Flights to Melbourne from Colombo

Destination Overview

Deemed the world’s most livable city in 2017, Melbourne, Australia has something to offer everyone. If you love art or music, there are festivals for every season and designated spaces for street art – not to mention the city’s claim to fame as the vinyl capital of the world. There is also ample opportunity to take in nature in one of the city’s many gardens or at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon. When in Melbourne, you’ll soon discover that the sky’s the limit.

Flying to Melbourne

1. Which airports serve Colombo to Melbourne?

Colombo Airport, also known as Bandaranaike International Airport, is the only airport serving flights from Colombo to Melbourne and is located 35 km north of Colombo. It is one of the busiest hub airports in South Asia with more than 35 operating airlines.

All flights from Colombo will arrive at Melbourne Airport, which is conveniently located 23 km from the city’s center. Melbourne Airport is the second busiest in Australia and is the sole international airport of the four that serve the Melbourne area.

2. Which airlines operate flights from Colombo to Melbourne?

There are many airlines to choose from when planning your trip to Melbourne from Colombo. Srilankan is the major provider for these flights, offering daily departures with no connections required. Other airlines, including Cathay, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia, Malindo, Qatar, Singapore and Thai, also offer daily departures but require a connection. Air India, China Southern, JAL and China Eastern offer only a few departures throughout the week.

3. How long is the flight?

If you booked a direct flight from Colombo to Melbourne, you can expect the flight to take approximately ten hours. However, there are many other options that will run you upwards of 13 hours of travel with layovers included. Melbourne is four and a half hours ahead of Colombo, so take this into account when planning your flights.

4. Climate changes between Colombo and Melbourne

While Colombo’s warm temperature is consistent throughout the year, Melbourne experiences more varied weather. Between April and November, you can expect relatively warm temperatures and cooler averages throughout the remaining months of the year. The highs and lows throughout the year are more extreme than those of Colombo, so bring layers just in case. Melbournians like to say that the city can experience four seasons in a single day.

5. Culture differences and need-to-know

Melbourne’s currency is the Australian dollar and can be acquired at banks, hotels and international airports. Credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are also accepted.

To enter Australia, you will need to apply for one of five visas, depending on the type of travel you are doing. The Australian Visa Authority recommends applying for your visa no later than 24 hours in advance of your departure.

City Information

Melbourne might be a breath of fresh air if you’re flying from Colombo’s densely packed city of 5.6 million people with high year-round temperatures.

A city of nearly 5 million people with 250 times the space of that found in Colombo, Melbourne rates highly in health care, tourism, sport, education, and entertainment. It is little wonder that Melbourne has been deemed the world’s “most livable city” seven years in a row.

The city is known for its walkable laneways, street art and a multitude of festivals throughout the year. Melbourne’s top attractions include the Eureka Skydeck, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Melbourne considers itself a hotspot for various cuisines and boasts a thriving bar scene. If you want to eat and drink like a Melbournian, you should consider indulging in some food truck meals, followed by gelato and a drink from one of the city’s cafes. There is a coffee culture in Melbourne that you won’t want to miss out on.

Melbourne is a truly cosmopolitan city and serves as Australia’s cultural capital. You are sure to find something for everyone in this international city that is constantly celebrating something beautiful, delicious or legendary.