Colombo to Matara

Colombo to Matara

Colombo
Matara
Mon, Mar 9
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Colombo to Matara Destination Reviews

P
Paul
All went very well indeed. Just was a little unsure what the process was going to be on arrival at the bus station. Then your contact met with us and it became clearer that his role was to guide us to the correct bus and pay. The bus did not go to Mirissa as requested so we had to offload before Matara and get ourselves another bus for the final 20 mins of the journey. As mentioned, all went very well though.
Colombo to Matara, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Mar 2, 2026
AB
Alexey B
easy to book and pay, not needed to print tickets, just enter the 1st class train carriage... there are snacks in description, but it's wrong, no meals or snacks or bar, nothing of food available in train, buy snacks beforehand your trip
Colombo to Matara, Train #8058 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Feb 28, 2026
SE
Simon E
Excellent instructions on where to catch the bus and smooth on time journey all at a great price. Thank you 🙏
Colombo to Matara, Bus Air-conditioned Large Coach, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Jan 29, 2026
EY
Earl Y
The places were not optimal ... Many because of the late date I bought my tickets . We were up in front of the car , stuck against the cabin wall ...
Colombo to Matara, Train #8056 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Jan 13, 2026
MA
Mohammad A
I jumped off two stations earlier and I literally need eto jump off the train to the railways as the station was to short for the train haha But overall nice ride and the adventure directly started. To be fair the train in Germany isn’t better hahaha
Colombo to Matara, Train #8056 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Dec 13, 2025
PR
Paul R
3 hour journey but follows the coast so nice.. seats Ok, plenty to stretch out even if tall
Colombo to Matara, Train #8056 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 17, 2025
DR
Daniel R
Good experience once boarded, confusing prior.
Colombo to Matara, Train #8056 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Jul 27, 2025
MB
Mikhail B
It was an excellent trip; everything was smooth, and it was easy to get tickets and board the train.
Colombo to Matara, Train #8056 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Dec 4, 2024
AS
Alaa S
You charged us almost double the price
Colombo to Matara, Train #8060 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Dec 1, 2024
MM
Marilyn M
Good experience. It comes in and out very quickly. So the only thing I would suggest is when my ticket was being checked they mentioned where the first class car is going to be so that I didn't have to fight through the crowd with my bags to try to get to that car on time.
Colombo to Matara, Train #8058 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 30, 2024
4.5
34 customer reviews
5
70%
4
18%
3
6%
2
6%
1
0%

Colombo to Matara Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+2h 20m
€48.16
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
06:30
08:00
€7.03
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
07:00
08:30
€7.03
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
07:30
09:00
€7.03
Van
Real Lanka Holidays
Minivan
09:30
12:00
€17.27
Bus
Disaru Expressway
Tourist AC
10:00
13:00
€14.68
Bus
Disaru Expressway
Tourist AC
11:00
15:00
€14.68
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
12:00
13:30
€7.03
Bus
Disaru Expressway
Tourist AC
12:30
16:00
€14.68
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
13:00
14:30
€7.03
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
13:30
15:00
€7.03
Bus
Disaru Expressway
Tourist AC
14:00
18:00
€14.68
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
14:30
18:09
€4.08
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
14:55
17:54
€11.92
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
15:40
18:52
€4.08
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
17:30
19:00
€7.03
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
18:00
19:30
€7.03
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
18:30
20:00
€7.03
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
20:06
23:18
€4.08
  4.4

How to get from Colombo to Matara

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

  • Bus
  • Train
  • Taxi

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

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about EUR 177.64. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a taxi as a taxi ticket costs as low as EUR 54.34.

How far is Colombo from Matara?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Colombo to Matara. Your trip will be a total of 94 miles (151 km). The flying distance is 82 miles (131 km).

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

The travel time from Colombo to Matara can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 4 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Colombo to Matara varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Real Lanka Holidays: travelling by taxi expect to pay as low as EUR 54.34 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as EUR 177.64.

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

  • Train tickets - EUR 5.47 to EUR 5.47;
  • Bus tickets - EUR 5.59 to EUR 5.59;
  • Bus+taxi price: EUR 186.83. From Colombo to Matara starting from 00:00 Colombo Transfer until 00:00 Colombo Transfer

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from EUR 54.34 to EUR 177.64.

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

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

  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Colombo to Matara any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Colombo to Matara 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 Matara. 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 EUR 54.34.

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..

The most popular transport from Colombo to Matara

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Colombo to Matara? 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:

  • 93% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 6% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Colombo to Matara

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Matara

Cheapest Transport€6
Fastest Transport2h 15m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure5:00 PM
Departures per day6
Distance151 kilometers
Transport CompaniesCeylon Roots, Lakpura, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sri Lanka Railway