Colombo to Nice Flights

  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Nice

Located on the coast of Baie des Anges and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera is the alluring city of Nice. The jewel of French Riviera, Nice boasts not just a sparkling shoreline but also historical monuments and artistic architecture.

Best time to visit Nice

For Nice, it is important that you visit the lovely coastal city in a season where the temperatures are balanced, and the hotel rooms are cheap. You need to make sure to capitalise on the hotel room rate that usually happens between March and April. The Mediterranean vibe of the city is prevalent all-round the year. Still, it is from mid-March to April and September to October when the accommodations are also pocket-friendly. The months from May to August see a multitude of crowds who wish to soak in the Mediterranean bliss and hot temperatures. It is also the time when the hotel prices surge to an exorbitant level. You will need to fill your pockets with some heavy euros to make it through summer in Nice. Perks of the season are some of the beautiful festivals that take place including, Nice International Film Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Crossover Festival and Festival du Livre. It is recommended that you make prior bookings of hotels and flights to Nice if you're rooting for summer. If you're opting for September and October, you don't have to worry much about the excess crowd as well as accommodation prices.

Tourists can visit some of the famous attractions but expect a little crowd. However, it won't be as crowded as how the summers are in Nice. In fact, you will be able to soak in the Mediterranean sun as well as enjoy sightseeing. There are no major festivals that take place during this time of the year, so you'll probably not be able to indulge in the exciting ambience of it. But for solitude and happy vibes, the place remains open. Mid-March to April are also good months to hang out in Nice. The French Riviera bustles with fewer crowds but beautiful weather. The spring season is actually quite pleasant in Nice as the temperature ranges from 14 degree Celsius to 16 degree Celsius. The weather remains calm, but the warm sun adds to the experience. Plus, there is an interesting event that the city hosts, International Dog Show. If you are someone who loves canines, you should definitely check this event out. Plus, during spring, the hotel bookings in Nice continue to remain low-priced, giving way to a comfortable stay, maybe even facing the sea.

Places to visit in Nice

Place Masséna is the first place you can start. It is the city's main square and has a bunch of interesting things to do around the vicinity. The next could be a visit to the Promenade des Anglais (English Walk). The pebbly shore with a beachfront is a sight for the sore eyes. Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau) with its scenic location is highly recommended. You shouldn't miss Nice Beaches because they are eccentric and too gorgeous. If you are an art patron, then you should pay a visit to the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, popularly known as Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art. To make things a little religious, you can also check out St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Garden of the Cimiez Monastery is another lovely locale that would marvel you. It is basically an orchard and vegetable garden that was used by monks in the old times. To make your experience more luxe, you can visit Palais Lascaris, which once belonged to the first noble families of the city.

Things to do in Nice

French Riviera is known for its vineyards. A trip to the vineyard and learning more about how wine is made would be quite the experience. You will not regret this, especially since the wine produced in Nice is recognised worldwide for creating the best wines. You can also take up a stroll down the Old Town to savour all the lovely architecture and quaint streets. There are some cafes and restaurants nestled in the nook and corner of Vieille Ville that will marvel you. A hike up to the Parc du Mont Boron is also something that you can undertake. The 7 miles long hiking trails is blessed with some scenic beauty that eventually overlooks Nice. The panoramic views would certainly leave an impact on you. The best way to go through the city would be by renting a cycle. There are some cycle tours that takes place in Nice, which you can probably join.

Food and Restaurants in Nice

The cuisine of Nice slightly tweaks the traditional French cuisine and adds a bit of Mediterranean flavour to it. Hence, while you will find fresh cheese, vegetables and meat, they'll come with a refreshing twist of flavours inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Niçoise cuisine has seafood as their staple food. It is not surprising considering how the city is located on the coast, making fish and seafood easy to acquire. Expect tuna and anchovies tossed with fresh baby tomatoes, green leafy vegetables and green beans with a light olive oil dressing to complete the traditional Niçois salad. This is a famous local dish that you will get to taste and you must. There are Italian-inspired pissaladieres too which include anchovies and caramelised onions as the topping to small-sized pizzas. To make the most of the Niçoise cuisine, you should visit Vieux-Nice (Old Town) as well as Port District. These two places have a slew of restaurants and food establishments that glorify the Niçoise cuisine. One of the popular places to visit would be the Restaurant Le Frog. The place specialises in French and classic Mediterranean meals.

You should know that the French cuisine has a snail appetiser, prominently known as escargot. While you do have the option to try it out here at Nice, it can be clubbed with a lovely entree and drinks. For a less-expensive but wholesome food experience in Nice, you can visit some of the food establishments close to Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate in Vieux-Nice. Les Gaiçons is a famous establishment known for its gourmet French food. Many more restaurants are also available close to the Promenade des Anglais (Walk of the English). Places such as La Route Du Miam, Les Amourex, Cumin et Cannelle, Eden Garden, Polly and Cie, to name a few. These places will certainly upscale your French rendezvous with lip-smacking food. Expecting international or rather global cuisine in Nice is being very hopeful. The city celebrates French and Niçois cuisine and doesn't entertain any other global kitchen. In fact, at the most, you can find African and contemporary cuisine, but that is the extent.

How to reach Nice

Flight connectivity to Nice from India is immaculate. There are a plethora of flight options that take off from India to Nice. Although there are no direct flights to Nice from India, the flight connectivity to Nice is so good that travellers can reach without having to compromise on the duration and layovers. The international route to Nice, which goes from major European and Middle Eastern countries have connecting flights at a convenient time-frame. Airlines such as Aeroflot, Alitalia, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch, Air France, Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss, Lufthansa, to name a few, have regular flights to Nice. Both Mumbai and Delhi have excellent flight connectivity to Nice with a plethora of airlines servicing from the cities. The best thing about Nice is how the flight duration from the two major cities is also quite agreeable. Originally, it takes close to 10 hours to reach Nice from India. However, with the provision of some of the airlines and flights from Mumbai and Delhi, the duration to reach Nice is met with. There are layovers in international cities such as Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Moscow, Rome, London, to name a few.

Flight tickets to Nice from Mumbai and Delhi are quite cheap and affordable. You will actually be able to round off your trip in as less as INR 50,000. As long as you make prior flight bookings to Nice, you will be eligible for cheap travel. It doesn't limit flights with long durations and layovers. You can reach Nice within 12 hours tops from Mumbai and Delhi on a cheap flight ticket. Travelling to Nice from India is very convenient. You might even be able to snag some flight deals to Nice online. Make sure that you book your accommodations in Nice well in advance. Flights to Nice might be cheap, but the accommodation is equally steep. A little snooping on the internet could get you some lovely deals for flights and accommodation too. If you are collecting miles for travel, this could be the right time to earn more or splurge the ones you have been saving. Nice is worth all the miles earned as one of the poshest cities not just in France but worldwide too. While you're travelling to the city, some airlines or layovers might require a transit Schengen visa. You can get the same at the embassy or online.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.