Travelling from Esenboga International Airport (ESB) to Colombo: what you need to know
The timezone in Colombo is UTC+5:30. The city is two hours 30 minutes ahead of Ankara, where Esenboga International Airport is located.
To avoid missing your ESB to Colombo flight, allow plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
If you're heading away during a major holiday or another peak period, give yourself extra time. A good rule is two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Check-in and security lines will be longer.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and perhaps even explore another city. When browsing for plane tickets from ESB to Colombo, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Popular options include:
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Located around 23 kilometres from central Ankara, ESB can be reached in about 35 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
In search of a hotel near ESB? If you've booked an early flight from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo, these stays will get you from your pillow to the plane in no time:
When it comes to Esenboga International Airport's on-time performance, 78.41% of flights complete their journey on time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Esenboga International Airport (ESB) to Colombo
$487 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Esenboga International Airport to Colombo flight. A round-trip ticket right now is $890. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares could change.
Booking ahead of time is often the key to finding a cheap flight from ESB to Colombo. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely pay.
Landing cheap tickets from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo is more likely if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Use the 'Whole month' function to get the lowest fares across each month and pick up a fantastic deal.
Picking up a cheap flight from ESB to Colombo is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll notify you when a deal gets even better.
Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo.
Airports in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
The distance from Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is roughly 16 kilometres. It'll take you about 40 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes around 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near RML:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
After your flight from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in around 40 minutes by car. Central Colombo is roughly 32 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
After stepping off your ESB to Colombo flight, unwind at a hotel close to CMB. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport schedules or slow-moving cab lines. Grab a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Compare availability and rates from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion and Sixt.
Get first dibs on the best options. Reserving your ride from CMB two weeks ahead of time often means more savings and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Colombo
Before you book your flights from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo, consider which time of year is best for you. Peak season in Colombo offers a bustling atmosphere and plenty to do, while the off-season brings better hotel deals and fewer crowds.
The warmest month in Colombo is March, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Book your Esenboga International Airport to Colombo plane ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from ESB to Colombo in January when temperatures average between 22ºC (72ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF).
More about Colombo
Once you've booked your flight from Esenboga International Airport to Colombo, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Colombo:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall, Gangaramaya Temple and Viharamahadevi Park are attractions you won't want to skip in Colombo.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
You've seen Colombo, now it's time to discover other parts of Sri Lanka. Travel around 306 kilometres north to Jaffna to tick off its leading sights. From Jaffna Fort to Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Trincomalee is another standout destination in Sri Lanka and is around 241 kilometres north-east of Colombo. No trip is complete without seeing Koneswaram Temple, Fort Frederick and Marble Beach.
