How to get from Colombo to Sigiriya

There are 5 ways to travel the 175 kilometers (109 miles) from Colombo to Sigiriya. You can choose between the bus, minivan, taxi, train and flight. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 440 LKR ($1.50).

There are no local buses that go straight from Colombo to Sigiriya. The nearest bus stop is in Inamaluwa Junction, which is some 10 km away.

From Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal in Colombo city centre, you can take a bus bound for Anuradhapura (#4-3), Kaduruwela (#48-3) or Trincomalee (#49). A ticket for an air-conditioned bus costs around 440 LKR ($1.50).

Ordinary buses are also available, but we don’t recommend them if you want to be comfortable during a journey of 5 hours 30 minutes.

Ask the driver to drop you off at Inamaluwa Junction. From here, you can take either a tuk-tuk or a taxi to Sigiriya.

Sigiriya doesn’t have its own train station. From Colombo, you will first have to take a train to Habarana. From here, you can hail a taxi to Sigiriya.

We recommend taking the train that departs at 15:00 and arrives at 19:45 at Habarana Railway Station.

Sri Lanka Railways offers trips daily for 3,270 LKR ($10.90) for a 2nd class seat and 3,810 LKR ($12.70) for a 1st class seat. Both cabins are airconditioned for this route.

Online tickets from Colombo to Habarana are also available on 12GoAsia and BookAway. You can check the schedule below.

Warning for unreserved seats

Unreserved seats are available on the day of your trip at the railway station. However, since there are only limited trips for this route, there’s a great chance the trains will be quite crowded. Be aware that you might miss your chance to get a seat and have to stand throughout a journey of 4h 45m

From Habarana Railway Station, you can easily hail a taxi to Sigiriya, which is about 15 km away. The journey takes 25 minutes and a ride costs around 1,090 LKR ($3.60).

If you’re coming from Colombo Airport, you can take a minivan to Sigiriya. The ride costs around 7,100 LKR ($23.50) and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Real Lanka Holidays operates on this route.

Minivan options from Colombo to Sigiriya

The taxi from Colombo to Sigiriya costs around 11,000 LKR ($36.50) when you book via Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on the availability.

For the cheapest rates, you can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo. But, unfortunately, these apps have limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.

Better yet, book your private transfer in advance via BookAway. Rates start from 17,000 LKR ($56) for a 3-seater car.

Taxi options from Colombo to Sigiriya

When flying from Colombo to Sigiriya, flights depart from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is located in the suburbs of Negombo.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

From Colombo city centre, the best way to get to Bandaranaike is by taxi. This taxi journey takes around an hour and costs 1,800 LKR ($6).

You can hail a taxi on the street or ask your hotel to book one for you. You can also book via taxi-hailing apps like Uber and Pickme, as well as TaxiGo and BookAway.

Cinnamon Air and Sri Lanka Airlines offer four trips from Colombo to Sigiriya daily. Fares start at 36,000 LKR ($120) and the journey takes 30 minutes.

From the airport, you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the ancient town for 180 LKR ($0.60) – 540 LKR ($1.80).