How to get from Kandy to Negombo

There are 3 ways to travel the 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Kandy to Negombo. You can choose between the bus, taxi and train. The journey takes 3 to 4 hours and the quickest way is by taxi. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 345 LKR ($1.20).

From Kandy Good Shed Bus Station, take bus #1 or #245 to Negombo. We recommend that you take an airconditioned bus for a little more comfort. A ticket costs 345 LKR ($1.20) and travel time is about 4 hours.

Normal buses are also available for 170 LKR ($0.60). However, these often make too many stops, making the travel time longer.

There are no direct trains from Kandy to Negombo. You will first have to take a train to Gampaha. Then you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk to Negombo.

From Kandy Railway Station, the earliest train bound for Negombo departs at 06:20 on weekdays. Travel time is around 2.5 hours and a 2nd class ticket for an unreserved seat costs 180 LKR ($0.60).

From Gampaha, Negombo is 25 km away. You can easily hail a taxi or a tuk-tuk outside the railway station. Taxi fares start at 1,270 LKR ($4.20) and the journey takes about 1 hour.

A tuk-tuk ride should cost about half that price, but it will also be slower.

The taxi from Kandy to Negombo costs around 7,000 LKR ($23.50) when you book via Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on the availability.

You can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo for the cheapest rates. But, unfortunately, these apps have very limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.

In case you are unable to book with any of the above options, BookAway offers a good alternative, with private transfer services available starting from 13,000 LKR ($44).

Taxi options from Kandy to Negombo