Sri Lanka may not be your first preferred destination for travel. But that means you are not looking properly. The Island nation has something for everyone - adventure, thrill, peace, exploration and history. The people are warm and courteous, making sure you have a memorable time.
In this blog, I try to answer your questions which might come in handy while planning your trip to Sri Lanka.
Table of Contents
Use Trains for commute
Sri Lanka has a safe and reliable train network for commute between major destinations. Fort Station in Colombo is the nearest station to the Bandaranaike International Airport (a drive of approximately 30-45 minutes) and you will get multiple trains running to Kandy, Galle, Hatton, Nuwara Elliya (Nanu Oya is the nearest station) and Ella.
The best part is that reservations can be made online through the Sri Lankan Railways official website.
There are two caveats though:
Trains are usually late in Sri Lanka because of the single track system. Which means you will need to take extra time into consideration.
While Sri Lanka railways offers AC first Class reservation and also has luxury trains for tourists (Ella Odyssey), not all trains will offer the same level of comfort.
Download Pick Me App for local travel
The Pick Me App came very handy for my local travel and even sightseeing during my entire trip. Finding Tuk Tuks and Cabs becomes extremely easy. The app runs smooth and has an intuitive interface.
It also becomes helpful for negotiation with the local operators as you can always check the prices in the app and bargain accordingly, so that you are not charged exorbitantly.
Though I noticed that in some places it might not fetch you drivers instantly, so always be flexible and keep all options open.
Get a Local Sim at the Airport
The first thing I did after landing in Colombo was to get a local sim card. Sri Lanka has two network operators - Dialog and SLT Mobitel. I went with Dialog.
Their 20 GB pack comes with a 30 day validity and cost me less than 5 USD. They also have a 50 GB pack which comes with a 30 day validity costs less than 10 USD. The network is good for the most part. I found the WiFi connectivity a bit unstable in the country and had to depend on 4G most of the time.
Dialog even has an app, where you can track your usage and do a recharge if you run out of juice anytime.
If you are travelling from India, getting a local Sri Lanka SIM is a better and economical option than activating international roaming.
Money Exchange
Sri Lanka is a cash-based economy. This means you will need to make most of your day-to-day payments in cash, with card payments only accepted at major cafes and restaurants. The best way to do this is carry US Dollars from India and convert them to Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR).
Airports don’t give you the best rates though. You can get a small amount converted at the airport for your instant needs (like getting SIM cards and booking cab/Tuk Tuk). You will find many authorized money exchange centers in Colombo and in other cities where you will get a better conversion rate.
Use Uber Eats for Food Delivery
Weather in Sri Lanka gets highly unpredictable at times and might leave you stuck at your hotel/homestay. Or you just might not be in a mood to go out on some days. In both the cases, food delivery comes in handy.
Uber Eats works totally fine and will keep you covered.
*Prices as of May 2025
Disclaimer: The blog is for informational purposes, aimed at helping you with reliable and first-hand experience. Kindly do your own research before travelling.
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