Travelling from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) to Colombo: what you need to know
Approximately 4 hours 27 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo.
The timezone in Colombo is UTC+5:30. The city is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Sharjah, where Sharjah International Airport is located.
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the most traveled route, with 12 departures a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from SHJ to CMB is with Air Arabia at 22:25. Go for the first departure operated by Air Arabia at 07:50 if you want to get going early.
Leave plenty of time to make your flight from SHJ to Colombo. It's generally best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as August and other peak periods. Arriving up to fours hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
You can get a direct flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo. Begin your trip at SHJ and arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
Air Arabia is a well-known carrier that operates direct flights from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and perhaps even tour another city. When browsing flights from SHJ to Colombo, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
Jinnah International Airport (KHI)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Chennai Airport (MAA)
If you hold a passport from United Arab Emirates, you'll need an e-visa to enter Sri Lanka. This applies when booking a cheap ticket from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo for tourism purposes. Requirements may change if you're travelling for work or other reasons. Always check official visa guidelines ahead of booking and definitely before you fly.
To get to SHJ from central Sharjah, it takes about 11 minutes by car. Of course, this depends on traffic. It's approximately 11 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Want a relaxed start to your trip? Stay near SHJ. Whether you have an early flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are the answer:
How to find the cheapest flights from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) to Colombo
Rs37,474 is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo. For a return flight on this route, the best price is Rs78,480. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares can change.
To snag cheap tickets from SHJ to Colombo, book your trip 3 months before the departure date.
November is the cheapest month for tickets from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Snapping up a cheap ticket from SHJ to Colombo is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has fallen.
Take advantage of the filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Airports in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is roughly 16 kilometres. It takes around 39 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It takes around 1 hour and 16 minutes if you're using public transport.
Book a hotel near RML if you're catching a late flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Central Colombo is approximately 32 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Once your flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo has landed and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 39 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take about 1 hour and 31 minutes.
There are some great places to call home for the night near CMB. Settle in and get cosy after your flight from SHJ to Colombo at any of these well-located options:
Best time to go to Colombo
Travel to Colombo in peak season if you want a bustling atmosphere, but remember that prices are typically higher. Or, book your flights from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo in the off-season when prices are cheaper and it's less crowded.
Lock in your flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo for March to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between 22ºC and 32ºC. Search for cheap flights from SHJ to Colombo sometime around then if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Colombo
After booking your flight from Sharjah 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 do and see in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are top sights which should feature on every Colombo itinerary.
Complete your Colombo trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Sharjah International Airport to Colombo isn't the only thing we're good at. Check out our car rentals in Colombo and have more freedom to explore. We search for deals from trusted car rental providers and put them all in one place. Instantly compare rates and then book with no fees.