: around LKR 7,000 to 9,500. Booked through us or any hotel.
Time: thirty to seventy-five minutes.
What you get: a fixed price quoted in advance, working air-conditioning, and a driver who knows the way to Kirulapone without consulting a phone. The driver waits in the car at the airport pickup zone and stays in contact with you by phone or WhatsApp once you've cleared customs — no name signs, no scrum at the arrivals barrier. No haggling, no app, no queueing.
When to choose it: arrivals after ten at night, groups of three or more, anyone arriving on their first trip to Sri Lanka, anyone with heavy luggage, and anyone who would rather sleep on the way in than navigate. To arrange one with us, send us your flight details a day ahead and we will have someone there.
PickMe and Uber
The two ride-hailing apps that work at the airport. PickMe is the local one and is more reliable. Uber is the same app you use at home and is sometimes cheaper.
Cost: around LKR 2,800 to 4,800 to Colombo 5, depending on the app, the time of day, and whether surge pricing is active. Both apps let you pay in-app with a saved card.
Time: five to fifteen minutes' wait for pickup, then thirty to eighty minutes to drive.
What you get: a real-time price, a driver's photo and number, a tracked route, and the cheapest of the door-to-door options. The airport has a dedicated PickMe and Uber pickup zone — the apps will direct you to it once you have booked.
When to choose it: daytime arrivals, solo travelers, anyone with a working SIM or international roaming on landing, anyone who would rather see the price up front than negotiate. When not to: late at night, when fewer drivers are circling, or if your phone is not working at the airport. There is a SIM kiosk in arrivals — Dialog or Mobitel — and a tourist SIM with data costs around LKR 1,500. Most travelers buy one before the taxi anyway.
The bus and the tuk-tuk
The cheapest way, and the one we suggest only for daylight arrivals with light luggage and time.
Cost: LKR 200 to 300 for the bus, LKR 600 to 1,000 for the tuk-tuk from Pettah to Colombo 5. Total: under LKR 1,500.
Time: ninety minutes to two hours, sometimes more.
How it works: walk out of arrivals to the bus terminal, about five minutes from the terminal building. Take the 187 bus to Colombo Pettah. It runs frequently during the day, less frequently at night. From Pettah, take a tuk-tuk to Kirulapone. Show the driver our address — 44 Kirulapone Avenue, Colombo 5, next to LINK LANKA — on a printout or phone screen, agree on the fare before getting in (LKR 700 to 900 is fair from Pettah), and you will be at our gate in twenty minutes.
When to choose it: budget-conscious solo travelers, backpackers, anyone arriving in daylight with one bag and a sense of adventure. When not to: late nights, heavy luggage, jet-lag at the deepest level, or any time you can afford the LKR 2,500 difference for a door-to-door car.
Which one we would pick
If we were landing at noon on a weekday, we would take a PickMe.
If we were landing at one in the morning, we would take a pre-arranged transfer.
If we were broke, traveling light, and arriving in daylight, we would take the bus.
There is no wrong answer. The price difference between the cheapest and the most expensive option is about USD 30. Whether USD 30 matters depends on what you are optimizing for tonight.
How to find us when you arrive
Our address is 44 Kirulapone Avenue, Colombo 5. Tell the driver "Seconds Colombo, Kirulapone, next to LINK LANKA" and most local drivers will know. The 138 bus from Fort, Slave Island, Town Hall, and Havelock Town stops at our gate. The walk from Kirulapone Railway Station is five minutes. Look for the gold sign at number 44.
If you would like us to arrange a transfer, book a room and we will add it to your reservation. If you have already arrived and you are stuck somewhere, the front desk number is +94 77 878 5871. We answer.
Once you are here, the next thing worth reading is a walking guide to Kirulapone. Or, if you are still planning, the complete guide to Colombo 5.
Common questions
How much is a taxi from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo 5?
Between LKR 2,800 and LKR 9,500, depending on the option. PickMe or Uber is cheapest at around LKR 2,800 to 4,800. A pre-arranged hotel transfer is LKR 7,000 to 9,500.
How long does it take to get from the airport to Colombo 5?
Thirty minutes to two hours by car, depending on traffic and the time of day. By bus, 1.5 to 2 hours.
Is there a train from the airport to Colombo?
No direct rail link. The nearest station is Katunayake, some kilometers from the terminal, and the service is irregular. Most travelers skip the train.
How do I pay for a taxi from the airport?
PickMe and Uber both let you pay in-app with a saved card — easiest option, no cash needed. Pre-arranged taxi drivers and tuk-tuks generally prefer cash in Sri Lankan rupees. Withdraw LKR at an airport ATM on arrival or change a small amount at the currency desk for the journey.
Should I get a SIM card before leaving the airport?
Yes, if you plan to use PickMe or Uber. Dialog and Mobitel have kiosks in arrivals. About LKR 1,500 for a tourist SIM with enough data for a week.
— Written by the front desk, after the thousandth airport pickup. Updated May 2026.