How to Get From Colombo to Jaffna
Bus · Train · Taxi
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 395 kilometre (245 miles) distance from Colombo to Jaffna. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Jaffna as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 3 ways to travel from Colombo to Jaffna?
There are three ways to travel the 395 km distance from Colombo to Jaffna. You can choose between the bus, train, and taxi.
The journey takes between 6h 5m–7h 30m and the quickest way is by train (6h 5m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train with tickets starting at 2,370 LKR ($7.40).
7h 30m - 8h 20m
5,100 LKR ($16)
7h - 8h 30m
2,370 LKR ($7.40)
7h 20m - 8h
40,000 LKR ($125)
Colombo to Jaffna by Bus
The bus is an affordable way to get from Colombo to Jaffna, but bear in mind that it will be quite a long journey of at least 7h 30m - 8h 20m.
If you still want to travel to Jaffna by bus from Colombo, you have two options: you can take a tourist bus starting at 5,100 LKR ($16) or the cheaper local bus for 1,930 LKR ($6.00).
Option 1: Colombo to Jaffna by Tourist Bus
Tourist buses can get you from Colombo to Jaffna 2-3 hours faster than local buses.
They are also cleaner and much more comfortable with reclining seats and charging sockets. Well worth spending a little extra on!
You can choose from three tourist bus operators: Muthu Travels, Prince Travels and Avro Travels.
Rates start from 5,100 LKR ($16).
Ready to book your option?
Option 2: Colombo to Jaffna by Local Bus
In Colombo, you can find intercity buses to any point in the country. When going to Jaffna, you can take Route #87.
Most Sri Lankan local buses do not get good reviews. Ordinary and semi-luxury buses typically have hard wooden seats and no air conditioning, which can make the 11-hr trip to Jaffna quite uncomfortable.
But if you really want to travel like a local, a semi-luxury bus ticket costs , while an ordinary bus ticket costs about 1,420 LKR ($4.40).
Departs from Colombo Central Bus Stand in the city centre
Arrives at Jaffna Bus Stand in the city centre
Colombo to Jaffna by Train
We recommend taking the train from Colombo to Jaffna for a comfortable journey of 7h - 8h 30m.
If you take a daytime train, the fastest travel time is a little over 6 hours.
You can also take an evening train, but then you will miss the views during the ride and arrive in the middle of the night in Jaffna (which we won’t recommend).
See here the arrival and departure stations of the Sri Lankan Railway train:
Departs from Fort Railway Station in Colombo city centre
Arrives at Jaffna Railway Station in Jaffna city centre
Booking your train tickets
It gets noticeably hotter as you travel north from Colombo. If you’d prefer a more comfortable journey, it might be better to travel with an air-conditioned 1st-class train seat. This costs 2,250 LKR ($7.00) when you buy them at the train station.
However, since reserved 1st and 2nd-class seats often sell out fast, you might want to reserve your tickets online at least 30 days before your travel date. They are more expensive, but they will save you a lot of worry. A 1st class seat bought online costs 7,400 LKR ($23). If you would rather save money, 2nd-class seats are still comfortable enough, and they cost 2,370 LKR ($7.40).
If you missed this 1-month deadline, you can likely still buy your tickets at a local agency or cheap (2nd or 3rd-class) unreserved tickets at the railway station in Colombo.
Unreserved tickets are unlimited, and you can easily buy them at the train station on the day of your trip. However, you will have to compete with hundreds of locals for a good seat. There’s a great chance you will be standing for the first 3 hours of your journey until Anuradhapura, where many passengers get off.
Check out the Sri Lanka Railways website to see the schedules for 2nd and 3rd-class seats. For more info and other train booking options, check out this train guide for Sri Lanka.
Train schedule from Colombo to Jaffna
Colombo to Jaffna by Taxi
A private transfer from Colombo to Jaffna is the easiest and most convenient option. The journey takes 7h 20m - 8h, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.
Prices for private transfer start at 40,000 LKR ($125) for a 3-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 13,000 LKR ($42) each.
You can also check the taxi apps Uber, PickMe and TaxiGo to compare rates.
Route Update History
Updated Bus by selene
Updated Train by selene
Updated Taxi by selene
Updated Bus by selene
Updated Train by selene
Updated Taxi by selene
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Colombo to Jaffna. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Colombo to Jaffna is 395 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit Jaffna?
Jaffna is a relatively newly-reopened town for tourists in Sri Lanka’s northern tip. The city is a fusion of Hindu Islam and Buddhist Sri Lanka — a product of over two decades of civil war. Its many years of isolation from the rest of the country make it a unique place to visit, and there are relatively fewer tourists so you can have a more authentic glimpse of local life.
Inhabited by the Tamil people, you can expect a warm welcome when you explore this city. Some of the best things to do in Jaffna include a visit to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, a walk around the Dutch Fort, and a trip to the local market (try the Jaffna mango!). Everywhere you go, friendly locals will greet you with bright smiles.
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About the Authors
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
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