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How to get from Colombo to Kandy
The easiest way to travel the 115 km distance from Colombo to Kandy is by train. This is a scenic 2.5-hour train journey, with fares starting at 500 Rs ($1.50). Alternate options include taking a bus (4 hours), a taxi (2.5 hours), or a flight (30 minutes, excluding taxi transfers).
4 ways to get from Colombo to Kandy
We recommend that you take a train for a picturesque journey from Colombo to Kandy. You can get a 1st class ticket at the train station for as low as 500 Rs ($1.50), although they are rarely available. If you really want reserved seats, you should book at least a month before online or via a local agency.
The cheapest option is to take a local bus, but not exactly the most comfortable. Also, the roads to Kandy are often very busy, which adds to the supposed 4-hour travel time. Still, it’s worth noting that an air-conditioned bus ticket costs only 350 Rs ($1.00).
Travelling in a group? You can rent a private car for 9,000 Rs ($27.50). Split it by 4 and you can get a door-to-door service that is cheaper than a 2nd class reserved train seat.
The flight is the last and most expensive option at 28,500 Rs ($88.00) for the flight alone, which takes 30 minutes. Note that totla travel time will be the same as the train/bus as you will need to take a taxi to and from Colombo and Kandy airports, which are both outside the city centre.
Besides that, short-haul flights like this are extremely polluting for the environment and unnecessary for such a short distance.
Colombo to Kandy by Train
Sri Lanka Railways operates several trips from Colombo to Kandy daily.
Fares for a reserved seat start from 3,560 Rs ($11.00) for a non-airconditioned 3rd class train. A 2nd class train offers more comfortable seats with ticket prices from 4,210 Rs ($13.00). If you want an airconditioned ride, book a 1st class train seat for 4,860 Rs ($15.00).
We have to emphasize the word reserved because it can be really difficult to get a seat on Sri Lankan trains.
An unreserved 2nd class train ticket from Colombo to Kandy costs only 500 Rs ($1.50) when you buy at the train station. A train ride is both cheap and fast, making it the primary mode of transportation among Sri Lankans. That means that tickets sell out fast and more often than not, the trains are standing room 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.
Sri Lanka Railways Train Schedule from Colombo to Kandy
Alternative trains from Colombo to Kandy
Apart from Sri Lanka Railways, two other companies operate trains on the Colombo-Kandy route. These are Royal Saloon and Ella Odyssey.
Royal Saloon
Previously called Blueline Express, Royal Saloon is 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 4x daily 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.
If you want more comfortable seats in an air-conditioned car, Blueline Express Train has departures at 07:00 and 15:30 daily. Travel time is 2.5 hours and a ticket costs 2,810 Rs ($8.50). The fare already includes snacks and drinks.
Blueline trains depart from Colombo Fort Railway Station and arrive at Kandy Railway Station.
Check Blueline Express Train Tickets
Viceroy II
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, Thursday, and Sundays. A ticket costs 5,080 Rs ($15.50) and the journey takes 2hr 46min.
- 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
Check Viceroy II Train Tickets
The risk of unreserved seats
There is a very high demand for train tickets in Sri Lanka, especially for famous routes like this one. When booking online, you have to book at least a month before your travel date.
If you missed that, you can also buy unreserved tickets at the train station on the day of your trip, with ticket prices starting at 230 Rs ($0.70). 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, you can also try buying reserved train tickets from agencies even a few days before your trip. 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 missed the chance to book a reserved train seat and don’t want to spend the trip standing on a crowded train.
In that case, we recommend that you take 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 Rs ($1.00). Look for Bus #1, which departs from Bastian Mawatha Bus Station. You can expect to reach Kandy in about 4 hours.
Colombo to Kandy by Taxi
The taxi from Colombo to Kandy costs at least 9,700 Rs ($30.00) if you book via BookAway.
You can also order a taxi with Uber for around 9,000 Rs ($27.50), although fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability. If you’re hoping to find cheaper rates, you can also check 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!
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.
You can get a ticket for 28,500 Rs ($88.00). Sri Lankan Airlines operates only 1 flight daily, with a 10:30 departure.
Flights bound for Kandy depart from Diyawanna Oya, located 10 km southeast of Colombo city. These arrive at Victoria Reservoir, situated 25 km southeast of Kandy city centre.
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.
