Colombo, Sri Lanka

Getting around Colombo

How to travel around Colombo — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Tuk-tuk

The default, and metered ones exist.

Watch outMeters refused or tampered. PickMe books them at the meter rate and shows the fare first.

2. PickMe and Uber

Both operate, and both remove the roadside price negotiation.

3. Coastal railway

The line south to Galle and Matara runs along the shoreline for much of the way — one of the great cheap train rides.

Cost: Under 500 LKR to Galle
Tip: Sit on the right heading south.

4. Buses

Extensive, very cheap, and driven with commitment.

5. Colombo on foot

Fort and Pettah are walkable; the heat and the traffic make longer distances unpleasant.

Best time: Early morning

Booking apps in Sri Lanka

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

PickMe

The main Sri Lankan ride-hailing app, covering tuk-tuks, cars and bikes.

Coverage: Colombo and the larger towns.
Why it helps: Meters the tuk-tuk, which otherwise runs on a negotiated foreigner price several times the local rate.

Uber

Cars and tuk-tuks with the fare agreed up front.

Coverage: Colombo and surrounds.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.