Bandaranaike International Airport is connected to Colombo by the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway. The useful thing about pricing this particular trip: the airport publishes its own taxi rate card, so most of the cost is knowable before you land rather than guessed at afterwards.
What the airport itself charges
The official airport taxi service has counters in the arrivals lobby and the arrival porch and a fleet of over 600 vehicles. Its air-conditioned rates are fixed per destination and published on the airport's own site.
| Destination | Official A/C rate (LKR) |
|---|---|
| Colombo 01 – Fort | 8,100 |
| Colombo 03 – Kollupitiya | 8,100 |
| Colombo 04 – Bambalapitiya | 8,100 |
| Colombo 07 – Cinnamon Gardens | 8,100 |
| Colombo 11 – Pettah | 8,100 |
| Colombo 06 – Wellawatta | 8,640 |
| Colombo 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 (Borella, Dematagoda, Maradana, Aluthkade, Kotahena, Grandpass, Mattakuliya) | 7,884 |
| Mount Lavinia | 10,476 |
| Negombo | 3,780 |
| Kandy | 21,384 |
| Galle | 23,328 |
| Sigiriya | 28,188 |
Fixed-price private transfer
CMB Colombo City Center
From€26for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €37 per vehicle, about €9 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
Two add-ons are published alongside them: Rs 130 for each extra kilometre travelled beyond the requested destination, and Rs 300 for each extra drop within the agreed journey. Note what the card actually says about geography — Fort, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and Cinnamon Gardens all cost the same, and the inner suburbs from Borella round to Mattakuliya are marginally cheaper than Fort, not dearer. Rate cards are revised, so check the airport's taxi page for the current one before you travel.
The bus
Route 187 runs air-conditioned buses between the airport and Colombo Fort. The airport publishes the fare as Rs 325 per passenger, plus a further Rs 325 for baggage over 23 kg. It runs 24 hours a day and reaches Colombo Fort in about 50 minutes. Board at the Departure Terminal outer porch.
What is not published
Ride-hailing apps price each ride in the app, and the price moves with demand and time of day. There is no tariff to quote, so open the app on arrival and compare its number against the Rs 8,100 counter rate to Fort. Pre-booked private transfers fix a price when you book. Neither can be reduced to a standing figure on a page without inventing one.
The expressway toll
The Colombo–Katunayake Expressway is a tolled road, and we do not print a toll figure here because we could not confirm the current rate from the Road Development Authority's published pages. When you get a quote from a transfer company or a ride-hailing driver, ask whether any toll is included.
Tipping
Tipping is optional.
Cash
ATMs are available in the airport's arrival lobby if you need to withdraw LKR. Ask the taxi counter or your transfer company which payment methods they accept.
Sources (checked 2026-10-17)
- Airport Taxi Service counters, fleet of over 600, A/C rates by destination, Rs 130 per extra km, Rs 300 per extra drop: https://www.airport.lk/passenger_guide/getting_arround/taxi_service.php
- Route 187 A/C bus, Rs 325 per passenger, Rs 325 for baggage over 23 kg, 24 hours, about 50 minutes to Colombo Fort, boarding at Departure Terminal outer porch: https://www.airport.lk/passenger_guide/getting_arround/luxury_bus_service
- Ride-hailing apps listed under getting to and from the airport: https://www.airport.lk/passenger_guide/getting_arround/to_&_from_airport
- ATMs in the arrival lobby: https://www.airport.lk/passenger_guide/arrival_info/arrival_services
When a private transfer from CMB is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Colombo City Center is from €37, about €9 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
CMB → Colombo City Center from €26Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Colombo airport to the city center?
The airport's own taxi counter charges a fixed LKR 8,100 to Colombo 01 (Fort) in an air-conditioned car — the same rate as Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and Cinnamon Gardens. Rates are published by the airport and revised from time to time, so check its taxi page before you travel.
Is the airport expressway toll included in taxi fares?
The airport's published rate card does not mention the expressway toll. Ask your transfer company or driver whether any toll is included in the price they quote.
What is the cheapest way to get from CMB airport to Colombo?
The Route 187 bus to Colombo Fort. The airport publishes the fare as LKR 325 per passenger (plus LKR 325 for baggage over 23 kg). The buses are air-conditioned and run 24 hours a day, reaching Fort in about 50 minutes.
Do Colombo airport taxis accept credit cards?
The airport does not publish the payment methods for its taxi counter, so ask at the counter. There are ATMs in the arrival lobby if you need LKR cash.