1Galle Face Green
Ocean-facing promenade where Colombo gathers at dusk. Street food vendors sell isso wade (prawn fritters) from 4pm.
Photo: Rehman Abubakr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Bandaranaike Airport (CMB) · Sri Lanka
3-Hour Layover in Colombo: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Phil Whitehouse, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Colombo?
Entry
Sri Lanka requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for most nationalities — apply at eta.gov.lk before travel ($35 USD, issued instantly). Indian nationals need separate visa.
Into town
Taxi / PickMe app: 30–45 min, $10–18.
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from CMB arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Colombo: Where to Go
The sights in Colombo worth leaving the airport for.
1market
Pettah Bazaar
Colombo's oldest wholesale market — a sensory overload of spice stalls, electronics, and fabric.
landmark
Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
Eclectic temple complex with a museum of offerings from world leaders. Free entry, open from 6am.
Itinerary ideas for Colombo
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
You are here3 hours in Colombo
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Insider tip
Colombo has no traffic on early mornings (before 7am) and late nights. A 6-hour night layover allows easy access to the Pettah market street food scene.
Into Colombo
Getting to Colombo City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi / PickMe app | $10–18 | 30–45 min |
| Bus (Route 187/190) | $0.30 | 50–70 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Colombo
Kottu roti (chopped roti with vegetables and meat) at Pilawoos Hotel in Kollupitiya — the city's favourite late-night dish, LKR 500.
3 hours in Colombo
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Bandaranaike Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Colombo and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Colombo?
Sri Lanka requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for most nationalities — apply at eta.gov.lk before travel ($35 USD, issued instantly). Indian nationals need separate visa. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 3 hours enough to leave Bandaranaike Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight. Getting into Colombo by Taxi / PickMe app takes 30–45 min each way.
How do I get from Bandaranaike Airport to Colombo centre?
Taxi / PickMe app: 30–45 min, $10–18. Bus (Route 187/190): 50–70 min, $0.30.
Getting out of Bandaranaike Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Trains & buses from Colombo
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Planning a longer stay in Colombo?
Read our full destination guide — hotels, attractions, visa tips, and more.
Colombo Destination Guide →Also useful for your Colombo trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Colombo
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from CMB.
Flights to Colombo from 24 cities: fares and airlines →
Cinnamon Air route mapFitsAir route mapAeroflot route mapAir Arabia route mapAir Astana route mapAir China route mapAir France route mapAir India route mapAir Seychelles route mapAirAsia route mapBatik Air Malaysia route mapCathay Pacific route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapChina Southern route mapChina Southern Airlines route mapChongqing Airlines route mapEdelweiss Air route map
Airport lounges at Bandaranaike Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Colombo travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Colombo works
01
Check you can leave
Sri Lanka requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for most nationalities — apply at eta.gov.lk before travel ($35 USD, issued instantly). Indian nationals need separate visa.
03
Back in time for your flight
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Ready for Colombo?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.