Key hubs
Bentota airport and railway station
- Airport
- Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake, north of Colombo, is the usual arrival point; about 2 hours or more by road depending on traffic. Several Indian cities have flights to CMB. A water aerodrome (BJT) on the Bentota River is used by amphibious aircraft; check with the operator.
- Railway station
- Bentota Halt is a small station on the Coastal Line (Colombo to Matara); most trains stop at Aluthgama, about 2.5 km north. Check current services with Sri Lanka Railways.
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuks and taxis cover the beach strip and the nearby sights; a car with driver suits Lunuganga, Kande Vihara and Kosgoda in one day
How to reach Bentota by air
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake is the usual arrival point. Several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi, have flights to CMB; check airlines for current routes. From the airport it is about 2 hours or more by road to Bentota, depending on traffic. A water aerodrome (BJT) on the Bentota River serves amphibious aircraft; check with the operator.
How to reach Bentota by train
Bentota is on the Coastal Line between Colombo and Matara. Bentota Halt is a small station, and most trains stop at Aluthgama, about 2.5 km north. Check Sri Lanka Railways for current services; a car transfer is simpler with luggage and elders.
How to reach Bentota by road
Bentota lies on the coastal A2 highway, about 65 km south of Colombo and about 56 km north of Galle. The Southern Expressway can be reached from Aluthgama via the B157 and shortens the Colombo run. Buses and taxis run along the coast; a car with driver is easiest.
Getting around Bentota
Tuk-tuks and taxis cover the beach strip and nearby sights. For Lunuganga, Brief Garden, Kande Vihara and Kosgoda, hire a car with driver for the day. The beach road is flat and walkable near your hotel.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Bentota
- Take travel insurance and carry medicines with a prescription. Hospitals are in Galle and Colombo, about an hour or more away, so older travellers with conditions should know their nearest clinic.
- Book a car with driver for the garden and temple day rather than relying on tuk-tuks in the heat.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.