Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo is on most occasions a beehive of activity while affording scenes of rush-hour traffic and congested roads during the morning hours. Although commuting to a destination of one’s choosing may be time-consuming, the city still offers up a wide selection of transportation facilities to avail of as mentioned down below.

In terms of journeying via the local bus network, one will be confronted with having to choose between fleets belonging to the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board and those privately owned. From a cost point of view, travelling by bus will appear somewhat easier on your purse but this would also depend on the location and suburb. As a whole, the local bus service covers the entirety of the nation which will pleasantly inform you that this form of transport can be made use of even when wanting to travel within Colombo. For starters, the Galle Road is your best bet to hail a bus travelling from Pettah which is the hub of public transport in the country as numerous bus stops can be found that make hopping in and off a thing of the past.

Image via Wikimedia Commons (Lanil Marasinghe, Class M8A, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Spelling convenience with a capital ‘C’ would be Sri Lanka’s train service which is often resorted to by commuters wanting to beat the traffic and avoid unnecessary delays en route to reaching their respective workplaces and schools. Once again the area referred to as Pettah ought to be your ‘go to’ when wanting to catch a train and for this purpose, look to purchase tickets from the Colombo Fort Railway Station which is operated by Sri Lanka Railways. Riding in 3^rd class will be an experience in itself as you will stand a good chance of travelling in packed carriages but with the bonus of being able to listen to songs being sung by fellow train users. By far the most affordable means of public transport in the country, one will also have to make allowance for last-minute cancellations and delays along the way. By and large, your experience is bound to end on a positive note. For example, if looking to explore the suburbs of the city, then buy a ticket along the Kelani Valley Line which runs from Maradana to Avissawella as part of a 60 km track that will see you moving past local communities, the famed Royal Colombo Golf Club and to parts of the island nation rarely spoken of.

Shifting gears to a more luxurious and enjoyable side to travelling in Colombo would be its taxis. However, running parallel to this thought is the fact taxi rides aren’t the most affordable which must be made note of before making any reservation. However, employing the services of a taxi or even a hotel taxi such as those on offer at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo which is one of the hotels in Colombo city will ensure that you remain in good spirits during the course of your journey. Also, these vehicles arrive air-conditioned and well maintained which are a few of the value additions of opting for a taxi. Tipping the driver is not a rule set in stone but always welcomed with a broad smile and a polite "thank you."

A series of car rental companies are found throughout Colombo offering outstanding value for money for those intending on combing every part of the city at a pace befitting their individual personalities. Cars can be rented for any duration of a day or if you see yourself moving out of Colombo for a specific purpose, then this too would have to be communicated and a price agreed with the rental service provider.

Also fondly called ‘tuk-tuks,’ the trishaw in Colombo will be one experience you certainly will not have anywhere else in the world. This is largely in part because these three-wheelers are known for being excellent when it comes to snaking through traffic and discovering byroads that will have you at your destination in a jiffy. Though known to be a tad hair-raising on the odd occasion, this form of travel within the city limits of Colombo will be filled with opportunities to meet and greet drivers and importantly, to make new friends and witness the city from a completely contrasting angle.