Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Bandaranaike Airport is located in Katunayake, near Negombo and about 32 km north of Colombo: with the traffic on the A3 and the expressway, the transfer to the centre actually takes 30-60 minutes, not the 20 minutes often quoted in guidebooks. For a one-night layover it's best to stay near Negombo; for those with at least a full day, central Colombo between Galle Face and Fort remains the most sensible choice, with its seafront, Pettah Market and major chain hotels just a few minutes from one another. The transfer still remains long, so for dawn flights it's worth adding an extra margin on top of the standard estimates.

Colombo, Galle Face and Fort

City centre · About 30-32 km from the airport, 30-45 minutes outside rush hour but easily 45-60 in case of traffic on the Katunayake expressway.

Best for: Those with at least a full day who want the Galle Face seafront, the Fort district and the big international hotels.

Pros

Galle Face Green, Pettah Market and the World Trade Center reachable on foot or with a few minutes by taxi
Wider choice of restaurants and evening life than the airport area

Cons

The transfer from the airport easily exceeds 45 minutes during rush hour
Those with a short layover spend more time in the car than in the city

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Colombo: The only hotel linked by a walkway to the Colombo World Trade Center, on Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha; pool and several in-house restaurants, about 34 km and 45 minutes from the airport.
Shangri-La Colombo: Tower overlooking Galle Face Green and Beira Lake, at 1 Galle Face, in the business district between the seafront and Pettah Market; outdoor pool and airport shuttle running 24 hours a day.
Radisson Hotel Colombo: Former OZO Colombo from the Thai group Onyx, acquired and rebranded Radisson after a renovation; 158 rooms on Clifford Place, in the Havelock Town area.

See more hotels in this area →