Best way to travel cheapest and fastest from Spain to Sri Lanka

To travel from Spain, to Colombo, Sri Lanka, both quickly and cheaply, you'll need to combine a few strategies. Here's how you can approach it:

The most straightforward way to find affordable flights is through online search engines. Some of the best ones to check are:

Skyscanner (best for comparing prices across airlines)

Google Flights (provides good insights on price trends and alternate routes)

Momondo

Kayak

Set up price alerts on these platforms so you can monitor ticket prices over time. The earlier you book, the cheaper the flight generally is.

Since there aren't direct flights from Spain to Sri Lanka, you'll need to look for connecting flights. The typical route options include:

I chose my home town Alicante as a starting point, but you might find cheaper flights if you're willing to travel a bit further. Consider flying from:

Flying mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) can often save you money. Use flexible date search options to find the cheapest day to fly. If you’re not constrained by a specific schedule, playing around with the dates can save a lot.

Flights during holidays or peak tourist seasons (e.g., summer or Christmas) will generally be more expensive. If you can, try to book during the off-season, such as late fall or spring, to get better prices.

Flights with long layovers or stopovers (e.g., 6–12 hours) are often cheaper. If you’re open to spending a bit of time in a transit city (like Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul), you might be able to get a better deal.

For international flights, booking 2–3 months in advance is usually the sweet spot for getting affordable fares.

Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the main airport, but be aware of potential additional costs for transport to and from the airport if flying to alternative airports like Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) (although this is less common for international flights).

Best Airlines: Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Etihad Airways

Best Strategy: Use search engines to monitor prices and set alerts. Fly from Alicante to a major hub in the Middle East or Europe, then continue to Colombo. Be flexible with your dates and book early.