Your First 24 Hours in Sri Lanka: Airport to Hotel

You've been travelling for hours, it's hot, and everyone in the arrivals hall seems to want to sell you something. Your first hour in Sri Lanka is when you're most likely to overpay, simply because you're tired and don't have a SIM or any rupees yet.

Arrivals at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) are easy once you know the order. This guide takes you through it, from before you fly until your first night's sleep.

Fares and prices are approximate and were checked in late 2026. Sources often disagree, so use them as a guide and check the live price in the app.

The short version

Before you fly: Get your ETA and complete the arrival card online.
Immigration, bags and customs: Keep your passport, ETA and hotel address handy.
In the arrivals hall, in this order: SIM, then cash, then your ride.
Ignore anyone who approaches you offering a taxi. Use an app, the official counter or your hotel's pickup.
Spend your first night close by if you land late. Don't start a long drive when you're exhausted.

Before you fly

ETA

You need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for a tourist visit. Since 25 May 2026, citizens of 40 countries get a free 30-day tourist ETA, while others pay a fee. Apply before you travel, only on the official site: eta.gov.lk. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same thing.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you arrive.

Arrival card

You'll also need to fill in an arrival card. You can do this online at the Department of Immigration's site, in the three days before you arrive. It's free. Sources say you can also complete a paper card if needed, but doing it online saves time. Keep the confirmation on your phone.

What to have ready

Your passport, and your ETA confirmation as a screenshot or printout
Your first night's address and phone number, saved offline
Your hotel pickup details if you've arranged one, including the driver's name
Some cash in US dollars or euros as a backup
Offline maps and your app downloads, done on home Wi-Fi

What not to pack

Cigarettes: Sri Lanka Customs says cigarettes, cigars, beedies and snuff can't be imported as personal baggage. Some other websites say otherwise, but follow the official rule.
Vapes: Reported to be banned, and could be confiscated.
Drones: You need approval in advance. See our guide to temples and local laws.
Drugs: Penalties are severe, even in transit. Bring prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

If you have a Buddha tattoo, cover it before you land. Visible Buddha tattoos have led to detention and deportation.

At the airport

Immigration

Follow the signs to immigration and have your passport and ETA ready. Answer questions simply: where you're staying and how long for. Check that the entry stamp or record shows the right number of days.

Baggage and customs

Collect your bags and go through customs. The official allowances for foreign visitors include:

Up to 1.5 litres of liquor, bought at duty-free or brought in on the day you arrive
Currency worth more than US$15,000 must be declared

Sri Lanka Customs has a helpline, 1915, if you have something unusual. Anything prohibited or subject to duty must be declared.

Arrivals hall: SIM, cash, ride

Once you're through customs, you'll reach the public arrivals area, where the phone company counters and ATMs are.

1. Get a SIM

Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Airtel and Hutch have counters. You'll need your original passport. Staff usually set up the SIM on the spot, often in under 10 minutes, though queues can build up when several flights land together.

Price: Tourist packs cost about LKR 1,300–2,500, usually for around 15–30 GB over a month. Compare the deals on display.
Late arrivals: Counters are generally open around the clock, but this isn't guaranteed, so a pre-installed eSIM is a useful backup.

Test your data before you walk away from the counter.

2. Get cash

ATMs are in the arrivals area and generally give a fair rate, though your own bank may charge a fee. Not all ATMs accept foreign cards, so try another if one fails.
If the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose rupees. The conversion rate is usually worse.
Exchange counters are available too. Count your cash at the counter and keep the receipt.
Ask for some smaller notes if you can. Drivers and small shops may struggle to change a LKR 5,000 note.

Take enough for a day or two. There's no need to change a lot of money at the airport.

3. Get your ride

Now that you have data, choose one of the options below.

