Travelling from Bangkok to Colombo: what you need to know
Start your holiday planning by considering where you'll board your flight from Bangkok to Colombo. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) are Bangkok's main airports.
Disembark at Colombo's chief entry point, Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Around 3 hours 30 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Bangkok to Colombo flight.
The timezone in Colombo is UTC+5:30, which is one hour 30 minutes behind Bangkok.
The most popular route for flights from Bangkok to Colombo is from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). You can choose from 20 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to take off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from BKK to CMB is the 07:45 SriLankan Airlines option. If you prefer to travel later, the last scheduled departure is at 21:55 with Thai Airways International.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your Bangkok to Colombo flight.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Bangkok to Colombo
R 1,573 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Bangkok to Colombo. A return flight starts at R 3,487. 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)
Set out from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) on a nonstop flight from Bangkok to Colombo. From BKK, you can fly directly into Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Keep an eye out for deals with SriLankan Airlines. This carrier offers direct Bangkok to Colombo plane tickets from BKK.
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Bangkok to Colombo flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular airports:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Chennai Airport (MAA)
Located around 27 kilometres from central 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.
In search of a handy hotel near Suvarnabhumi Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Bangkok to Colombo, these accommodation options will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Suvarnabhumi Airport, 67.87% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
Consider booking your direct flight from Bangkok to Colombo departing Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Nonstop connections from DMK will take you to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
From DMK, you can book a direct Bangkok to Colombo plane ticket with Thai AirAsia.
Break up your Bangkok to Colombo flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross a new place off your list. Some great stopovers between Don Mueang International Airport and Colombo are:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
DMK is about 23 kilometres from central Bangkok. It takes 30 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
You're going on holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away? Think about kicking back in one of these hotels near Don Mueang International Airport the day before your flight from Bangkok to Colombo:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Don Mueang International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 66%.
Arriving in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
The distance from Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is roughly 13 kilometres. It'll take you about 40 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to RML if you're coming in on a late flight from Bangkok to Colombo. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
The centre of Colombo is about 27 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). As soon as your flight from Bangkok to Colombo has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 40 minutes.
You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion or Sixt and be on your way in a flash.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Booking your ride from CMB two weeks in advance often means lower prices and 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 perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Bangkok to Colombo, check out our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are major attractions which should feature on every 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.
