How to get from Negombo to Kandy

There are 3 ways to travel the 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Negombo to Kandy. 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 Negombo Bus Terminal, take bus #1 or #245 bound for Kandy. A ticket for an air-conditioned bus costs 345 LKR ($1.20) and the journey takes about 4 hours, depending on traffic.

Although normal buses are also available for 170 LKR ($0.60), we don’t recommend them as they are very uncomfortable, especially for long journeys like this. They also make more stops than aircon buses, and so they take longer to reach Kandy.

Because there are no direct trains from Negombo to Kandy, you will first have to take a taxi or tuk-tuk to Gampaha Railway Station. From here, you can take a train to Kandy.

The easiest way to reach Gampaha Railway Station from Negombo is by taxi. You can hail one from the street, but it would be easier to book via Uber or Pickme. Fares start at 1,410 LKR ($4.80) and travel time is approximately 1 hour.

Tuk-tuks are also available for about half that price, although they are a bit slower.

The earliest train bound for Kandy leaves Gampaha Railway Station at 06:36 daily. A 2nd class unreserved ticket costs 180 LKR ($0.60) and travel time is more or less 2.5 hours.

The taxi from Negombo to Kandy costs around 8,000 LKR ($27) when you book on Uber, but fares can be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on availability.

For possibly cheaper rates, you can also check the taxi apps PickMe and TaxiGo. But note that 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 provides a good alternative, with private transfers available for 13,000 LKR ($44).

Taxi options from Negombo to Kandy