Colombo to Anuradhapura

Colombo to Anuradhapura

Colombo
Anuradhapura
Mon, Jan 19
+ Add return
0 Passengers
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Sort by
Filters
Departure time
Price
Arrival time
 
 
 
 
 

Colombo to Anuradhapura Destination Reviews

IF
My train was 1 hour and a half late
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #55003 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 30, 2025
VG
Great train. Very well maintained. Had a nice journey!!
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #55003 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Aug 4, 2025
RI
Easy
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #5003 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Aug 2, 2025
JJ
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
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
SS
-Good handling -friendly staff at the station showed us directly where to go
This review was autotranslated
Colombo to Anuradhapura, Train #4017 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Apr 5, 2022
4.4
35 customer reviews
5
60%
4
26%
3
11%
2
3%
1
0%

Colombo to Anuradhapura Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+2h 45m
€56.85
  5.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:15
09:18
€7.02
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:45
09:18
€7.02
  4.6
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
06:40
10:40
€5.85
  4.6
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
08:00
12:30
€12.53
  4.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
15:45
19:57
€7.02
  4.6
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
16:22
20:10
€17.83
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Luxury
17:30
22:00
€9.91
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Tourist
18:45
22:45
€12.92
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
19:04
23:59
€4.97
Bus
Prince Travels
Tourist AC
19:30
04:30
€14.64
Bus
Muthu Travels
Tourist AC
19:55
03:55
€11.63
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
First Class Seat
20:23
00:25
€15.79
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
21:00
01:30
€12.53
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
22:00
02:30
€12.53
  4.0

How to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura

Travelling between Colombo and Anuradhapura is possible by Bus, train, van and taxi. Taxi guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Taxi is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you EUR 220.60 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus which will set you back mere EUR 13.50.

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

It can take you anywhere between 3 and 5 hours to travel between Colombo and Anuradhapura depending on the means of transport you choose.

Taxi is the fastest way to travel between Colombo and Anuradhapura. Taxi will bring you to your destination in 2h 45m. Taxi does a much slower job and take about 4h 47m to reach Anuradhapura.

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

Travelling between Colombo and Anuradhapura can be as cheap as EUR 13.50 if you opt for a Avro Travels bus and as expensive as EUR 220.60 if you buy a Ceylon Roots taxi ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

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

  • 2 from Colombo to Anuradhapura starting from 08:00 Colombo until 22:00 Colombo
  • 14 from Colombo to Anuradhapura starting from 00:00 Colombo until 00:00 Colombo

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Colombo to Anuradhapura.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Bus

Travelling from Colombo to Anuradhapura overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Colombo and Anuradhapura

Avro Travels

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Colombo and Anuradhapura

Ceylon Roots, Lakpura, Real Lanka Holidays, Real Lanka Holidays, TaxiBazaar, Tours with Stef Lanka (Stef Lanka Tours)

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

Van

Vans are a great alternative - or, in many cases - your only option - if you need to travel overland within one and the same province or neighbouring provinces or states. Vans ply the roads between Colombo and Anuradhapura, too.

Things to remember: When travelling by van with huge luggage buying a separate seat for your suitcase or backpack is a good idea. Do not expect there is a roomy luggage compartment in a van - there is actually none and your fellow passengers are unlikely to appreciate your luggage stuck under their feet, alas.

Companies operating vans between Colombo and Anuradhapura

Real Lanka Holidays

What is the most popular transport to get from Colombo to Anuradhapura?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Bus remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

  • 87% opted for a bus
  • 7% bought a taxi ride
  • 5% took a train
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Colombo to Anuradhapura

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Anuradhapura

Cheapest Transport€5
Fastest Transport2h 45m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure10:00 PM
Departures per day16
Distance206 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAvro Travels, Ceylon Roots, Lakpura, Real Lanka Holidays, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tours with Stef Lanka