Getting from the airport

Option	Approx. cost to central Colombo	Best for
PickMe or Uber	LKR 2,500–5,000 before surge	Most people, with a live price
Official airport taxi counter	LKR 4,500–6,500	No data or no app, fixed price
Hotel pickup or pre-booked transfer	Varies	Night arrivals, families, long journeys
Bus 187	Around LKR 150	Tight budgets, light bags, daytime

Apps. Request a ride once you're connected, then follow the app's directions to the pickup area outside arrivals. Check that the car, number plate and driver match the app before you get in. Prices rise at busy times and on holidays, and PickMe usually has more drivers available.

Official taxi counter. Fares are set by destination, so confirm the total before you leave, and ask whether it includes the expressway toll. There may be a late-night surcharge of about LKR 500–800. You can usually pay in rupees or dollars, but rupees usually work out better.

Bus 187. It runs from the airport area to Colombo Fort, and takes 60–90 minutes or more. It's cheap but awkward with big luggage, and it's not ideal for a first-timer at night.

Journey times

Negombo: 20–30 minutes
Colombo: 45–60 minutes, and up to 90 or more at rush hour
Galle: About 2.5 hours
Kandy: 3–3.5 hours

Touts and common scams

Unofficial taxi touts often approach you before you reach the counter. One guide puts their fares at 30–50% higher, with no price protection. A polite "no thanks" and walking on is enough.
"Your hotel is closed" or "that area is flooded." This is a classic trick to take you somewhere that pays commission. Call your hotel yourself.
Helpers who grab your bags. Keep hold of your luggage unless you want help, and agree any tip first.
Unsolicited "tourist information" or tour desks. Don't book your whole trip while you're jet-lagged. Compare options after you've rested.
Fake ETA or visa "help". You shouldn't need to pay anyone at the airport to sort out an ETA you already have.

If something goes wrong, the tourist hotline 1912 can point you to the right authority.

Your first night

Stay near the airport if you land late

Negombo is just 20–30 minutes from the airport, with plenty of guesthouses and a beach. It's a better first stop after a late arrival than a long drive. Road travel at night is riskier, and you'll be exhausted. Our road safety guide explains why.

Getting to the hill country

The hill-country railway is still recovering from Cyclone Ditwah (late 2025). As of late October 2026, trains run between Nanu Oya, Ella and Badulla, but services between Kandy and Nanu Oya have been disrupted. Check the current situation in our transport guide before you plan a train from Kandy to Ella.

When you check in

Send your location and accommodation details to someone at home.
Save your accommodation's number, and ask where the nearest hospital and pharmacy are.
Lock your passport away, and carry a copy.
Use mosquito repellent right away. Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day, and the first day is just as risky as the others.
Drink plenty of water. Bottled water is widely sold, and it's easy to get dehydrated after a long flight in the heat.
Save these numbers: 1990 (ambulance), 119 (police) and 1912 (tourist hotline).

Then eat something simple, go to bed at a sensible time, and save the sightseeing for tomorrow.

FAQ

Do I need to apply for my ETA before I fly?

Yes, do it before you fly. Since May 2026, the Department of Immigration has said affected travellers must get an ETA before arriving, even though some older information still mentions on-arrival options. Apply at eta.gov.lk.

Is there Uber at Colombo airport?

Yes, and PickMe too. You need mobile data to book, so get your SIM first. PickMe tends to have more drivers and shorter waits.

Should I buy a SIM at the airport or use an eSIM?

Both work. The airport SIM is usually cheaper and includes a local number, which is useful for calling drivers and guesthouses. An eSIM is handy if you land late or want to be online as soon as you land.

Can I pay for a taxi in dollars?

The airport taxi counter generally accepts both, but rupees usually work out cheaper. Get some from an ATM first.

Is it safe to arrive in Sri Lanka at night?

Yes, the airport is busy around the clock. Arrange a pickup in advance or use the official counter or an app, and stay nearby rather than driving a long way.

How much cash should I get at the airport?

Enough for a day or two, including your ride, a meal and small purchases. You can get more from ATMs in most towns.

Read our Sri Lanka travel safety tips and tuk-tuk guide next. The Sri Lanka Safe app has a tuk-tuk fare calculator, safety alerts and offline emergency numbers for the rest of your trip.