Flying from Milan to Colombo: what you need to know
You can choose from multiple airports when planning your flight from Milan to Colombo. Check out your options for flying out of Milan from Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP), Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) and Milano Linate Airport (LIN).
Hop off the plane at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the major arrival point in Colombo.
The timezone in Colombo is UTC+5:30, which is four hours 30 minutes ahead of Milan.
For hassle-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your Milan to Colombo flight.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Milan to Colombo
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap Milan to Colombo flight. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the nearer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll give you the lowest price across each month when searching for your plane ticket from Milan to Colombo.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from Milan to Colombo by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Lock in a cheap Milan to Colombo flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Milan
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP)
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for Milan to Colombo flights leaving from Milano Malpensa Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
Located around 40 kilometres from central Milan, MXP can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 55 minutes.
Have an early flight from Milan to Colombo? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to Milano Malpensa Airport:
When it comes to Milano Malpensa Airport's on-time performance, 68.23% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)
Consider adding a stop at Dubai Airport (DXB). It's a key stopover on a Milan to Colombo flight departing Orio al Serio International Airport. Use a longer layover to get out and explore, or take advantage of a quick break to freshen up at the airport.
With public transport, you can travel from central Milan to BGY in around 2 hours 20 minutes. The terminal is roughly 48 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from Milan to Colombo, kick back in one of these hotels near Orio al Serio International Airport:
Orio al Serio International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 68%. This figure highlights how frequently flights that leave from this airport land at their destination on schedule.
Milano Linate Airport (LIN)
Booking a ticket from Milan to Colombo with a stop or two can give you more departure time choices on top of cheaper fares. When flying from Milano Linate Airport (LIN), here are a few places you can detour to on the way to Colombo:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
The journey to LIN from central Milan is around 45 minutes by public transport. If you're planning to travel by car, it'll take you about 30 minutes to cover the 8 kilometres or so.
Make taking an early Milan to Colombo flight the easiest part of your journey. Stay at one of these accommodation options close to Milano Linate Airport and get to your boarding gate with time to spare:
The on-time performance record of LIN is 79.56%. In other words, that's how often flights from this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
Arriving in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo takes about 40 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 13 kilometres away.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Milan to Colombo, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these accommodation options near RML:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
After your flight from Milan to Colombo has arrived, you can reach the city centre in around 40 minutes by car. Central Colombo is approximately 27 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion and Sixt make picking up a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car simple. These trusted providers are located around or in the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Get first dibs on the best options. Reserving your ride from CMB two weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Colombo
Visit Milan in peak season if you want a busy atmosphere, but remember that prices are usually higher. Alternatively, book flights from Milan to Milan during the off-season when prices are cheaper and it's quieter.
Lock in a Milan to Colombo ticket departing in March if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Colombo to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
January has average temperatures of between 22ºC and 32ºC. Look for cheap flights from Milan to Colombo around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Colombo
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Colombo right here. Explore these hotels once you've booked your flight from Milan to Colombo:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are essential stops on your Colombo itinerary.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
You've done Colombo, now it's time to discover more of Sri Lanka. Travel about 18 kilometres south to Moratuwa to tick off its must-visit sights. From Boat House to Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Jaffna is another sought-after destination in Sri Lanka and is around 306 kilometres north of Colombo. No journey is complete without visiting Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.
