Taxi in Colombo

Getting to and from Colombo

Almost every long journey on the island starts or ends here, and the first and last half hour is usually the slowest part of it. The Southern and Katunayake expressways both begin on the edge of the city, so once you are on one the distance stops mattering much — it is reaching the entrance that costs the time. Galle Road carries most of the southbound traffic and Marine Drive runs beside it as a release valve, though it rejoins the same congestion further down.

Arranging a pickup

Give a hotel name and a road, not a landmark: several of the main roads change name every kilometre or two and the numbered ones are used more in speech than the names. Colombo traffic is heaviest either side of the school run and again in the early evening, so a journey booked for the middle of the day will move considerably faster than the same journey at half past four.