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Cheap flights to Colombo

WAS — CMB
24 Mar — 31 Mar1
1 adult
Sun 24/3
Sun 31/3

Flights to Colombo in 2024

Find the latest flights to Colombo in 2024, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 905,048 searches and data was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

November

Average price

£796

Return from

£469

One-way from

£148
High demand for flights, 12% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
Average for return flights in March 2024
From London to Colombo
One-way flight from London to Colombo (CMB)

Average price of flights to Bandaranaike Intl Airport by month

Plan your trip to Colombo by taking into account the cheapest months to travel. The average price of a one-way flight to Colombo is currently £0 while a return flight costs £0. Price data was last updated on 10 March 2024.

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Colombo (average of £907). Flying to Colombo in July will prove the most costly (average of £1,162). There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.

January

£763

February

£744

March

£739

April

£732

May

£712

June

£730

July

£913

August

£796

September

£736

October

£744

November

£723

December

£792

Two monsoon seasons deter travellers from visiting Colombo from May through August and October through December. In general, the best time to book a flight to Colombo is between January and March, when rainfall is at its lowest and temperatures climb toward their highest. Travellers seeking a trip filled with festivals may want to consider braving the monsoon season and travelling in May for the celebration of Buddha’s birth, which sees Colombo covered in lanterns, lights and other decorations. Cheap flights to Colombo can be found outside of the peak travel months of January, February and March when other celebrations take place.

Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya Temple

Traditionally, the Duruthu Perahera takes place on the pre-full moon day in the month of January. The spectacular procession entices hundreds and thousands of natives and tourists who are keen to witness the cultural heritage and ancient traditions of the nation through the remarkable parades of folk music, rhythmic dance and drum performances outside the Temple Purlieu.

Navam Perehera

Book a flight to Colombo during February and see the streets of Colombo come alive to celebrate the month’s full moon. The streets are flowing with vibrant and colourful processions with a display of dancers, drummers, traditional folklore, music and Chieftains in traditional attire. The main attraction of the parade is the hundreds of elephants that travel from various parts of the country dressed in shining cloaks. This huge event is located at Gangarama Temple in Colombo and sees more than a million spectators gather annually.

Temperature and rainfall in Colombo by month

Plan your trip to Colombo by taking into account the average temperature and rainfall totals by month.

CMB

Temperature

27 - 28 °C

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Colombo, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, March is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 28.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 27.0 C).

When is the best time to book a flight to Colombo?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight to Colombo. Price data was last updated on 28 January 2024.
To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight to Colombo, you should look to book at least 84 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.
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When is the cheapest time to fly to Colombo?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return to Colombo. Price data was last updated on 17 March 2024.
Morning
Midday
Afternoon
Evening
All times are departure.
Users looking for the lowest fares to Colombo should consider flying on Tuesday mornings, when prices are typically cheapest. Budget-minded travellers will want to avoid Thursday afternoons, when prices are usually at their highest.
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Reviews of airlines servicing Colombo

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Colombo. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Colombo. Reviews last updated 19 March 2024.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown China Eastern, SriLankan Airlines and Vistara to Colombo. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

7.8
Good
239 reviews
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

7.8
Good
2,183 reviews
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

7.8
Good
1,720 reviews
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

7.7
Good
4,578 reviews
8.1
Very Good
4,215 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.3

Crew

8.3

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 10

The cabin crew were as always friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for more. Although the flight in business was under occupied there were a couple of things not available!

Getting around Colombo

Colombo’s streets are filled with three-wheel vehicles known as tuk-tuks, and these motorised for-hire vehicles can be a convenient way to get around the city. Tourists should opt for metered tuk-tuks rather than trying to negotiate a rate with the driver or better yet, seek out a special tourist-friendly fleet operated by the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority. Taxis are also available, as are public buses and a train system.

Getting to the city

Flights to Colombo land at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is about 20 miles north of the city. Depending on how heavy the traffic is, the journey between Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) and Colombo can take between half an hour and one hour. A shuttle runs every 15 minutes to take passengers from the airport terminal to a nearby bus station, where public transportation connects travellers to Colombo. Taxis are also available with fixed rates.

Colombo airport overview

Sri Lanka’s only international airport, Colombo Bandaranaike Airport has undergone a lot of improvements in recent years, and now stands ready to provide visitors with a suitably pleasant and stress-free welcome to the wonderful island nation.

