Colombo to Anuradhapura

Colombo to Anuradhapura

Colombo
Anuradhapura
Tue, May 26
+ Add return
0 Passengers
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Sort by
Recommended
Filters
Departure time
Price
Arrival time
 
 
 
 
 

Colombo to Anuradhapura Destination Reviews

NB
Natalie B
Fantastic driver! Great experience! Thank you!
Colombo to Anuradhapura, taxi Comfort 3pax, Real Lanka Holidays (Real Lanka Holidays), Mar 27, 2026
S
Sabine
Excellent driver, punctual and calm. We can recommend this experience with Real Lanka Holidays.
Colombo to Anuradhapura, taxi Comfort 3pax, Real Lanka Holidays (Real Lanka Holidays), Mar 16, 2026
IF
Ilaria F
My train was 1 hour and a half late
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #55003 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 30, 2025
VG
Varun G
Great train. Very well maintained. Had a nice journey!!
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #55003 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Aug 4, 2025
RI
Rute I
Easy
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #5003 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Aug 2, 2025
JJ
Jeffrey J
Nice adventure traveling by the very early 5:30 AM train from Colombo to Anuradhapura. Great scenery with peacocks, egrets and lots of other birds in a green landscape. We didn’t have to have tickets printed out, just had our info verified at the Railway information office at the Fort train station and then they just looked at our electronic confirmation, your pdf voucher
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #44421 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Jun 29, 2025
WV
Wouter V
Everything went fine apart from arrival one hour too late.
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #4017 2nd Class Reserved Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Nov 5, 2022
4.5
45 customer reviews
5
65%
4
24%
3
9%
2
2%
1
0%

Colombo to Anuradhapura Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+2h 45m
$66.00
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:15
09:18
$7.31
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:45
09:18
$7.31
  4.6
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
06:40
10:40
$6.09
  4.6
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
08:00
12:30
$13.06
  4.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
15:45
19:57
$7.31
  4.6
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
16:22
20:10
$20.70
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
17:30
22:00
$11.50
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Tourist
18:45
22:45
$15.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
19:04
23:59
$5.18
Bus
Prince Travels
Tourist AC
19:30
04:30
$17.00
Bus
Muthu Travels
Tourist AC
19:55
03:55
$13.50
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
First Class Seat
20:23
00:25
$18.33
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
21:00
01:30
$13.06
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
22:00
02:30
$13.06
  4.0

How to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura

When you want to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Bus ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 14.07. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 14.07.

How far is Colombo from Anuradhapura?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Colombo to Anuradhapura. Your trip will be a total of 129 miles (206 km). The flying distance is 107 miles (171 km).

How long does it take to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura?

The travel time from Colombo to Anuradhapura can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 6 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura?

The cost of the trip from Colombo to Anuradhapura varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Avro Travels: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 14.07 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Bus - a one-way Bus ticket can cost as much as USD 14.07.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Colombo to Anuradhapura:

  • Train tickets - USD 5.30 to USD 10.60;
  • Bus tickets - USD 14.07 to USD 14.07;
  • Van price : USD 32.13;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 77.03 to USD 237.88.

How many trips per day are there between Colombo and Anuradhapura?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Buses start plying the route from 08:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 22:00. There are 2 available bus trips every day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Colombo to Anuradhapura is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 77.03.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Colombo to Anuradhapura. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Colombo to Anuradhapura

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Colombo to Anuradhapura? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 72% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 24% decided to go for a bus.
  • 2% decided to catch a taxi.
  • 2% opted for a van.

Transportation from Colombo to Anuradhapura

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Anuradhapura

Cheapest Transport$6
Fastest Transport2h 45m
Earliest Departure5:45 AM
Latest Departure10:00 PM
Departures per day2
Distance206 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAvro Travels, Ceylon Roots, Lakpura, Real Lanka Holidays, Real Lanka Holidays, SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tours with Stef Lanka