Colombo to Kandy

Colombo to Kandy

Colombo
Kandy
Sat, May 17
+ Add return
0 Passengers
Sort by
Recommended
Filters

Price

Departure

Arrival

 
 
 
 
 

Colombo to Kandy Destination Reviews

AA
What a beautiful experience from Colombo s airport to Kandy. Many thanks to Chanaka, the driver who supported me for all the road :-) He is a professional driver and makes good ambience :-)
Colombo to Kandy, Van Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, May 10, 2025
EJ
The landscape was very beautiful
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1005 Third Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Apr 2, 2025
F
Nice friendly quiet good Driver. Good car. We arrived Safe and relaxed. Thank you
Colombo to Kandy, Van Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Feb 23, 2025
S
Sandjaya was very friendly and showed us sights along the way. A very good and safe driver.
Colombo to Kandy, Van Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Feb 18, 2025
VH
The toilett esa not very nice and there was no toilett paper, otherwise all was ok
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1005 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Dec 18, 2024
SE
Lovely journey! Aircon got a little cool so warmed up at open doors between carriages. Scenery once leaving Colombo was spectacular through jungle and villages. Always something to look at. Seats comfortable.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1023 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Aug 5, 2024
OF
It was smooth journey
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1029 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Jul 17, 2024
SM
Didn't receive any snacks or meals even though it was mentioned when booking and had to collect the ticket from the station even though it said eticket is valid.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #11041 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Feb 25, 2024
NV
It was all Ok
Colombo to Kandy, Train #11041 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Jan 21, 2024
S
Not a comfortable train trip. It’s jumping up and down many times, may be due to poor railway quality.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1031 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 24, 2023
4.5
186 customer reviews
5
67%
4
23%
3
6%
2
4%
1
0%

Transportation from Colombo to Kandy

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Kandy

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport45m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure5:10 PM
Departures per day10
Distance118 kilometers
Transport CompaniesCinnamon Air, Lakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tuktukdude Leisure

How to get from Colombo to Kandy

When you want to get from Colombo to Kandy, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 112.47. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a taxi as a taxi ticket costs as low as USD 47.42.

How far is Colombo from Kandy?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Colombo to Kandy. Your trip will be a total of 74 miles (118 km). The flying distance is 60 miles (95 km).

How long does it take to get from Colombo to Kandy?

The travel time from Colombo to Kandy can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 12 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Colombo to Kandy?

The cost of the trip from Colombo to Kandy varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Real Lanka Holidays: travelling by taxi expect to pay as low as USD 47.42 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 112.47.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Colombo to Kandy:

  • Train tickets - USD 4.84 to USD 24.25;
  • Bus tickets - USD 8.14 to USD 8.14;
  • Van price : USD 20.33 - USD 96.23;
  • Plane tickets - USD 149.77 to USD 172.62;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 47.42 to USD 112.47.

How many trips per day are there between Colombo and Kandy?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Colombo to Kandy any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Colombo to Kandy. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 149.77.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Colombo to Kandy

Cinnamon Air

Buses

Taking a bus from Colombo to Kandy is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Colombo to Kandy. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 47.42.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Colombo to Kandy. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Colombo to Kandy.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Colombo to Kandy

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Colombo to Kandy? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 94% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 3% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other