You’ve booked the flight, packed your bags and finally landed in Sri Lanka.
Now comes a decision that can shape the first few days of your holiday: where should you go first?
When deciding what to do after landing in Sri Lanka, it is tempting to immediately start travelling towards the destination you’re most excited about. But after a long international flight, the cheapest or fastest-looking option isn’t always the best start to a holiday.
Your arrival time, first destination, transfer distance and how tired you feel should all be considered.
Some travellers will benefit from staying close to the airport for their first night. Others can comfortably continue towards the south coast, Kandy or another part of the island.
Here’s how to plan it.
First, Know Where You Have Actually Landed
Most international travellers arrive through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), also known by the airport code CMB.
One detail first-time visitors sometimes misunderstand is its location.
The airport is at Katunayake rather than in central Colombo. This matters when you’re planning your first hotel and onward journey.
You don’t necessarily need to travel into Colombo before continuing elsewhere in Sri Lanka.
If your itinerary takes you towards another part of the island, travelling directly from the airport may make more sense.
What to Do Before Leaving the Airport
Before thinking about beaches, mountains or safaris, sort out the practical side of your arrival.
After immigration, baggage collection and customs, make sure you know how you’re reaching your first accommodation.
Bandaranaike International Airport provides several onward transport options, including official airport taxis, app-based taxi services and public transport.
If you’re using a pre-arranged hotel transfer, confirm the meeting point before travelling.
It is also worth making sure you have access to mobile data before beginning a long journey. Having an internet connection makes it easier to contact your accommodation, communicate with a driver and check directions.
Most importantly, don’t leave your first transfer completely unplanned if you’re arriving late at night.
Should You Stay Near the Airport on Your First Night?
Sometimes, yes.
There is no prize for beginning a Sri Lanka holiday with an exhausting road journey immediately after a long flight.
An airport-area first night can make sense if:
- Your flight lands very late
- You’ve already had a long journey
- You’re travelling with young children
- Your first destination involves several hours on the road
- You don’t need to reach a particular destination that day
- You want to start travelling after breakfast instead
This doesn’t mean every traveller needs an airport hotel.
If you land at a convenient time and your first destination is reasonably accessible, continuing your journey may be perfectly comfortable.
Think about the total travel day, not just the time shown for the final road transfer.
If you’ve already spent 12 or 15 hours flying and connecting through airports, another long drive can feel very different from the same journey after a night’s sleep.
Option 1: Start With Sri Lanka’s South Coast
For travellers dreaming about the ocean, the south coast can be a rewarding way to begin.
Instead of starting the holiday with sightseeing schedules, you can spend the first few days adjusting to Sri Lanka beside the sea.
Weligama is one option.
Its wide bay, coastal atmosphere, cafés and access to nearby southern destinations make it an easy place to settle into the rhythm of the country.
If this sounds like your kind of beginning, read our guide to discovering Weligama, Sri Lanka before planning your first few days.
Starting on the south coast may suit you if:
- The beach is a major part of your holiday
- You want a relaxed beginning
- You’re interested in surfing or coastal activities
- You prefer to recover from the flight somewhere scenic
- Your itinerary continues along southern Sri Lanka
There is another advantage to starting slowly.
You don’t need to make your first full day in Sri Lanka an intense sightseeing day.
Have breakfast, walk along the beach, swim, rest and let the holiday begin naturally.
Option 2: Start With Kandy
Not everyone comes to Sri Lanka primarily for beaches.
If temples, history, gardens, food and the central highlands are higher on your list, you may prefer to travel inland.
Kandy can work as an introduction to a very different side of Sri Lanka.
The surroundings become greener as you move inland, and the city gives you access to cultural experiences before continuing farther into the hills.
It can also work naturally as part of a route that later continues towards Sri Lanka’s tea country.
Food can become part of the experience too. Our guide to restaurants in Kandy gives you an idea of what to expect when eating around the city.
However, consider your arrival time.
If your flight lands late at night, you don’t necessarily need to begin a longer inland transfer immediately. A restful first night followed by a morning departure may create a much better first day.
