Landing at Colombo airport: your first hour, sorted
Immigration, a 24-hour SIM counter, fair-rate taxis and the highway bus: the smooth path from the plane to your first hotel. Bandaranaike International (CMB) is compact and easy to read. After immigration and baggage, everything a fresh arrival needs lines the arrivals concourse: 24-hour bank counters for rupees, SIM desks from all four networks, and official taxi counters.
The practical picture
Bandaranaike International (CMB) is compact and easy to read. After immigration and baggage, everything a fresh arrival needs lines the arrivals concourse: 24-hour bank counters for rupees, SIM desks from all four networks, and official taxi counters with fixed, supervised rates.
Cheapest into Colombo is the 187 highway bus to the Fort; easiest is the taxi counter or a PickMe once you have data. If your first stop is the south coast, consider the dedicated bus to Makumbura and connect straight onto the southern expressway without touching the city.
Frequently asked
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Sources
We compile and link to public sources; details change, so verify time-sensitive specifics before you travel.