Lagos to Colombo flights
Colombo lies 8,433 km (5,240 mi) east of Lagos, +4.5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 11 h 34 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Lagos | Colombo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria | Sri Lanka |
| Population | 15.4 million | 648,034 |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+1 (Africa/Lagos) | UTC+5:30 (Asia/Colombo) |
| Nearest large airport | LOS, 16 km out | RML, 13 km out |
Clocks in Colombo are 4 h 30 min ahead of Lagos right now, so a 11 h 34 min journey lands 16 h 4 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Colombo
Crossing from Nigeria into Sri Lanka: money changes from the Naira to the Rupee (LKR); traffic switches to the left; sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 1363, BS 546; the dialling code becomes +94; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648823 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2807090.
Airports at each end
Leaving Lagos
Lagos is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 12,794-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Colombo
Colombo is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML), 13 km (8 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,013 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB, 28 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo Ratmalana International Airport | RML | 13 km (8 mi) | 6,013 ft | 22 ft |
| Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport | CMB | 28 km (17 mi) | 10,991 ft | 30 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 8,433 km (5,240 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to Colombo
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Colombo
Our booking partner lists 553 places to stay in Colombo. Of the 345 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (153), and 28 are five-star. Across 168 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 122,384 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Colombo
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Colombo from Lagos?
8,433 km (5,240 mi) in a straight line, east of Lagos.
How long does it take to get from Lagos to Colombo by air?
About 11 h 34 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Lagos and Colombo?
Colombo is 4 h 30 min ahead at the moment (Asia/Colombo against Africa/Lagos).
Which airports are used for Lagos to Colombo flights?
Typically Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) to Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML); Colombo also has CMB.
What currency do I need in Colombo?
The Rupee (LKR).
Where can I stay in Colombo?
Our booking partner lists 553 places to stay in Colombo, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.