How to get from Colombo to Kandy
What are the 6 ways to travel from Colombo to Kandy?
There are 6 ways to travel the 115 kilometre (71 miles) distance from Colombo to Kandy. You can choose between the bus, minivan, taxi, train, flight* and day trip. The journey takes 30 minutes - 12 hours and the quickest way is by flight*. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train with tickets starting at 1,200 LKR ($3.90).
Colombo to Kandy by Train
Sri Lanka Railways operates several trips from Colombo to Kandy every day.
Fares for a reserved seat start from 1,200 LKR ($3.90) for a non-airconditioned 3rd class train. A 2nd class train offers more comfortable seats with ticket prices from 1,320 LKR ($4.30). If you want an airconditioned ride, book a 1st class train seat with ticket prices from 1,990 LKR ($6.40).
We have to emphasize the word reserved because it can be really difficult to get a seat on Sri Lankan trains.
A train ride is both cheap and fast, making it the primary mode of transportation among Sri Lankans. An unreserved 2nd class train ticket from Colombo to Kandy costs only 500 LKR ($1.60) when you buy it at the train station. More often than not, the trains are standing rooms only.
Unless you’re up for that adventure for the 2.5-hour train ride, we recommend booking in advance a reserved train seat from Colombo to Kandy.
Top tip: You can best enjoy the scenic train journey in a 2nd class cabin, where you can open the windows and breathe in the fresh breeze of rural Sri Lanka. The windows don’t open in 1st class.
Sri Lanka Railways Train Schedule from Colombo to Kandy
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We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you’re eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on 12Go.Asia.
Alternative trains from Colombo to Kandy
Apart from Sri Lanka Railways, three other companies operate trains on the Colombo-Kandy route. These are Royal Saloon, Ella Odyssey and Viceroy II.
Royal Saloon
Previously called Blueline Express, Royal Saloon offers the most luxurious train cabin on this route. It’s connected to Sri Lanka Railways but has its own train car (coloured yellow, red and blue).
Royal Saloon departs from Colombo four times every day at 10:30, 12:40, 15:30 and 19:20.
Aside from being airconditioned, the main advantage of the Royal Saloon train is its customer service. The rate of 6,500 LKR ($21) includes food and tea, which are served onboard.
Royal Saloon trains depart from Colombo Fort Railway Station and arrive at Kandy Railway Station.
Check Royal Saloon Train Tickets
Ella Odyssey
Ella Odyssey is a special train operating from Colombo to Kandy and all the way to Badulla. What makes this train different is that it stops or slows down at several tourist attractions along the way.
That’s great — if you’re travelling up to Ella. This train doesn’t make any tourist stop until after you get off at Kandy. So we don’t think it’s worth taking an Ella Odyssey train for this route. It’s more expensive, and it doesn’t really give you any advantage over taking a first-class train.
A train ticket for Ella Odyssey costs 6,900 LKR ($22). It departs from Colombo only twice a week: on Thursday and Saturday at 05:30 in the morning.
Viceroy II*
UPDATE: The last time we checked (October 2024), Viceroy II had suspended operations. Please click the link provided to see if anything has changed.
The Viceroy II is a whole other experience. It is a refurbished cabin that looks a lot like a Victorian saloon. With its posh chairs and dim lighting, you will feel like a British monarch travelling in Ceylon.
Note that Viceroy II only operates from Colombo to Kandy on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. A ticket costs 5,100 LKR ($16.30) and the journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes.
- Departs at 09:45 from the Fort Railway Station in Colombo
- Arrives at 12:31 at Peradeniya, a suburb located west of Kandy’s city centre
The risk of unreserved seats
There is a high demand for train tickets in Sri Lanka, especially for famous routes like this one. Fortunately, Sri Lanka has launched a new ticketing system where you can book train tickets up to two days in advance — that is, if tickets are still available for that route at that time.
If you miss that, you can also buy unreserved tickets at the train station on the day of your trip. Train schedules are available on the Sri Lanka Railways website. Note that because this is an unreserved seat, there is a huge chance you will be standing throughout this 2.5-hour journey.
