Fly from
Budget
£450 - £695
Route
Depart
Return
Price
London GatwickColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LGW - CMB
LGWCMB
London Gatwick
Tue 4/6
2 stops29h 20m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Thu 27/6
2 stops31h 50m
London GatwickColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LGW - CMB
LGWCMB
London Gatwick
Mon 3/6
1 stop26h 55m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Mon 10/6
1 stop38h 40m
London HeathrowColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LHR - CMB
LHRCMB
London Heathrow
Wed 5/6
1 stop30h 55m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Sun 16/6
1 stop18h 00m
London HeathrowColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LHR - CMB
LHRCMB
London Heathrow
Mon 3/6
1 stop13h 05m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Mon 10/6
1 stop15h 15m
London GatwickColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LGW - CMB
LGWCMB
London Gatwick
Sat 15/6
1 stop15h 20m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Wed 26/6
1 stop14h 00m
London HeathrowColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LHR - CMB
LHRCMB
London Heathrow
Mon 3/6
1 stop25h 50m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Tue 18/6
1 stop16h 10m
London GatwickColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LGW - CMB
LGWCMB
London Gatwick
Tue 10/9
1 stop12h 35m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Fri 20/9
1 stop23h 30m
London HeathrowColombo Bandaranaike Intl
LHR - CMB
LHRCMB
London Heathrow
Sun 16/6
Nonstop10h 45m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Mon 1/7
Nonstop11h 25m
London StanstedColombo Bandaranaike Intl
STN - CMB
STNCMB
London Stansted
Tue 10/9
2 stops23h 05m
Colombo Bandaranaike Intl
Thu 10/10
1 stop13h 10m
Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Colombo (average of £865). Flying to Colombo in July will prove the most costly (average of £1,129). There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.
January
£766
February
£753
March
£738
April
£693
May
£681
June
£705
July
£889
August
£782
September
£734
October
£746
November
£726
December
£797
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.
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).
Food
Entertainment
Overall
Comfort
Crew
Boarding
Reviews
They changed my flight but didn't notify the other carrier. I can't do online check-in and had to wait 30 min to get it all sort out at the counter.
Food
Entertainment
Overall
Comfort
Crew
Boarding
Reviews
They changed my flight but didn't notify the other carrier. I can't do online check-in and had to wait 30 min to get it all sort out at the counter.
Food
Entertainment
Overall
Comfort
Crew
Boarding
Reviews
They changed my flight but didn't notify the other carrier. I can't do online check-in and had to wait 30 min to get it all sort out at the counter.
Food
Entertainment
Overall
Comfort
Crew
Boarding
Reviews
They changed my flight but didn't notify the other carrier. I can't do online check-in and had to wait 30 min to get it all sort out at the counter.
Food
Entertainment
Overall
Comfort
Crew
Boarding
Reviews
They changed my flight but didn't notify the other carrier. I can't do online check-in and had to wait 30 min to get it all sort out at the counter.
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.
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.