Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Kandy travel guide

Kandy Tourism | Kandy Guide

You're Going to Love Kandy

With a population of 111 701, Kandy is the largest city in Central, Sri Lanka by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Kandy deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Kandy

Kandy in December
Estimated hotel price
$40
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kandy in December
Estimated hotel price
$40
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Kandy

Plane

Although Kandy doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hatton Castlereigh Reservoir (NUF), which is located 48 km from Kandy.

Car

Another option to get to Kandy is to pick up a car rental from Colombo, which is about 96 km from Kandy. You’ll find branches of SR RENT A CAR and Europcar, among others, in Colombo.

Plane

Although Kandy doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hatton Castlereigh Reservoir (NUF), which is located 48 km from Kandy.

Car

Another option to get to Kandy is to pick up a car rental from Colombo, which is about 96 km from Kandy. You’ll find branches of SR RENT A CAR and Europcar, among others, in Colombo.

Airports near Kandy

CMBColombo Bandaranaike Intl
DWOColombo Diyawanna Oya Seaplane Base
NUFHatton Castlereigh Reservoir

Airlines serving Kandy

Lufthansa
Good (8,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,527 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,028 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,409 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,968 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,229 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,598 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,578 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,812 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,146 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,404 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,450 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,363 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,480 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,978 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,534 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,247 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (1,003 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (310 reviews)
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Find flights to Kandy

Where to stay in Kandy

From 5-star hotels such as the The Grand Kandyan to great affordable options like the Viyana Boutique Hotel, Kandy offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $41 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $143 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kandy

Most booked hotels in Kandy

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The Golden Crown Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, 2161 reviews)
$90+
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Earl's Regency Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1716 reviews)
$79+
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Radisson Hotel Kandy
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1911 reviews)
$62+
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Mahaweli Reach Hotel
5 stars
Excellent (8, 706 reviews)
$71+
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Hotel Elephant Bay
3 stars
Good (7.9, 3209 reviews)
$37+
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Peradeniya Rest House
3 stars
Good (7.5, 152 reviews)
$52+
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Renting a car in Kandy

Expect to pay $5.49 per gallon in Kandy (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.87 and $87.82.

Expect to pay $5.49 per gallon in Kandy (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.87 and $87.82.