How To Travel From Colombo To Kandy By Train, Taxi Or Bus

In this post, we share with you essential tips to help you travel from Colombo to Kandy, cheaply and comfortably. You might be questioning if you should take the Colombo to Kandy train or if a taxi from Colombo to Kandy might be easier. Read on to find out about our favourite and recommended option.

The distance from Colombo to Kandy is 115 kilometres to drive.

Kandy is a fantastic place to visit. This UNESCO World Heritage Site should be on every Sri Lankan Itinerary.

Colombo to Kandy

We had 3 options to travel from Colombo to Kandy – taxi, bus or train – and after some research here’s what we discovered.

Option 1: Travel from Colombo to Kandy by Train = Cheap, comfortable AND full of adventure

I guess the title gives away that our favourite way to get Kandy from Colombo City is to take the train. The journey is beautiful with excellent views along the way.

The Colombo to Kandy train journey is cheap, comfortable, hassle-free and you will be rewarded with spectacular views on your train journey from Colombo to Kandy. Train journeys are also a great way to sit and chat with local people.

There are different types of trains you can get from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Kandy Railway Station – Intercity Train, Express trains, and Colombo Commuter. Intercity Trains being the fastest and Colombo Commuter being the slower trains. Each train type has its pros and cons.

Reservations are needed for Intercity trains which means you are guaranteed comfortable seats. This can be done just before the departure depending on what time of year it is but it is best done in advance especially if you are travelling on a weekend or during a public holiday. This is a direct train with good seats.

There is a 1st class observation car on this particular train but we highly recommend getting a train ticket in 2nd class as this then gives you the option to take photos from either side of the train as you can walk between carriages and the windows open. As the 1st class carriage is with air conditioning you can’t do this.

How to buy tickets, reserved & unreserved explained:

Sri Lanka Railways second class & 3rd class unreserved cars cannot be booked in advance. Tickets are only sold on the day of departure at the ticket office, and sometimes from only an hour before departure.

All you have to do is turn up at the train station, buy a ticket and hop on, it’s easy.  Tickets cannot sell out. However, the unreserved cars are often crowded (we are talking from experience!), whether you get a seat depends on whether you’re joining at the starting station or en route, and how busy that day or time is. Even at the starting station, it is sometimes hard to get a seat as these carriages are the cheapest and most popular. So that means you might have to stand, not ideal if you have luggage.

Most of the long-distance trains have a designated 2nd class reserved cars and sometimes a 3rd class reserved car. (All seats in 1st class carriages have to be reserved).

Seats in these reserved cars can be booked up to 30 days in advance. If you buy a first class ticket for a reserved car you are guaranteed a seat, and a specific seat number will be printed on your ticket. There is no standing allowed in reserved cars so the carriage never gets crowded. This is the option we mostly took and it was our favourite one. Tickets for the reserved cars often sell out soon after booking opens, so it’s a good idea to book tickets in advance before you get to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Railways don’t offer online bookings, so to buy tickets for a reserved car before you get to Sri Lanka you’ll need to use an agency. People have recommended this agency: Visit Sri Lanka Tours

We have never used them but they have a good reputation. Expect to pay Rs 1,580 for a 2nd class reserved seat and around Rs 1,980 for a 1st class a/c carriage from Colombo to Kandy.

If you do want to book a 1st class ticket then you can do with the privately run companies that run these 1st class cars: ExpoRail & Rajadhani both have online booking facilities. www.exporail.lk (there website is currently down) & www.rajadhani.lk.

Pros:

– The greenest way to travel from Colombo to Kandy

– Beautiful scenic journey

– An interesting journey travelling like a local

– A very cheap way to get from Colombo to Kandy

– Easy and comfortable

Cons:

– No guarantee of a seat, unless you book in advance with an agency or with the private 1st class carriage operators.

Overall

Our preferred way to get from Colombo to Kandy. We really enjoyed this train journey and we hope you get to do it one day.