Option 3: Head Towards Sri Lanka’s Tea Country
For some travellers, the image that made them want to visit Sri Lanka wasn’t a beach at all.
It was a green hillside covered in tea.
Sri Lanka’s central highlands offer a dramatic change from the warmer lowlands. Mountain roads, tea estates, mist, cooler temperatures and slower days create a completely different atmosphere.
Nuwara Eliya and the surrounding tea country can therefore become an important part of the trip.
But I wouldn’t rush there simply because it is high on your wish list.
The journey into the hills is part of the experience, and arriving after a long international flight can make a beautiful road trip feel tiring instead.
Consider reaching the hills after your first stop or travelling there after you’ve had time to recover from the flight.
Once you’re there, understanding tea production adds much more meaning to the landscape. Our guide to visiting Nuwara Eliya’s tea factories explains what you can expect from the experience.
This route is particularly suitable if you’re looking for scenery, cooler weather and a slower style of travel.
Option 4: Make Wildlife One of Your First Major Experiences
Perhaps elephants and wildlife are the reason Sri Lanka made it onto your travel list.
In that case, you can design the beginning of your route around a wildlife area.
But there’s an important distinction between travelling towards a safari destination early in your holiday and trying to squeeze a safari into the day after an exhausting flight.
Safaris can involve very early starts and several hours in an open vehicle.
You’ll probably enjoy the experience more when you’re rested.
If wildlife is a priority, give it enough space in the itinerary.
Our Sri Lanka safari travel guide provides a useful introduction to what a safari experience can involve.
Travellers interested in elephant conservation can also read about the Elephant Transit Home and wildlife care in Udawalawe.
Wildlife deserves to feel like one of the highlights of your holiday, not something you struggle through while recovering from jet lag.
Option 5: Save the East Coast for Later in the Route
Sri Lanka’s east coast can be a wonderful part of a longer journey.
But for many international itineraries, it makes more sense as a later stop rather than the first destination immediately after landing.
Pasikuda, for example, offers a much slower coastal experience.
It works particularly well when you want several days where the itinerary becomes less about moving and more about staying.
Our guide to Pasikuda places to visit explores the beaches, lagoons, nearby communities and slower rhythm of this part of Sri Lanka.
Instead of travelling a long distance east immediately after your international flight, consider building Pasikuda into the middle or later part of the itinerary.
It gives you something completely different to look forward to.
Should You Start in Colombo?
You can, but you don’t have to.
This is one of the most important things for first-time travellers to understand.
Landing at CMB does not mean Colombo has to be the first destination on your holiday.
Stay in Colombo if you actually want to experience the city or if it fits your itinerary.
Don’t add it automatically because you assume every Sri Lanka holiday has to begin there.
The better question is:
What kind of first day do you want?
If you want restaurants and city life, Colombo may make sense.
If you’re already dreaming about the coast, you may prefer to continue south.
If your trip is centred on culture and the highlands, travelling inland may fit better.
Your first stop should serve your itinerary rather than simply follow the location written on your flight ticket.
Don’t Try to See Too Much on Day One
One of the easiest mistakes to make after arriving in Sri Lanka is trying to begin the sightseeing immediately.
Imagine this:
You’ve completed an international flight, passed through the airport, collected your luggage, travelled to your hotel and checked in.
Then your itinerary says:
Temple.
Viewpoint.
Restaurant.
City tour.
Sunset.
That’s a lot for your first day.
A quieter arrival day can be much more enjoyable.
Check in. Shower. Eat something. Walk around the immediate area. Have an early night if you need one.
Sri Lanka isn’t going anywhere.
Starting slowly can mean enjoying the following days much more.
Choose Your First Destination Before Choosing Your Flight
This is something worth thinking about even before booking your air ticket.
Travellers often compare flights based mainly on price and total journey time.
But arrival time matters too.
Imagine two flights.
One is slightly cheaper but arrives in the middle of the night.
