Getting around Colombo

Which way is best?

Tuk-tuks

A tuk-tuk is a small three-wheeled taxi with open sides. There is one on almost every corner, and it is the quickest way to make a short trip through traffic.

The meter rate

The official rate in Colombo, and the rest of the Western Province, changed on 23 March 2026. It is now 110 rupees for the first km and 90 rupees for each km after that, and it was still the same in October 2026.

• 2 km costs about 200 rupees, 3 km about 290 rupees and 5 km about 470 rupees.
• Between 10 PM and 5 AM, drivers can add 15%.
• From Galle Face Green, Pettah is about 200 rupees, Gangaramaya Temple about 200 to 250 rupees and the Lotus Tower about 350 rupees.
• The meter rate is for street tuk-tuks only. App prices are set by the app.

By law the meter must be where you can see it. In real life many tuk-tuks have no meter, or one that “does not work”. The US government warns about a common trick: the driver says the meter is broken, shows a fare app on his phone instead, and then charges much more than the normal price.

How not to pay too much

1. Use PickMe or Uber when you can. You see the price before you get in.
2. Ask for the meter. Say “meter, please” and check that the driver turns it on as you leave.
3. No meter? Agree the price first. Use the meter rate to work out a fair price, and say the number clearly before you sit down.
4. Carry small notes, so you can pay the exact amount.
5. Ask for a receipt if there is a problem. Drivers must give you one if you ask.

Drivers who wait together at tuk-tuk stands sometimes do not like app drivers. Lonely Planet suggests walking a few hundred metres away before you meet an app ride.

Safety in a tuk-tuk

• There are no doors and no seatbelts, so sit back and hold on.
• Keep bags and phones inside, away from the open sides.
• If you do not like the way someone drives, ask them to stop, get out and find another tuk-tuk.
• At night, especially if you are a woman travelling alone, use an app. It shows the driver’s name and number plate.

PickMe and Uber

Both apps work all over Colombo. PickMe is a Sri Lankan app, and Uber works with the account you already have at home.

• Ride types: tuk-tuks, motorbikes, small cars, bigger cars and vans. On 30 September 2026 Uber also started Uber Black, with premium SUVs.
• Price: shown before you book. It can go up at busy times, when many people want a ride.
• Payment: cash, or a card saved in the app.
• Phone number: you need a phone number with data. A Sri Lankan SIM card is the easiest way, and you can buy one at the airport.
• Motorbike rides: you must wear a helmet by law. Ask the rider for one.
• Hiring for a day: PickMe Rentals gives you a car and driver for several hours or a whole day. It does not offer tuk-tuks.

Coming from the airport? Read our guide to Colombo Airport to the city.

Buses

Colombo has two kinds of buses. The red buses belong to the government (the Sri Lanka Transport Board). Private buses come in many colours. Both use the same route numbers and should charge the same fares.

• How to pay: get on and pay the conductor in cash. Ask for a ticket: on private buses in the Western Province, a ticket is required by law.
• Fares: the cheapest fare is 34 rupees (from 6 July 2026). Short trips in central Colombo cost about 34 to 56 rupees. Semi-luxury buses cost about one and a half times as much.
• Routes: buses 100 and 101 run between Pettah and the south along Galle Road, past Fort, Galle Face Green, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and Wellawatte. Ask the conductor for “Galle Face”.

Buses are cheap and fun for a short ride, but they are often crowded. The UK government says public buses are often driven fast, rarely give way and are often poorly maintained. Watch for pickpockets, and take an app ride if you have big bags or it is late.

Trains along the coast

The coast railway line runs south from Colombo Fort, right beside the sea. The main stations are Kompannavidiya (Slave Island), Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte, Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia, 12 km from Fort.

• Time: Fort to Mount Lavinia takes about 20 to 25 minutes.
• How often: about 35 trains a day each way, from early morning into the evening. Check the times at the station.
• Fares: third class costs 20 rupees from Fort to Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya or Wellawatte, and 40 rupees to Dehiwala or Mount Lavinia. Many local trains have third class only.
• Tickets: buy one at the station counter before you get on. Since 17 September 2026 you can also buy e-tickets on the new Pravesha website and app.
• Crowds: trains are packed when people go to and from work. Never stand in the open doorway: people have died falling from trains.

For Galle Face Green, the nearest station is Kompannavidiya (Slave Island), a few minutes’ walk from the south end. Check that your train stops there. Colombo Fort station is a 20 to 25 minute walk from the north end, or a short tuk-tuk ride (about 250 rupees). See how to get to Galle Face Green.

Walking

Walking is the best way to see Pettah, Fort and Galle Face Green. Between areas, distances are longer than they look, and the heat makes them feel longer still.

• Go early or late. It is about 30 to 32 °C on most days, and the air is damp. Walk before 11 AM or after 4 PM, and carry water.
• Traffic drives on the left. Look right first when you cross, then left, then right again.
• Cross with care. Use a zebra crossing or traffic lights, or cross with a group of local people. Cars, buses and tuk-tuks do not always stop.
• Watch your step. Pavements can be broken, high or blocked.
• Keep your bag on the side away from the road. The UK government warns that thieves on motorbikes sometimes grab bags.
• Heavy rain: some roads flood quickly, and traffic slows right down. Wait in a café or a mall until it passes.

Common scams, and how to say no

Most people who talk to you are just being friendly. But a few tricks are common in Colombo, especially near hotels, shopping areas and the main sights. The US government warns visitors about drivers who offer “special” tours, or trips to festivals or gem shops.

“There is a special festival today”

A friendly man or a tuk-tuk driver tells you there is a special festival today, often at a temple. He offers a cheap ride to see it. The ride ends at a gem, spice or tea shop, where you are pushed to buy. Say “no, thank you” and walk on.

Gem and jewellery shops

Fake and overpriced gems are a common trick. Never buy gems because a stranger or a driver says it is a special sale or a good investment. If you really want a gem, choose the shop yourself, take your time, and ask for a certificate. The government’s National Gem and Jewellery Authority has a testing lab in Colombo.

Friendly strangers and fake guides

Someone says hello, says he works at your hotel, or offers to show you the way. Soon he is your “guide” and wants money, or he takes you to a shop. If a stranger offers to take you somewhere, smile, say no and keep walking.

“It is closed today”

A driver or a stranger says the place you want to see is closed today, and offers to take you somewhere “better”. Lonely Planet’s advice is simple: follow the crowds, and do not listen to anyone who says an entrance is closed. Walk to the gate and see for yourself.

The ride that stops at shops

Some drivers get money from shops for every visitor they bring, and that money can end up on your bill. If you hire a tuk-tuk for a few hours, say at the start: “no shops, please”.

If something goes wrong

• Police emergency: 119
• Ambulance (free): 1990
• Tourist Police, Colombo: +94 11 242 1052 (80 Galle Road, Colombo 3)
• Tourism hotline: 1912, from a Sri Lankan phone. It can put you through to the Tourist Police.
• Overcharging: the Consumer Affairs Authority, 1977
• Problems on a bus: the National Transport Commission, 1955

Planning your day? Our one day in Colombo plan and our tuk-tuk city tour guide show you how to fit the sights together.