Option 2: Travel from Colombo to Kandy by Private Car + Driver = Comfortable but the most expensive option.

You can hire a car and a driver to take you to Kandy from most hotels and even directly from Colombo airport to Kandy. If you’re going from the airport you can go to the taxi desk before you exit the airport and arrange the transfer quite easily. Make sure you ask to go via the Expressway. At the time of writing, it cost around $122 to get from Colombo to Kandy by taxi. You can click here to get the latest rates. It takes around 3 hours 15 mins to get from Colombo to Kandy although this is highly dependent on traffic.

Pros:

– You get to travel in an air-conditioned car

– You are guaranteed a seat.

Cons:

– It’s the least green way of getting from Colombo to Kandy

– It costs a lot more to travel this way.

– You miss out on the adventure of getting there by public transport and meeting local people.

– You miss out on a beautiful scenic train journey.

Overall:

An easy comfortable but expensive way to get from Colombo to Kandy. Click here to check the latest prices.

Option 3: Travel from Colombo to Kandy by Bus = Cheap but not so comfortable

Buses between Colombo and Kandy are both common and frequent, running right throughout the day and night. You can catch a public bus from Colombo Bus Station to Kandy from around Rs 130 and it takes roughly 3 hours. There are also private buses from the bus terminal across from the CBT. From Negombo bus terminal you can get a bus to Colombo for Rs 150. Alternatively, you can get bus 245 as it goes straight past the airport. Stand on the main road on the other side of the fence and the bus will come from the right. The price is around Rs 140.

The intercity air-conditioned bus is the next best option if you want a more comfortable bus journey, after all, it can get hot in Sri Lanka! Private A/C buses depart from the private bus stand at Pettah bus stand. A/C buses cost around Rs 285.

Pros:

– Guaranteed seat

– Some Buses are Air conditioned

Cons:

– Takes as long as the train but isn’t as scenic or comfortable.

Overall:

This is not a terrible option but the train journey definitely beats this option

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does it take to travel from Colombo to Kandy by Train? It takes around 2hr 35 mins.

What is the distance between Colombo and Kandy? 76 miles.

What are the cheapest train tickets? £1

How many trains run a week between Colombo and Kandy? 68

What is the fastest way to travel from Colombo to Kandy? The quickest way to get from Colombo to Kandy is by taking a taxi which takes around 2 hours.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Colombo to Kandy? Both train and bus are cheap. The train is more comfortable.

Where do I catch the Colombo to Kandy Train from? Colombo Fort Station.

Kandy Accommodation: Kandy Hotels, Eco Lodges & Guesthouses

If  you are looking for accommodation in Kandy here are our top recommendations to suit all budgets:

Kings Pavilion – Luxury hotel in Kandy

Kings Pavilion is an oasis of calm in the mad city that is Kandy. The hotel is situated on top of a hill with fantastic views of Kandy. The rooms are beautiful and luxurious, the food excellent and the service will make you feel like royalty. Check here for latest prices.

Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge – Eco Luxury accommodation in Kandy

Luxury tents with huge attention to detail. This eco-lodge is located in the Madulkelle Tea estate and enjoys stunning views of the rolling hills. The views from the poolside are fabulous and will tempt you to spend a day or two just lounging there, on top of the world. Check here for latest prices.

Samindra Villa – Fantastic mid-range Kandy accommodation

This is a beautiful villa with spacious well-kept rooms that’s 2 km away from the centre. It is a quiet and peaceful place with great sunrise and sunset views. Check here for latest prices.

Bee View Homestay – Great budget accommodation in Kandy

This is a great budget option in Kandy with comfortable clean rooms and a very hospitable host. It is ab1 mins tuk-tuk ride away from the centre and 15 mins walk to the Ceylon Tea Museum. The area surrounding the homestay is good for hiking and you can also rent bikes. Check here for latest prices

Going to Sri Lanka? Check out our other Sri Lankan posts first!

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If you are staying in Sri Lanka for a while, why not volunteer there? Check out our Volunteering in Sri Lanka Page

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