How to get from Colombo to Unawatuna

How do you get from Colombo to Unawatuna?

Quick answer: There are two good ways. Take the coast line train from Colombo Fort, which has its own Unawatuna station 119.53 km away and costs Rs 240 in 3rd class on the railway's fare table dated July 2022. Or take a bus to Galle and cover the last 5 km by bus or tuk-tuk. By road, the trip takes a little under 2 hours with no traffic. We could not confirm train or bus times, so check on the day.

The long part of the trip is the part from Colombo to Galle, and our Colombo to Galle train guide already covers that in full, with fares, status and booking. This page does not repeat it. It answers the question that remains: how to finish the journey at Unawatuna, and when to choose which route.

Which route should you pick?

Start with how you are travelling, not with the price.

What does each route cost and how far is it?

The Galle fares stop at Galle. Ask the conductor whether the bus passes the Unawatuna turn, or travel on to Galle and take a tuk-tuk for the last 5 km.

How do you go by train?

The train is the simplest route, because Unawatuna has its own station and it costs the same as Galle: Rs 950 in 1st class, Rs 500 in 2nd and Rs 240 in 3rd, on the railway's July 2022 table. The two stations are 5.64 km apart by rail, worked out from 119.53 km and 113.89 km.

To reserve a seat, our train booking guide explains the railway's steps. You book on the railway's seat reservation site and pay by card or LankaQR. You get a code by SMS and email, and you show it, with your ID, at a station with a reservation counter to collect the ticket. You can book up to 30 days ahead and for up to 5 passengers at a time. The reservation system lists Colombo Fort to Beliatta as a route, but whether a train runs on your date has to be checked. If no seat appears, the guide says the seats may be sold out, the date may be too far away, or the station pair may not take reservations.

Trains leave from Colombo Fort, not from the airport. If you are landing at Bandaranaike International Airport, see the next section.

What if you are coming from the airport?

There is no direct train from the airport to Galle. You would first go into Colombo and take a coast line train from Colombo Fort. Our Colombo airport to Galle and Mirissa guide lists the expressway buses from Negombo and Makumbura, and notes that a private car is the quickest option. For Unawatuna, that guide says to take a Galle bus and continue a short way east.

If you are landing late, think about the last 5 km. We could not confirm last departures for any bus or train, so book the final leg in advance, or plan to sleep in Galle and finish in the morning.

How do you finish the trip from Galle to Unawatuna?

Unawatuna is about 5 km south-east of Galle city centre. The Southern Province tourist bureau says buses run regularly between Galle and Unawatuna, and that tuk-tuks are a convenient way to move between the beaches. That is the whole last leg. On our Galle vs Unawatuna route check, it takes about 6 minutes without traffic.

Our Galle vs Unawatuna guide helps if you are still deciding where to sleep. In short, Galle Fort is the old walled town, and Unawatuna is the swimming bay with Jungle Beach and Rumassala hill nearby. Many people stay in one and visit the other.

What is the weather doing this weekend?

The Department of Meteorology forecast issued at 5.30 a.m. on 24 October 2026 expects showers or thundershowers after 1.00 p.m. elsewhere on the island, with fairly heavy falls above 50 mm likely at some places. It also expects more rain in the south-western parts of the island in the next few days, and warns of strong gusts and lightning. The sea areas off Colombo, Galle and Matara may be rough at times.

What that means for the trip: leave Colombo early, so that you reach the coast before the afternoon showers. Do not plan to swim on arrival if the sea is rough. Our Unawatuna page warns of strong currents, especially from May to October, and says to swim only in designated safe areas.

These are the WMO 1991 to 2020 normals for Galle, the nearest station, as printed on our Unawatuna page. October is the wettest month, and February the driest in the table.

What should you check before you go?

• Times: we could not load the railway timetable or confirm bus times. Ask at Colombo Fort or on the seat reservation site.
• Seats: book early if you want a reserved seat, up to 30 days ahead.
• Cash: carry small notes for 3rd class tickets and bus fares.
• Last leg: agree the tuk-tuk price before you set off.
• Your bags: the 3rd class carriage and the local bus have little space for large cases.