How to get from Kandy to Sigiriya

There are 3 ways to travel the 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Kandy to Sigiriya. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan and taxi. The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 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 245 LKR ($0.80).

There are no direct buses operating from Kandy to Sigiriya. You will first have to take a bus to Dambulla and then transfer to another bus bound for Sigiriya.

From the Kandy Goods Shed Bus Stand, take a bus bound for Kaduruwela (#41-2), Anuradhapura (#42-2) or Trincomalee (#45). Fares start at 200 LKR ($0.70) for an ordinary bus and travel time is about 2.5 hours.

Only buses bound for Anuradhapura offer air-conditioned rides. However, these are not as common as ordinary buses and may have an interval of 1 to 2 hours. A ticket costs 420 LKR ($1.40).

We recommend that you depart from Kandy very early in the morning so that you can start your hike in Sigiriya before the sun is in full force. The first bus departs at 05:30 in the morning. Make sure you ask your hotel beforehand about the bus intervals so you can time your arrival at the bus station.

Get off at Dambulla Bus Stand.

From Dambulla Bus Stand, buses bound for Sigiriya depart at least twice per hour. Travel time is about 30 minutes and you can get a ticket for at least 45 LKR ($0.20). The bus will drop you off at the park entrance.

A minivan ride from Kandy to Sigiriya costs around 6,000 LKR ($20). The minivan journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Magical Sri Lanka is operating on this route.

What we like about this option is that they offer free hotel pickup and drop-off. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.

Shared Minivan options from Kandy to Sigiriya

You can get a taxi from Kandy to Sigiriya for around 7,000 LKR ($24) via Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability.

You can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo if you’re hoping for cheaper rates. But, unfortunately, these apps have very limited availability outside the capital city, Colombo.

Just in case none of the above options is available, you can also book a taxi via BookAway for 14,000 LKR ($46).

Taxi options from Kandy to Sigiriya