# CMB — Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport)

> CMB (Bandaranaike International Airport) is the main international airport serving Colombo, Sri Lanka. Source: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/cmb-colombo

## At a glance

- **Best exit method:** Open PickMe (local Uber competitor) or Uber
- **Typical fare:** LKR 3,500–5,500
- **Journey time:** 45–75 min to Colombo Fort
- **Pickup point:** Designated rideshare pickup behind the parking lot — short walk
- **Key warning:** Airport coupon taxi quotes LKR 8,000–12,000 for the same trip
- **Fare reality (CMB → Colombo Fort):** expected LKR 3,500–5,500 · concerning LKR 9,000+ · likely scam LKR 15,000+ taxi tout
- **Overall risk:** medium — Airport is 35km from Colombo. PickMe and Uber are honest; airport taxi counter is 2–3x the price.
- **Last updated:** June 2026 (high confidence)

## Ways out of CMB, ranked

1. **PickMe / Uber** _(recommended)_ — cost LKR 3,500–5,500, journey 45–75 min, wait 5–15 min, payment App Payment.
   - Pros: Fair price; No haggling
   - Cons: Pickup zone is a walk from arrivals
2. **Expressway Airport bus (E03)** — cost LKR 200, journey 60–80 min, wait Every 30–60 min, payment Cash.
   - Pros: Dirt cheap
   - Cons: Limited departures; Drops at Bastian Mawatha
3. **Airport coupon taxi** — cost LKR 8,000–12,000, journey 45–75 min, wait 0–5 min, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Easy
   - Cons: 2–3x apps

## First 30 minutes after landing at CMB

1. Clear immigration (ETA pre-arranged online)
2. Pick up SIM at the Dialog/Mobitel counter in arrivals
3. Walk past the airport coupon taxi counter
4. Open PickMe or Uber and walk to designated rideshare zone
5. LKR 3,500–5,500 to Colombo Fort

## Common scams at CMB

- **Coupon overcharge** (high risk): Airport coupon counter quotes LKR 10,000+ to Colombo. _How to avoid:_ Use PickMe or Uber. Pickup zone is signed.
- **Currency exchange markup** (medium risk): Airport exchange offers worse rates than the Commercial Bank ATM in arrivals. _How to avoid:_ Use the ATM, not the counter.

## Payment warnings at CMB

- Dollar shortages mean ATMs sometimes run dry — withdraw immediately on arrival.
- PickMe accepts foreign cards but a local SIM helps with OTP verification.

## Arrival checklist for CMB

- ETA visa sorted before flying
- Install PickMe AND Uber
- SIM at Dialog/Mobitel counter
- Skip the coupon counter
- ATM before exchange counter

---

Canonical URL: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/cmb-colombo
Source: Airport Exit (https://www.airportexit.com)
Last updated: June 2026

When citing, please attribute to Airport Exit and link the canonical URL above.