How to get from Kandy to Colombo
What are the 5 ways to travel from Kandy to Colombo?
There are 5 ways to travel the 115 kilometre (71 miles) distance from Kandy to Colombo. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan, taxi, train* and flight. The journey takes 30 minutes - 4 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 410 LKR ($1.30).
Kandy to Colombo by Bus
The bus is an affordable way to get from Kandy to Colombo. Bus fares start from 410 LKR ($1.30), and the journey takes around 4 hours.
Both ordinary and air-conditioned buses operate on Route 1, connecting the two cities.
Ordinary Buses
If you’re travelling on a tight budget, ordinary buses are the cheapest option, with tickets costing 410 LKR ($1.30).
However, these buses offer only wooden seats. They also make a lot of stops, making the travel time longer.
Air-conditioned Buses
For a more comfortable journey, we recommend taking air-conditioned buses. You’ll get cushioned seats, fewer stops, and a faster trip overall.
Tickets for AC buses cost 740 LKR ($2.40), and buses usually depart every 30–45 minutes.
Departure Stations
Bus #1 operates several daily buses from Kandy to Cambodia. You have two options to get on this bus:
- Go to the Goods Shed Bus Stand, Kandy’s main bus station, located near the railway station
- Ask your hotel to guide you to the nearest bus stop where buses bound for Colombo pass by
Note that buses can be a bit crowded, especially during rush hour. Also, expect heavy traffic as these buses pass through very busy roads.
Kandy to Colombo by Train*
*Important update: The last time we checked (March 2026), trains between Kandy and Colombo were still unavailable. Cyclone Ditwah caused significant damage to parts of the Sri Lanka Railways network, and repair work is still ongoing. We suggest taking the bus or minivan from Kandy to Colombo instead.
You can get a 1st-class train ticket on Kandy to Colombo for as low as 500 LKR ($1.60). But that’s if you can avail them at the train station, where reserved 1st and 2nd class tickets sell out fast.
Sri Lanka Railways
Sri Lanka Railways offers several trips daily, and you can choose between 1st, 2nd and 3rd class trains.
Trains depart from Kandy Railway Station and arrive at the Fort Railway Station in Colombo. Both stations are in the city centre and are a short tuk-tuk ride to your hotel.
You can find the train schedules below, as well as a booking link to BookAway for easy reservation. Online ticket prices start from 1,200 LKR ($3.90). Remember that you should book a month before your desired travel date when booking this train online.
Train Schedule from Kandy to Colombo
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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.
Blueline Express Train
Blueline offers royal saloon class seats for 2,810 LKR ($9). This price already includes food & drinks. The good thing about Blueline is you can book a reserved ticket online even a few days before your trip, if there are tickets still available.
- Departs every 06:15 and 15:00 from Kandy Railway Station
- Arrives at 08:45 and 17:30 at Colombo Fort Railway Station. You can book your tickets below.
Viceroy II
This restored train features posh interiors, comfortable seats and soft lighting. The Viceroy II train from Kandy to Colombo operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The only downside of this train is that it only runs in the evening, so you will miss out on the beautiful scenery (18:15-20:10).
- Departs at 18:15 from Peradeniya, a suburb located west of Kandy’s city centre
- Arrives at 20:10 at the Fort Railway Station in Colombo
- Tickets cost 2,550 LKR ($8.20). You can book your Viceroy II ticket via 12go.Asia in the link below.
Unreserved seats
If you failed to book train tickets online a month before, there is still the last resort of taking the train with an unreserved seat. Note that the line from Kandy to Colombo can be very busy and there’s a risk you will be standing for a huge part of the journey.
Unreserved tickets are unlimited and available at the train station on the day of your trip. Fares start at 125 LKR ($0.40) for a 3rd class seat and you can check other train schedules on Sri Lanka Railways.
If you don’t want to take that risk and are willing to pay a few more dollars, you can buy reserved train tickets from agencies even a few days before your trip. For more details and other booking options, visit our post on How to Book Train Tickets in Sri Lanka.
Kandy to Colombo by Shared Minivan
A minivan ride from Kandy to Colombo costs around 5,700 LKR ($18.20). The minivan journey takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours, depending on traffic.
There are three companies operating on this route: Magical Sri Lanka, Tuktukdude Leisure and Real Lanka Holidays.
Minivan tickets are more expensive than the bus, but you can book them online in advance.
Also, what we like about this option is that some minivan companies offer free hotel pickup. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.
Shared Minivan options from Kandy to Colombo
Kandy to Colombo by Taxi
A private transfer from Kandy to Colombo is the easiest and most convenient option. The journey takes 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.
Uber is the most budget-friendly option for this route, with prices starting at 14,000 LKR ($43.50) for a 4-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 3,380 LKR ($10.90) each.
If you prefer booking in advance, platforms like BookAway or 12GoAsia are great choices. They’re very reliable but come with a higher price tag, starting at 16,000 LKR ($50).
Taxi options from Kandy to Colombo
Kandy to Colombo by Flight
Taking a flight from Kandy to Colombo might look like the fastest option, but it is also the most expensive at 28,000 LKR ($92), excluding taxi transfers. And worst of all, short-haul flights are really polluting for the environment (up to 10x more polluting than trains or buses).
Apart from being unsustainable and expensive, it also wouldn’t be that fast if you count the travel times to and from the airports. You will be leaving from Polgolla Reservoir Airport, which is 5 km north of Kandy city centre and you will arrive at Diyawanna Oya Airport, which is 12 km south of Colombo city centre.
Considering the traffic, especially in Colombo, the time to reach the airport could range between 45 minutes to 2 hours.
The upside of taking a flight from Kandy to Colombo is the view. You will be taking a small plane and will have a very good view of the Tea Country. If you book at least 60 days prior to your departure, Cinnamon Air also offers a 25% discount.
You can book a flight in the link below.
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 Kandy to Colombo. 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 Kandy to Colombo
What is the distance from Kandy to Colombo?
The distance from Kandy to Colombo is 115 kilometre (71 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kandy to Colombo?
The fastest way to get from Kandy to Colombo is by flight and takes 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kandy to Colombo?
The cheapest way to get from Kandy to Colombo is by bus with ticket costs starting from 410 LKR ($1.30).
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.
