How to get around Sri Lanka
- Margaux
- Mar 1
- 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s public transport infrastructure isn’t as developed as that of other Southeast Asian countries. It has a few good train routes and a couple of tourist buses, but the vast majority is the public bus system. I’ve put together a guide for you here to show you the best options for travelling around Sri Lanka and making your experience as seamless as possible.
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If you want a full guide to Sri Lanka, check out my other post here.
How to get around Sri Lanka by Bus
If you don’t want to or have the budget for taxis between places, and don’t want to rent a tuk tuk and drive yourself (the roads are scary!), then the public buses are your main option for getting around Sri Lanka. It’s not a straightforward bus network to navigate, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes much easier.
Google Maps will tell you the best bus to take to get around Sri Lanka, as it tells you the bus number and direction of the bus you’ll need to take. I also recommend heading to a bus station (if the town has one), and asking/double checking with the people who work there. You probably won’t even have to approach anyone - they will come to you and ask where you’re going. Often they will give you a faster or better route than your Maps does, and so are normally very helpful.
It is unlikely that you’ll be able to get a direct bus to your destination unless it’s a very common route for locals. These buses do not aim to serve tourists at all, and so your journey might need to involve one or more changes.
The buses in Sri Lanka are probably the cheapest buses you’ll ever take, even with the ‘tourist tax’, but they are chaotic, hot, busy, and squished, so be prepared. I’ve written a full guide on navigating the public bus system in Sri Lanka here, and it is well worth the read for some of my best advice.
There are a couple of tourist buses, but these are often 12 hours long. You can book them on 12Go Asia. Between Colombo and Trincomalee, an overnight bus is an option, but I would recommend getting the train for this route - more on that below!
How to get around Sri Lanka by train
Along the west and some of the south coast of Sri Lanka, there are trains which take you between towns and cities. Unless you get first class, the trains are not air conditioned and are extremely cramped. You will likely be standing up squished between hundreds of people, but the prices are very affordable. If you manage to make your way through the crowds and want to use the toilet, make sure you pack toilet paper/tissues and hand sanitiser.
Train routes and timetables are all available on the Sri Lankan Railways website. The easiest option is to buy a ticket at the train station, but you can also use 12Go Asia to book trains in advance, and I recommend this if it’s a long distance train journey and you want a first class seat. I did this between Trincomalee and Colombo, and it was a really good decision - the train was clean, air conditioned, and virtually empty, which made a huge change from the buses and other trains I had been on.
For the famous blue train from Ella to Kandy, see my full guide here. It is an unbelievable journey and you absolutely cannot miss it on your trip to Sri Lanka.
How to get around Sri Lanka by taxi
While not the most sustainable option, taxis may sometimes be your only choice between some places. Download the PickMe app (Sri Lanka’s Uber) to book one, as it saves you the hassle of bargaining, and is generally safer. For longer journeys, try booking a taxi through your hostel or accommodation - they can normally help get you a good rate. For context, a 4 hour drive will be about US$30. The buses will be about US$1.
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Sri Lanka. It is an overwhelming place to travel and is not for the faint hearted, but the places you visit are incredible and make it all worth it. As always, remember to look after the places you visit and only leave your footprints behind :)
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