Travelling from Bangkok to Colombo: what you need to know
Bangkok has a couple of airports that could be the jumping-off point for your adventure. Explore your options for booking a flight from Bangkok to Colombo flying out of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
Hop off the plane at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the primary gateway of Colombo.
Take a direct Bangkok to Colombo flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 3 hours 30 minutes.
Colombo's timezone is UTC+5:30, making Colombo one hour 30 minutes behind Bangkok.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 20 weekly departures to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Bangkok to Colombo is with Thai Airways International at 22:05. Go for the first BKK to CMB departure operated by SriLankan Airlines at 07:45 to make the most of your arrival in Colombo.
Allow plenty of time to catch your Bangkok to Colombo flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a popular month like July? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Bangkok to Colombo
99 € is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Bangkok to Colombo. A return flight starts at 229 €. These fares can change depending on availability.
Get cheap Bangkok to Colombo flights by booking three months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.
The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Bangkok to Colombo is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
There's no need to search every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you the moment there's a better deal on cheap flights from Bangkok to Colombo.
Find an affordable Bangkok to Colombo flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
If you're after a direct flight from Bangkok to Colombo, you can leave from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Fly from BKK to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in one seamless trip.
Check out the promotions with SriLankan Airlines. This carrier offers direct Bangkok to Colombo plane tickets out of BKK.
We make it a breeze to book a Bangkok to Colombo flight with a stopover. To see your options leaving from Suvarnabhumi Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight with a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Chennai Airport (MAA)
Located around 27 kilometres from the centre of Bangkok, BKK can be reached in about 35 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Bangkok to Colombo? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these stays near Suvarnabhumi Airport:
67.87% of flights departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport touch down at their destination on time.
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
You can take a direct flight from Bangkok to Colombo departing from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Start your journey at DMK and step off the plane at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Book your direct Bangkok to Colombo plane ticket with Thai AirAsia. This is one of the main airlines that operates this route out of DMK.
Split up your Bangkok to Colombo flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross a new place off your list. Top stopovers between Don Mueang International Airport and Colombo include:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
You can get to DMK from central Bangkok in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to travel the 21 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from Bangkok to Colombo, take it easy in one of these hotels near Don Mueang International Airport:
As far as flight punctuality goes, Don Mueang International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 66.48%.
Arriving in Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
The distance from Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is approximately 13 kilometres. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you have a late flight from Bangkok to Colombo, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near CMB:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
As soon as your flight from Bangkok to Colombo has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in about 40 minutes by car. Central Colombo is approximately 27 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 1 hour 30 minutes or so.
The quickest way to get to where you're going is with a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion or Sixt and make a speedy getaway.
Lock in the lowest price by booking your ride from CMB two weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Colombo
Have a think about your travel dates before locking in your flight from Bangkok to Bangkok. The city comes alive during high season, but hotel prices are typically higher and major attractions can get busy. Go to Bangkok in the off-season if you want a more relaxed vibe.
Book a Bangkok to Colombo ticket departing in March if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Colombo to range from 24ºC (75ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Bangkok to Colombo in January when temperatures average between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF).
More about Colombo
Start your Colombo trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Bangkok to Colombo, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are leading attractions which should feature on any good Colombo itinerary.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
Colombo has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of Sri Lanka you'll want to see. Around 18 kilometres south of Colombo, a visit to Moratuwa will keep you busy. Don't miss top attractions like Boat House, Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum.
Jaffna is another must-experience destination in Sri Lanka and is around 306 kilometres north of Colombo. No journey is complete without a visit to Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.
