Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
(බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපොල)
International Airport
Katunayaka North
"You need to come here 2h in advance at least before the flight."(20 Tips)
"Expect some delay, it's preferred to to be 4 H early to departure"(21 Tips)
"nice foot massage @ foot rubs"(8 Tips)
"Free wi fi in The Coffee Bean, and yummy muffins!"(17 Tips)
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306 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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Xavier SMarch 4, 2019Easy to navigate kind of airport. Enough shops to buy your last minute souvenirs and eat before boarding. Not that final security check is done at the gate.UpvoteDownvote
Angie ReisefreundeDecember 1, 2013Some of the lounges in the upper level of the terminal offer unlocked wifi. At Coffee Bean the wifi name is NOT coffee bean (though it shows) but Lanka.com@Wifi. Password is mochajava :)Upvote4Downvote
Vugar ManafliJanuary 10, 2020They force you to take off your shoes, but don't provide shoe covers; it's anti sanitary. There should be some common standards for international airports.Upvote1Downvote
Gregory K.March 31, 2018Uber works pretty well and cheaper than local taxis and maybe even tuks tuks.Upvote1Downvote
Crescentrating Halal Friendly TravelJanuary 23, 2011Check out the new prayer room. (at the left hand corner, when you come on to the first floor) Well maintained. Easy to do wudhu in the washroom next to it. Has a "foot wash" place too! Read moreUpvote4Downvote
Michelle ChyungJuly 29, 2017For lounges at arrival/departure, lotus with priority pass, exec lounge w usd15 entry fee and araliya w business class only.UpvoteDownvote
When you get to immigration, notice that the counters are an "L" -shape. Move down to the counters at the end for potentially quicker queues.UpvoteDownvote
Ana LamFebruary 17, 2019Arrive at least 2 hours before your gate departure - many slow queues. They’ll also make you check your carry on luggage if the flight is full.Upvote1Downvote
Download BIA Flight Information from the Google Play store to get LIVE Arrival & Departure flight info in either Sinhala or English! Read more
Upvote6Downvote
Fine airport. Try be first off the plane, however, as immigration queues can get long if there are several flights arriving at once. Duty free is available for arrivals too.UpvoteDownvote
Balázs SrancsikJune 21, 2014Foot Rub is a must have and Coffee Bean serves such espresso, that you will rotate all day. :)Upvote3Downvote
Peter JacobsenJanuary 29, 2024Do NOT buy anything to drink for the flight (water, soda or coffie) - it will be confiscated at the security check at the gate.Upvote1Downvote
𝙻𝚒𝚕𝚒á𝚗𝚊 ✨December 6, 2016Busy airport and lot of security checks to go through so make sure you get there way before the flightUpvoteDownvote
Superb airport for a small country. improved a lot compared to before
UpvoteDownvote
Chris NuttallAugust 15, 2022Shops in departure lounge are a complete rip-off, paid £5.38 for a flat white that was half the size of one that cost me £1.37 in Colombo, Burger King is extortionate as well.Upvote1Downvote
If you are traveling to Maldives, please visit www.uihotels.com for hotels near Airport with exciting excursion & services.Upvote5Downvote- Michelle ChyungJuly 29, 2017Airport is tiny, not much to do after you look around the few shops of spa ceylon brand & tea brands. Free wifi keeps dropping. Go thru security, check in, security, emigration then to your gate.UpvoteDownvote
Cat C.April 8, 2017Do not bother getting here early for a flight, they won't let u into the terminals much ahead of times and have no one at the ticket counters until shortly before your flight.Upvote1Downvote
Imran MarikarJune 16, 2013BIA feels a good place to go only if you going abroad and not by dropping others...it will only make u feel green & sad #FACTUpvote1Downvote
RyanJuly 26, 2014Bought a Sri Lanka sticker at a souvenir shop in front of lavazza cafe at the gates. 5 USD. Lol. Got ripped off. Nice one Colombo!UpvoteDownvote
Nanthan GopalApril 11, 2016Call the Rechargetravels taxi to go fast to check in your hotel!
