Flying from Colombo to Shanghai: what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with working out where you'll fly out of in Colombo. Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the city's main base, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Colombo to Shanghai departing from here.
Touch down in Shanghai at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
A direct flight from Colombo to Shanghai takes an average of 6 hours 53 minutes. The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8, which is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Colombo.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 16 weekly flights to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Colombo to Shanghai is with China Eastern Airlines at 21:20. Choose the first CMB to PVG departure with SriLankan Airlines at 13:25 if you want to get going early.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you'll have plenty of time to catch your flight from Colombo to Shanghai.
Be prepared for bigger queues in popular months such as August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
You will need an embassy visa for China if you have a passport from Sri Lanka and are travelling for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements can be subject to change. So before you book your cheap flights from Colombo to Shanghai, check with your airline and your destination country's local embassy or consulate for the latest information.
Flying from Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
You can get a direct flight from Colombo to Shanghai jetting off from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Begin your trip at CMB and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
When taking off from CMB, you can take a direct flight from Colombo to Shanghai with China Eastern Airlines.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and maybe even tour another city. When browsing flights from Colombo to Shanghai leaving from Bandaranaike International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some options to consider:
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Travelling from central Colombo to CMB takes around 1 hour and 31 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 32 kilometres in 39 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
After a leisurely start to your trip? Stay near Bandaranaike International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Colombo to Shanghai or just don't like being rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to the centre of Shanghai is around 49 minutes by car. It's approximately 56 kilometres away.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Colombo to Shanghai. Book one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
As soon as your flight from Colombo to Shanghai has hit the runway, you can make your way to the city centre in about 21 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is approximately 14 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to SHA. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Colombo to Shanghai:
How to find the cheapest flights from Colombo to Shanghai
$223 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Colombo to Shanghai. Return flights start from $447. These prices may change based on availability and demand.
Book 2 months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from Colombo to Shanghai.
Schedule your trip for October. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from Colombo to Shanghai. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Sign into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. We'll get in touch right away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It's simple to do, and it'll save you from checking for cheap tickets from Colombo to Shanghai every day.
Play around with filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Colombo to Shanghai, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Shanghai
July is the busiest month for flights from Colombo to Shanghai. To skip the crowds, go to Shanghai in April.
Lock in your flight from Colombo to Shanghai for August if you'd like to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Shanghai to range from 23ºC to 34ºC.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Colombo to Shanghai in January when temperatures average between -1ºC and 10ºC.
More about Shanghai
Once you've booked your flight from Colombo to Shanghai, think about where to rest your head in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Shanghai:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned Shanghai itinerary.
Complete your Shanghai trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Colombo to Shanghai isn't our only cool trick. Check out our car rentals in Shanghai and explore the city on your own terms. We search for deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. You can instantly compare rates and then book with no fees.