Flying from Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Colombo: what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo is 5 hours 3 minutes.
Hamad International Airport is located in Doha. Based in the UTC+5:30 timezone, Colombo is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Doha.
The busiest route is from Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). You can select from 61 services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from DOH to CMB is the 01:25 Qatar Airways service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the last departure is at 22:40 with SriLankan Airlines.
To ensure you catch your flight from DOH to Colombo, allow plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Travelling over a peak time such as August? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
You can book a direct flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo. Begin your journey at DOH and arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Qatar Airways is a well-known airline that operates direct flights from Hamad International Airport to Colombo.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and maybe even visit a new city. When browsing flights from DOH to Colombo, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Muscat International Airport (MCT)
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)
Velana International Airport (MLE)
If you hold a passport from Qatar, you will need an e-visa to visit Sri Lanka. This applies if you're booking a cheap ticket from Hamad International Airport to Colombo for tourism purposes. Requirements may change if you're travelling for work or other reasons. Always consult official visa guidelines ahead of booking and certainly before you fly.
The journey from central Doha to DOH takes about 39 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 14 kilometres in 16 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a handy hotel close to DOH? If you've booked an early flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your check-in counter:
How to find the cheapest flights from Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Colombo
Rs36,716 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Hamad International Airport to Colombo. A return flight starts at Rs66,355. These fares may change depending on demand.
To score cheap tickets from DOH to Colombo, book your trip 8 months before your planned departure.
Plan your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Hamad International Airport to Colombo. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Set up a Price Alert for flight tickets from DOH to Colombo. You don't need to search every day to see whether fares have dropped. We'll notify you as soon as there's a change in price.
Play around with the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Hamad International Airport to Colombo, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Airports in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to the centre of Colombo takes about 39 minutes by car. It's approximately 16 kilometres away.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour and 16 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these accommodation options near RML:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Once your flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo has arrived, you can get to the city centre in about 39 minutes by car. Central Colombo is roughly 32 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
You can expect the trip to take about 1 hour and 31 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places where you can make a pit stop near CMB. Tuck yourself in and get cosy after your flight from DOH to Colombo at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Colombo
Carefully consider your trip dates before securing your flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo. The city comes alive during peak season, but hotel prices are generally higher and top attractions can be crowded. Visit Colombo in low season for a more relaxed vibe.
Lock in your flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo for March to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
Search for cheap flights from DOH to Colombo in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 22ºC and 32ºC on average.
More about Colombo
Once you've booked your flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo, think about where you'll stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Colombo:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be difficult to know where to start. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are top sights which should be on any well-planned Colombo itinerary.
Complete your Colombo trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Hamad International Airport to Colombo to track down awesome deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus you'll find all the info on car rentals in Colombo, from the most popular car type to the average daily price.