Upvote1Downvote
Sri Lankan airlines checking procedure need change as they as of this comment require all passengers being funneled through a single line bottle neck security check to the counters.UpvoteDownvote- Sri Lankan departures are straight through when you enter the departure hall, all other airlines to the left. At busy times the queue can be somewhat chaotic.UpvoteDownvote
- Crescentrating Halal Friendly TravelApril 19, 2012The Muslim prayer room is located on the 1st floor of the departure/transit lounge. It has separate male and female facilities too!Upvote19Downvote
Cynthia LinApril 30, 2019Weak WiFi. There are some duty free shops, but really the only Sri Lankan worthy goods are at the cashew shop and soap storeUpvoteDownvote
Y.May 3, 2016Grab a foot rub if you're early. Araliya lounge is awesome and has a shower in it.UpvoteDownvote
Duty free in Departure terminal is good. You can get some great souvenirs. Try foot massage.UpvoteDownvote
Rom ComJanuary 8, 2018The lounges are great! With priority pass, you can access the Lotus lounge.UpvoteDownvote
Denis VladimirovApril 11, 2015Best exchange rates. You can exchage your money back to your currency at the same rate on a departureUpvoteDownvote
J. Peter SolomonDecember 31, 2013Arrival lounge lack very good food court. .current one really substandard..With not much of choice...It is more of a cheap snack shop from some interior srilankaUpvote1Downvote
Mq Moh'dNovember 11, 2012There is no common mobile charger point, Restrooms are not so neat and clean , U cud get free WiFi near Exec Lounge, There r lot of Desktops with internet,Upvote4Downvote
Oh yeah if you are just flying in, for god's sake leave early on the day of your departure. The 30 odd kilometer ride from the city can take you more than 2 hours sometimes.UpvoteDownvote
Azat ZApril 26, 2015If you a member of TVoA countries you can just make an electronic visa and pass all queuesUpvoteDownvote
Rachel LamJanuary 30, 2017The runway is currently under maintenance so flights are only scheduled between 4pm and 8am. Causing major congestionUpvoteDownvote
Mahesh WanigasooriyaFebruary 27, 2018I’m not sure why BIA is not focused on reducing the wait time. Massive queues from the point of passing the airport security to check in to boarder control. Such an inconvenience and waste of timeUpvote1Downvote
Dont forget to pass by the tea shops.. best tea in the world!UpvoteDownvote
Chanuka WijayasingheApril 29, 2012There is a special lounge service which u can get if u pay a bit extra which will cover all the documents n baggage clearence ;-)UpvoteDownvote
Martina tribananaAugust 24, 2013Sri lankan air company told us fake departure time, we lost our connection and also on the airport they say you can buy up to 1l of alcohol for EU. False!UpvoteDownvote
AlexDecember 5, 2017Rather basic and not the nicest place to wait, so don’t arrive too early; it’s small and you won’t need the time. Lounges are subpar. Be ready for endless security checks on departure—I counted five.UpvoteDownvote
Krishna DFebruary 2, 2015Hardly any signs. Got there at 2 am. It was difficult to get info on how to get to the city. There are airport shuttles to the city that cost you Rs 110 bit not sure if they operate at that hourUpvoteDownvote
Alexander DeshpitSeptember 1, 2013Tuktuk from the 187 bus stop is 100 Rs, it's a 1 km ride. Local tuktukers ask for 500.Upvote6Downvote
Виктор М.October 22, 2013Free wi-fi connection next to duty free on the 2nd floor, near Foot rub, calls AASL1Upvote3Downvote
Hiyooo... frustrating place. Giving a deal on chocolate but system won't allow to mix. So 1free if you get 2 all in same flavor!UpvoteDownvote
AnderFebruary 2, 2013You can get a mobile SIM card with internet after crossing the passport control in the Mobitel store (around 10€).UpvoteDownvote
Now BIA has free wifi.But you need to sign in again n again every 10 mins which is irritating ...UpvoteDownvote
Ebrahim BandookwalaNovember 29, 2016Tiny airport. You need to go through security 3x. Foot rub salon in main lounge area.UpvoteDownvote
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Places inside Bandaranaike International Airport
- 5.7
"Free Wifi. Good Coffee & Breakfast. The Butterscotch Toffee and The French Vanilla Flavored Coffee is really good. The Cheese cakes and cup cakes are really delicious."
NatnZin - 6.1
"Cheapest items are from 3 USD onwards, they don't take local currency, and if they do, they convert from USD first, so you lose either way."
J Kofler - 6.0
"Cinnamon Tea is must try."
Chrys Cat