If you don’t want to take that risk and are willing to pay a few more dollars, we highly recommend booking your reserved train tickets in advance online through 12go.Asia or BookAway. You can also book directly through the Sri Lanka Railways website but note that they require a local phone number to complete your booking.
Check out our page on How to Book Train Tickets in Sri Lanka for more info.
Colombo to Kandy by Bus
The bus is a cheap alternative if you miss the chance to book a reserved train seat and don’t want to spend the trip standing on a crowded train.
We recommend taking an air-conditioned bus. Ordinary buses are too crowded, make a lot of stops, and can be quite uncomfortable for long journeys.
A ticket for an air-conditioned bus costs 350 LKR ($1.10). Look for Bus #1. You can expect to reach Kandy in about 4 hours.
Departure and arrival station
Buses depart from Bastian Mawatha Bus Station, across Pettah Floating Market in the city centre.
In Kandy, there are two bus stops: Kandy Bus Stand and Kandy Clock Tower Bus Station. These terminals are about 600m apart and are both located in Kandy city centre.
Alternative: Book your bus online to secure a seat
There are several local buses operating from Colombo to Kandy daily. But this route can also be quite busy on weekends and holidays.
If you want more reassurance that you’ll have a bus seat, you can book your bus ticket in advance. This is a bit more expensive but gives you peace of mind that you have a bus seat waiting for you.
Bus options from Colombo to Kandy
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Colombo to Kandy by Minivan
A minivan ride from Colombo to Kandy costs around 5,700 LKR ($18.20). The minivan journey takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Magical Sri Lanka and Real Lanka Holidays is the sole company operating on this route.
What we like about this option is the free hotel drop-off service. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way from bus stations.
Minivan options from Colombo to Kandy
Colombo to Kandy by Taxi
Taxi rates from Colombo to Kandy start from 16,000 LKR ($50) for a 3-seater car if you book via BookAway. When travelling in a bigger group, you can get a minivan that can fit up to eight people.
You can also order a taxi with Uber for around 16,000 LKR ($51). Fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability.
Hoping to find cheaper rates? You can try checking the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo. These are widely available in Colombo, but may not be easy to book for longer journeys.
Pro tip: Use the code “hpam1ue” or this link to order your first ride with Uber for free!
Taxi options from Colombo to Kandy
Colombo to Kandy by Day Trip
When you only have a day to spare in Kandy, you can join a day trip from Colombo.
Group tours last 12 hours, and prices start from 28,000 LKR ($90) per person if you’re travelling solo. If you’re booking for at least two people, the price drops to around 16,000 LKR ($50) per person, which makes it a much better value.
A Colombo to Kandy day trip typically includes:
- Roundtrip transfers
- A visit to the sacred Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- A stop at the Royal Botanical Gardens (separate entrance fee of 3,540 LKR ($11.40)
- Sightseeing from a viewpoint in Kandy
- A tea factory tour
It’s worth noting that a day or two is enough to explore Kandy. But we don’t recommend going back to Colombo immediately after. From Kandy, you can travel south to the town of Ella. The train ride from Kandy to Ella is said to be one of the most scenic in the world!
Colombo to Kandy by Flight*
The flight looks like the fastest option at only 30 minutes of travel time. However, both Colombo and Kandy airports are outside the city centre, making the total travel time at least 2 hours.
Cinnamon Air operates one flight daily, departing at 10:30. You can get a ticket for 48,000 LKR ($155).
Flights bound for Kandy depart from Bandaranaike International Airport, about 35 km from Colombo City. These arrive at Victoria Reservoir, 25 km southeast of Kandy city centre.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Colombo to Kandy. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Colombo to Kandy
What is the distance from Colombo to Kandy?
The distance from Colombo to Kandy is 115 kilometre (71 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Colombo to Kandy?
The fastest way to get from Colombo to Kandy is by flight* and takes 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Colombo to Kandy?
The cheapest way to get from Colombo to Kandy is by train with ticket costs starting from 1,200 LKR ($3.90).
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