Another costs a little more but arrives at a time that makes your onward journey much easier.
The cheapest ticket may no longer be the cheapest option if the arrival time creates an extra hotel night or a difficult transfer.
Before booking, ask:
Where am I going after the airport?
Then look at the flight.
This is particularly useful when comparing several flight options with different arrival times.
Plan Your Airport Transfer Before You Fly
Your first transfer is one part of the trip worth arranging in advance, especially after a long flight.
You don’t necessarily have to book a private driver.
The important thing is knowing your options.
Bandaranaike International Airport currently lists airport taxis, app-based services such as Uber and PickMe, and public transport among the ways passengers can travel onwards.
For another practical overview of the arrival process, Connect Lanka’s guide to arriving in Sri Lanka covers the airport, onward transport and planning your first night.
If your first accommodation offers a transfer, compare it with the other available options and choose what works best for your arrival time, luggage and group size.
After a long flight, knowing exactly how you’re getting from the airport to your first bed removes one unnecessary decision.
How Much Should You Plan for Your First Day?
Plan enough to remove uncertainty.
Not enough to remove flexibility.
You should know:
- Where you’re sleeping
- How you’re getting there
- Approximately how long the journey will take
- Whether your hotel knows your arrival time
- What you’ll do if your flight is delayed
Beyond that, your first day can stay fairly open.
You may land feeling surprisingly energetic.
Or you may want nothing more than food, a shower and sleep.
Give yourself room for either.
A Simple Way to Choose Where Your Sri Lanka Trip Should Start
Think about the main reason you booked the holiday.
You came for beaches: Start towards the south coast.
You came for culture and the hills: Consider beginning inland.
You came for tea country: Build towards the central highlands without rushing the arrival day.
You came for wildlife: Give your safari a proper place in the itinerary once you’re rested.
You came for a little of everything: Choose the first destination that creates the most logical route through the country.
This is better than simply choosing the place closest to the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arriving in Sri Lanka
What should I do after landing in Sri Lanka?
Complete the airport arrival process, arrange your onward transport and travel to your first accommodation. Whether you continue directly to another destination or stay closer to the airport should depend on your arrival time and overall itinerary.
Do I need to stay in Colombo after landing?
No. You can travel directly towards another part of Sri Lanka if it makes sense for your route. Colombo should be included because you want to visit it, not simply because your international flight uses CMB airport.
Is it better to stay near the airport on the first night?
It can be worthwhile after a late arrival, particularly if you’ve had a long journey or your next destination requires several more hours of travel. Travellers arriving earlier may prefer to continue directly.
Can I travel to the south coast after landing in Sri Lanka?
Yes. The south coast can work well as a first stop, particularly for travellers who want a slower beach-focused beginning to their holiday. Consider your flight arrival time and how tired you’re likely to be before committing to a longer transfer.
Should I go straight to Kandy after arriving in Sri Lanka?
You can travel inland towards Kandy after arrival, but whether you should do so immediately depends on your arrival time and energy levels. After a late long-haul flight, resting first may be more comfortable.
Can I arrange a taxi after arriving at the airport?
Yes. Bandaranaike International Airport provides an official airport taxi service and also lists app-based taxi options. You can also arrange a private transfer in advance.
What is the best first destination in Sri Lanka?
There isn’t one best destination for everyone. Beach travellers may prefer the south coast, while travellers interested in culture and the highlands may start inland. Your first stop should help create a logical route for the rest of your holiday.
Start Your Sri Lanka Holiday the Right Way
Deciding what to do after landing in Sri Lanka isn’t about finding one route that works for every traveller.
It’s about making your first day work for the holiday you’ve actually planned.
You might leave the airport and head towards the ocean.
You might travel inland towards Kandy.
You might spend the first night resting before beginning your journey into tea country.
Or you might build the route around wildlife before finishing with several quiet days on the coast.
Whatever you choose, don’t make your first day harder than it needs to be.
Know where you’re going. Arrange the first transfer. Give yourself time to recover from the flight.
Then let Sri Lanka unfold from there.