Cheap flights from Colombo to Warsaw

October is the cheapest month on this route, and the weeks either side of it usually stay close. Fares climb for the European summer, when Poles head off on holiday, and again over Christmas and New Year, so book well ahead if you are tied to those dates. The weather at either end is nothing alike, so pack for a warm departure and a much colder arrival. Midweek departures from Colombo often cost less than weekend ones, and landing in Warsaw early in the week means quieter airports and easier transfers.

Nothing flies this route non-stop, so every option involves at least one change. The Gulf and Indian hubs do most of the work: Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia connect through their home bases, Air India routes through its Indian gateways, and Lufthansa and Swiss bring you in through Europe. Srilankan Airlines starts you off from Colombo before the change. Full-service carriers usually include a checked bag and meals in the fare, while low-cost tickets such as Air Arabia, Fly Dubai and French Bee charge separately for baggage, seat choice and food, so add those in before you compare totals.

Warsaw has two airports, and which one you land at depends on the airline you pick. F. Chopin sits close to the city centre and takes most of the long-haul connections, with a train and several bus lines running into town. Modlin lies well outside Warsaw and handles mostly low-cost traffic; from there you reach the centre by shuttle bus or by train from a nearby station, and the transfer takes noticeably longer. Check which airport your ticket names before you arrange ground transport, and make sure a late landing does not leave you past the last bus or train.

Currency

PLZ (zł)

Power sockets

Type C, E · 230 V

Language

Polish

Emergency number

112, 986, 997

Driving side

right

Calling code

+48

Internet domain

.pl

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Warsaw

1.9 M (2024)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Europe/Warsaw)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Colombo flies out of Bandaranayike International, so confirm that is the airport printed on your ticket before you pay.
• If your trip is split between two low-cost carriers, check whether your bags are through-checked or whether you collect and re-check them yourself.
• Compare the fare with baggage added, because low-cost tickets on this route rarely include a checked bag.
• Allow enough time at your connecting hub for a terminal change if the airline moves you between them.
• Make sure your passport and any Schengen visa for Poland are valid for your travel dates.
• Book early for October, the cheapest month, and for the summer and Christmas peaks.