From the airport to the city centre Sri Lanka

The airport hosts an official tourist information office, a post office, several banks and currency exchange offices and local telephone operators. The train and hotel shuttle services that existed in 2011 have been discontinued. Instead, since 2013, the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (or E03) connects the northern suburb of Colombo (New Kelani Bridge Interchange) to the international airport, a distance of 25.8 km. This considerably reduces travel time to and from the capital. The toll for a car costs Rs 300.

You can reach or leave the airport with :

Airport Taxi Service. The airport offers its own cabs. The website www.airport.lk indicates the fare for all destinations. Count between Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,300 to reach Colombo (the fare varies according to the district), Rs 1,800 for Negombo.

Public Bus. The depot is 500m from the airport. A shuttle bus between the terminal and the depot is available every 15 minutes. From there, the bus n°187 allows to reach Colombo (Pettah terminal). It runs every 30 minutes between 5:30 am and 6:30 pm, but the trip is not very comfortable. Count 1 hour and 120 Rs (180 Rs with air conditioning).

Arrival by train Sri Lanka

Colombo Fort Railway Station. The main railway station of Colombo, inaugurated in 1908. Most of the trains leave from this white building located in Pettah. Some trains leave from Maradana station, located 2 km east of the main station. The Sri Lanka Railways website (railway.gov.lk), allows you to know the timetable and fares. There is an information desk on the outside of the station, to the right of the main entrance. They also provide information on bus schedules.

Arrival by boat Sri Lanka

After having been completely closed to cruise ships for a long time, the port of Colombo is beginning to move towards the resumption of tourist activity. A large-scale project is underway to expand the port and open it to outside tourism. The port of Galle is also open to cruise ships.

Public transport Sri Lanka

Train. It is very easy to get around the island, which has a dense railway network inherited from the colonial period

The trains are a bit old and slow, but very practical, and cross beautiful landscapes in the center of the country

Three main lines cross the country from Colombo: the first one, towards the south and the Matara station; the second one, towards the center and the Nanu Oya station (7 km from Nuwara Eliya); this is the most picturesque trip you will make by train, especially from Kandy towards Ella and Nanu Oya. A must do! Finally, the third one goes north to Jaffna, via the historic city of Anuradhapura.

You can choose between first class, second class or third class. The third class is, of course, crowded and offers only wooden benches. In second class, the seats are a bit more padded and the compartments are (usually) ventilated by dusty fans. The first class is divided into three categories, all of which are air-conditioned: a seated class, a class called saloon observation, because of the bay windows that allow you to enjoy the landscape, and finally a sleeper class. Fares are obviously related to the category chosen

Buses are more chaotic (crowded, slow, sporty driving, etc.), but some have air conditioning and are faster than the train. With over 23,000 buses (18,000 of which are privately owned) operating throughout the country, you will be spoiled for choice. On the same route, you can use the buses of the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB), the national company in which you will have a rudimentary comfort, and those of the private companies, faster, more comfortable, generally provided with air conditioning, therefore more expensive. But the same rule applies to all companies: first come, first served. Fares are very affordable and can be consulted, as well as schedules, on the National Transport Commission website.

Always allow time to recuperate between trips, otherwise you will feel like you are spending your entire trip on transportation.

The three-wheeler . Also called tuk-tuk as in Thailand, or auto-rickshaw as in India, the three-wheeler is the best way to reach a destination up to 10 km away. They are very convenient for short trips in the countryside or in big cities. Always negotiate the fare before you get on board. Count Rs 40 per km

In Colombo, choose only those equipped with a meter. Ask for the meter to be turned on if it exists. If not, do not take a seat without discussing the price.

Hitchhiking is not part of Sri Lankan customs, so don't do it

Bike, scooters & co Sri Lanka

Bicycle. It is the ideal mode of transportation to travel the coastal roads of the southwest or to visit the sprawling cities, such as Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura or Jaffna. You can rent bicycles for the day or for the week in the small villages along the road from Colombo to Galle. Count about 350 Rs per day on the tourist sites.

Motorcycle. The motorcycle is a pleasant way to discover the country. However, it requires the same adaptation to traffic as a car, if not more. Motorcycles can be rented everywhere. It costs about Rs 1,500 per day, including gasoline, for a 100 cc (the most common size), Rs 3,500 for a 250 cc and Rs 4,500 for a 600 cc. Prices are negotiable and vary considerably depending on where you are. As a general rule, you will have to leave a deposit, a photocopy of your passport or of your plane ticket. Be sure to ask about licensing and insurance requirements. A Temporary Driving Permit (TDP) issued on the basis of your driver's license is mandatory for motorized two-wheelers, including those under 100 cc. It is better to have an international permit to present for the procedures because it is also in English. The cost is Rs 1,000. Your rental company can sometimes take care of these formalities

With a driver Sri Lanka

The best way to get around is to rent a car with a driver for a modest price, or even the same price as a rental car without a driver, because using public transportation can be dangerous: late trains, overcrowded buses. If possible, choose an English or French speaking hotel. Nothing could be easier, all hotels offer it. Rates vary according to the duration of the trip. Count on average 5 000 to 7 000 Rs per day, whatever the number of passengers. The driver goes where you want and manages to eat and sleep. It is customary to leave a tip of about 2,000 Rs per day. This can be less if you have the same driver for a very long time, but should not be less than 1,000 Rs per day. It should be noted that drivers have a very low salary and that tips are an essential part of their income

By car Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, people drive on the left side of the road and the speed limit is 40 km/h in the cities and 70 km/h in the countryside. Due to the configuration of some roads, it is difficult to reach these limits. The roads are not congested, except for the exit from Colombo to Galle in the south, to Negombo or to Kandy in the east. However, it is better to be an experienced driver to take the wheel without knowing the country

If you plan to rent a car and drive yourself , get an international license before you leave. Even for a short stay, both the French and the international driver's licenses must be converted. A Sri Lankan driver's license is then issued. You should contact theAutomobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) or the Department of Motor Traffic.

Regarding the road, you should know several things

- There is a lot of communication by honking the horn and almost never by expressing anger

- Traffic laws are not always respected, especially when it comes to overtaking (on hills, in curves, without blinking)

- The police are omnipresent on the roads and have binoculars to control speed. In addition, the legal blood alcohol level is 0 g/l... and offenders are subject to heavy fines and even jail time

Expressways

- The Southern Expressway (E01) runs from Kottawa, on the eastern outskirts of Colombo, to Pinnaduwa Interchange (Galle), and then Godagama Interchange (Matara) via a route that follows the coastline about 10 km inland, or 136 km. In late 2019, the E01 was extended to Hambantota (about 75 km). In the future. The Colombo-Galle fare is Rs 500 for a car, and Rs 650 for the Colombo-Matara link

- The Outer Circular Expressway (E02), is the northern extension of the E01 to bypass eastern Colombo, was inaugurated in late 2015

- The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (E03) connects the northern suburbs of Colombo (New Kelani Bridge Interchange) to Bandaranayake International Airport, 25.8 km. The Colombo-Airport fare is Rs 300 for a car

Accessibility Sri Lanka

Transportation and sidewalks in cities are not at all suitable for people with reduced mobility or strollers.

Tourist traps Sri Lanka

Never get into a three-wheeler or tuk tuk without first negotiating the fare! Many of them inflate their fares at the sight of tourists (up to 3 or 4 times the normal fare), especially in the beach resorts.

Smart tip: download the Sri Lankan app PickMe (the local equivalent of Uber) which allows you to book a ride by car or tuk tuk. Even if you don't book on the app, it will give you an accurate idea of the official fare!