Skip the Christmas market crowds on the Rathausplatz. Spend late November watching surfers in Weligama and drinking tea in the hills.
Air Arabia flies from Vienna to Colombo from €409 return, with one stop in Sharjah. The layover is one hour out and about two hours back, and the dates fall in November and December 2026.
✈️ The Deal
- From: Vienna, Austria
- To: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Airline: Air Arabia
- Stops: 1 stop (Sharjah)
- Price: €409–€417 return
- When: November - December 2026
Example dates:
21/11/2026 - 08/12/2026
25/11/2026 - 10/12/2026
24/11/2026 - 12/12/2026
Total travel time is about 11 hours out and 13 hours back. Check the baggage rules before booking, as Air Arabia's cheapest fares are usually hand luggage only.
💰 How far does your money go?
A single U-Bahn ticket in Vienna costs €3.20. In Sri Lanka, that covers a plate of kottu roti at a street stall, and often a cup of milk tea too. A rice and curry lunch at a local canteen is around €2, and a tuk-tuk across Colombo rarely costs more than €3-4 with an app. A Melange and a slice of Sachertorte at home buys a whole day of food here.
☀️ The Weather
Late November is the end of the inter-monsoon in Colombo, with highs of 30-31°C and short afternoon showers. By December, the south and west coasts dry out and the beach season begins, with sea temperatures around 28°C. The hill country is cooler, around 20°C by day in Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
🏨 Where to Stay
A boutique hostel, a beachfront classic or a colonial landmark.
Alma Boutique Hostel · 9.2/10 · From €20/night A stylish, well-reviewed hostel in Colombo with private rooms as well as dorms.
Cinnamon Grand Colombo · 9.1/10 · From €120/night A big, polished hotel in Kollupitiya with a pool, a dozen restaurants and Galle Face Green nearby.
Galle Face Hotel · 9.2/10 · From €170/night On the seafront since 1864. Order a drink on the veranda at sunset, even if you stay elsewhere.
🎯 What to Do
Sri Lanka packs beaches, mountains and wildlife into a small island.
Galle Face Green at sunset: Kites, street food carts and isso vadai (prawn fritters) on Colombo's seafront promenade.
Pettah Market: The city's loud, crowded bazaar, with the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar mosque in the middle.
Surfing in Weligama: A gentle beach break with lessons for beginners, at its best from December.
The Nanu Oya to Ella train: The scenic hill-country section reopened in June 2026. Kandy to Nanu Oya is still closed after Cyclone Ditwah, so do that stretch by road.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Colombo is the starting point for a loop around the island.
Galle: A Dutch fort town on the south coast, about 1h30 by expressway or 2h30 by coastal train.
Kandy: The Temple of the Tooth and the gateway to the hills, around 3 hours by road.
Sigiriya: The Lion Rock fortress in the Cultural Triangle, about 4 hours by road.
Jaffna: The Tamil north, with different food, temples and quiet islands, about 1 hour by domestic flight. Search flights
€409 return from Vienna to Sri Lanka, just as the beach season starts. Grab it before December prices kick in.
Get every flight deal we find, on your favourite app.
Pick how you want to hear from us — or all three. Free, no spam.