Flights to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport, also known as Katunayake International Airport, are provided by a number of airlines, though obviously, it is primarily a hub for Sri Lankan Airlines, who provide flights to various Indian cities as well as to major Middle Eastern, Asian and European destinations.

Sri Lanka gets only a fraction of the tourist numbers India does despite offering a wealth of culture, great beaches, and truly friendly, hospitable people. If you are currently looking for your next vacation, be sure to research flights to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport. The only caveat is that getting into downtown Colombo from the airport (32km or 20 miles) can be quite an intense experience if you choose to go the public transportation route. It is recommended, especially for first-time travellers, that you just pay for a taxi to take you where you need to go.

  • Why visit?

    Take a flight to Colombo and see its many historic religious sites against modern skyscrapers, a spread of ethnicities living side by side and extensive green spaces surrounded by the fumes of heavy traffic. History and modernity live side by side in Sri Lanka’s capital city on the ocean shore. First time visitors taking cheap flights to Colombo may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people, traffic and activity that fill the streets of Colombo, but with time, the city’s charms begin to win over newcomers. There’s plenty to see, but many visitors choose to start with the stunning temples found throughout Colombo. Of these, the colourful Gangaramaya Temple is a favourite among visitors for its incredible Buddhist statues and museum. Colombo’s past is on full display at sites like The National Museum of Colombo, the Natural History Museum and the Dutch Period Museum, while contemporary and Sri Lankan art greet visitors to the National Art Gallery. A metropolis Colombo surely is, but there are ample opportunities to escape the urban in favour of a more natural retreat. The wildlife that takes up residence at Viharamahadevi Park adds a lively element to a stroll through this lushly landscaped green space, while the Talangama Wetland just outside the city proper offers lakeside relaxation amongst butterflies and greenery. After recharging, visitors can head to Galle Face Green, an oceanfront promenade that attracts many for some of the best sunset views in the city.

  • How long is the flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka?

    There are flights from Glasgow, United Kingdom, to Colombo, Sri Lanka, that range from 20h-22h. You can find flights from London to Colombo that are around 11h-19h, while flights from Manchester are around 18h-20h. Flights from Bristol to Colombo range from 20h-22h and flights from Edinburgh are around 20h-22h.

  • Where can you get direct flights to Colombo from?

    There are direct flights from London to Colombo that are around 11h, making the trip much faster than those with stops. However, finding direct flights from other cities in the United Kingdom are harder to come by. Most major cities in the United Kingdom do offer one-stop flights to Colombo.

  • How do you get from Bandaranaike International Airport to the city centre?

    Bandaranaike International Airport is the only international airport in Sri Lanka and as such offers multiple transportation options for the many visitors that arrive from all over the world. The Sri Lanka Express Bus HighWay-Bus takes you from the airport to the city of Colombo is around an hour, even including the city’s heavy traffic. The buses depart every half hour from the airport, but stop running after 8:30 p.m. For a little longer travel time–around 1.5h–the minibus also takes travelers to the city from the airport, and it runs sparingly at night when the Sri Lanka Express Bus line id shut down. However, finding the bus stop at night outside the airport can be difficult. The most recommended mode of transport, due to comfort and short travel time, is a taxi. It can take you to the city from the airport in around 45m, and taxis run all day, every day, so you can rely on a taxi no matter when your plane lands. Also, instead of being dropped off at the city centre, like you would with the buses, the taxi can take you directly to your destination lodging. You can also book online to avoid extra fees.

  • What are some things to do in Colombo?

    Colombo is known for its vibrant and flavorful food. Taking a walking food tour is a great way to sample all the delicacies and unforgettable foods of Sri Lanka. You can even opt for a private street food tour. On this private tour, you’ll get to try 10 distinctive meals and treats of the city. There are also plenty of day outings where you can grab memorable photos in front of historical sites and beautiful landscapes. Buddhist temples and world-famous gardens are not only beautiful but also a great place to learn about the history of the city and country, as well as the culture it is steeped in. Some of these locations also offer private tours, where you can have a well-versed expert to educate you on the story behind each place.

  • Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Colombo?

    Citizens traveling from the United Kingdom are required to have a passport for at least six months, as well as a visa. You can apply for a visa online.

See more FAQs

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