How to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
What are the 4 ways to travel from Ella to Nuwara Eliya?
There are 4 ways to travel the 55 kilometre (34 miles) distance from Ella to Nuwara Eliya. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan, taxi and train. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 4 hours and the quickest way is by shared minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 70 LKR ($0.20).
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Bus
When travelling by bus from Ella to Nuwara Eliya, you can choose between a local ordinary bus or a tourist bus. Below, we give you more details so you can decide which one is best for you.
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Local Bus
The local bus is the cheapest way to travel from Ella to Nuwara Eliya at only 70 LKR ($0.20). However, it is worth noting that the only direct buses available are ordinary buses with wooden seats. They are not the most comfortable mode of transport for a journey of 3 hours, but the open windows and scenic views might make it worth it.
Bus #31 also has limited trips daily, so we suggest you ask your hotel for assistance on what time they will pass by Ella. Your last stop is at Nuwara Eliya Main Bus Station in the city centre.
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Tourist Bus
If you’re not up for a 3-hour journey on a wooden seat, you can also travel via tourist bus for 3,610 LKR ($11.60). Travel time is 2h 45m, but it can take longer depending on traffic.
Brown Tours operates buses for this route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Departs at 14:10 from 39 Passara Road, Ambagollapathana, at Ella city centre
- Arrives at 16:55 at No. 01 Glenfall Road at Nuwara Eliya city centre
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Shared Minivan
A minivan ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya costs around 4,420 LKR ($14.20). The minivan journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
On this route, Magical Sri Lanka includes stops at two popular tourist attractions: Ashok Vatika Hindu Temple and Seeta Amman Kovil Hindu Temple. You’ll have 5-20 minutes to explore each site.
They also offer free hotel pickup and drop-off, saving you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.
Shared Minivan options from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Train
The train ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya is the most scenic train route in Sri Lanka, followed closely by the route from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. It is a short journey at just 2.5 hours, so make the most of it by enjoying this beautiful view from the window or by catching the fresh winds while hanging out of the wagon (be careful though!).
Sri Lanka Railways offers several trips a day and if you’re lucky, you can buy a 1st class ticket for 1,000 LKR ($3.20) on the day of your trip at the train station. However, we recommend booking a slightly cheaper reserved 2nd class seat for the ultimate experience. Second-class cabins are not air-conditioned, but you can open the windows to let the fresh breeze in.
Tickets for reserved seats often sell out fast, especially for this famous route. If you really want to secure a good seat, we recommend booking a ticket online at least a month before your trip. Ticket prices start at 5,500 LKR ($17.50) when you book with BookAway.
PRO TIP: For the best views, take a seat on the left side of the train when leaving Ella and while nearing haputale, keep your eye on the right side.
The train departs from Ella Railway Station in the city centre and arrives at Nanu Oya Railway Station, 10 km west of Nuwara Eliya city centre.
From Nanu Oya, you have two options to get to the city centre: a tuk-tuk for 500 LKR ($1.60) or a bus for 20 LKR ($0.10). Tuk-tuks are easily available outside the train station. To take the bus, you have to walk about 50 m to the nearest bus stop, where buses pass by every 20 to 30 minutes. Travel time to the centre is about 20 minutes.
You can check the train schedules below and book your tickets up to 30 days before your travel date with the table below.
Train schedule from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
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.
Viceroy II
One train option you cannot book via BookAway is the more luxurious Viceroy II. This is a restored fully air-conditioned train featuring posh interiors, soft seats, pleasant lighting and even wi-fi.
Imagine yourself to be a British monarch on the way to the so-called “Little England” during the ride!
A ticket costs 5,100 LKR ($16.20), just a few dollars more expensive than a 1st class seat on Sri Lanka Railways.
Viceroy II operates from Ella to Nuwara Eliya on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Departs at 11:57 from Ella Railway Station in the city centre
- Arrives at 14:35 at Nanu Oya Railway Station, 10 km west of Nuwara Eliya city centre
Why we don’t recommend booking unreserved seats
Unreserved train tickets are unlimited and affordable. An unreserved 3rd class seat from Ella to Nuwara Eliya costs 60 LKR ($0.20) while a 2nd class seat costs 110 LKR ($0.40). You can buy them at the train station on the day of your trip. For train schedules, visit the Sri Lanka Railways website.
Note that while buying unreserved tickets is pretty easy, getting a seat on this busy route is the entire opposite! You will have to compete with both locals and tourists for a seat in the unreserved cabins, and there’s a high chance you’ll lose.
Better avoid this stressful experience and enjoy this epic ride to the maximum by booking a reserved seat!
If you missed the 1-month deadline to book a reserved ticket online, we suggest that you try to book at the train station in Ella or with a trusted agency. They charge a higher price, but they guarantee to get you good seats.
Check out recommended travel agencies and other booking options on our page on How to Book Train Tickets in Sri Lanka.
Ella to Nuwara Eliya by Taxi
You can get a taxi from Ella to Nuwara Eliya for around 6,000 LKR ($19.30) via Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability. If you’re hoping to find the cheapest rates, you can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo. But, unfortunately, these apps have limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.
On the off chance that none of the above options is available, you can also book a taxi via BookAway for 13,000 LKR ($41.50).
Taxi options from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya. 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 Ella to Nuwara Eliya
What is the distance from Ella to Nuwara Eliya?
The distance from Ella to Nuwara Eliya is 55 kilometre (34 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya?
The fastest way to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya is by shared minivan and takes 1 hour 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya?
The cheapest way to get from Ella to Nuwara Eliya is by bus with ticket costs starting from 70 LKR ($0.20).
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.
