Sydney to Colombo flights
Colombo lies 13,092 km (8,135 mi) south of Sydney, -13 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 17 h 32 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.
| Sydney | Colombo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Brazil |
| Population | 5.6 million | 232,212 |
| Elevation | 58 m (190 ft) | 1,007 m (3,304 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) | UTC-3 (America/Sao_Paulo) |
| Nearest large airport | SYD, 9 km out | CWB, 27 km out |
| Postal codes | 1001–2001 | 83400-000 |
Clocks in Colombo are 13 h behind Sydney right now, so a 17 h 32 min journey lands only 4 h 32 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Colombo
Crossing from Australia into Brazil: money changes from the Dollar to the Real (BRL); traffic switches to the right; sockets are Euro, IEC 60906-1; the dialling code becomes +55; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648833 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648834.
Airports at each end
Leaving Sydney
Sydney is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre, whose 12,999-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 Curitiba-Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB), 27 km (17 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,277 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Ponta Grossa Airport - Comandante Antonio Amilton Beraldo (PGZ, 93 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curitiba-Afonso Pena International Airport | CWB | 27 km (17 mi) | 7,277 ft | 2,988 ft |
| Ponta Grossa Airport - Comandante Antonio Amilton Beraldo (regional) | PGZ | 93 km (58 mi) | 4,692 ft | 2,588 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 13,092 km (8,135 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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Staying in Colombo
Live rooms and prices for Colombo are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Colombo
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Common questions
How far is Colombo from Sydney?
13,092 km (8,135 mi) in a straight line, south of Sydney.
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Colombo by air?
About 17 h 32 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sydney and Colombo?
Colombo is 13 h behind at the moment (America/Sao_Paulo against Australia/Sydney).
Which airports are used for Sydney to Colombo flights?
Typically Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Curitiba-Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB); Colombo also has PGZ.
What currency do I need in Colombo?
The Real (BRL).
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.