Colombo to Kandy

Colombo to Kandy

Colombo
Kandy
Tue, Feb 10
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Colombo to Kandy Destination Reviews

MK
Maiko K
I received a phone call asking me to come to the meeting point 30 minutes earlier, at 1:30. However, we didn’t actually depart until after 2:00. As a result, I had to wait for more than 30 minutes inside a car with the engine revving. I get motion sickness, so this was extremely uncomfortable for me. Also, the vehicle was not a van like the one shown on the 12Go website, but a regular passenger car. There are around 100 ordinary cars parked in front of the World Trade Center, and I had to walk around searching for it for over 10 minutes. There should be a visible logo, or the driver should stand outside holding a sign or a flag.
Colombo to Kandy, Van Scenic Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Jan 24, 2026
DW
Debbie W
Driver was safe and did his best given the traffic conditions. Sadly we weren't able to do any of the site seeing stops to time stuck in traffic but he ensured we all got dropped off to our relevant hotels on arrival.
Colombo to Kandy, Van Scenic Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Jan 8, 2026
LB
Lucy B
Taxi did not arrive. Spent a long time trying to get hold of the company. They sent a replacement car, which arrived about 1.5 hours after the booking time.
Colombo to Kandy, taxi Comfort 3pax, Real Lanka Holidays (Real Lanka Holidays), Jan 5, 2026
OZ
Oxana Z
No information on time, waiting on the street without any information past booked time was not nice. Driver took us to Spice garden without our consent - we have to strongly insist that we need to get to Kandy, not waste our time. Driver tried very hard to take us to our hotel, though it was late and dark.
Colombo to Kandy, Van Scenic Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Jan 4, 2026
TP
Thamba P
Wrong ticket given. Train ticket was for train that did not stop at station I searched for.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1029 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 20, 2025
C
Claudia
Chanaka was a verry friendly and attentive driver. Thank you verry mutch
Colombo to Kandy, Van Scenic Minivan, Magical Sri Lanka, Nov 4, 2025
M
Mohadese
There was no food & no snak
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1019 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 29, 2025
S
Suliman
It's was a great pleasure to have this trip
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1015 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Oct 27, 2025
BB
Burhanuddin B
it was a great experience to take the train from Colombo to Kandy for the first time. The booking process via 12Go was super easy.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1019 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Sep 29, 2025
AM
Alan M
Tickets delivered to our hotel ready for us to collect on arrival. We booked first class tickets well in advance, bit disappointed we didn’t get a window seat between us.
Colombo to Kandy, Train #1023 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 16, 2025
4.5
275 customer reviews
5
66%
4
22%
3
8%
2
4%
1
0%

Colombo to Kandy Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+3h 40m
$42.50
Van
Tuktukdude Leisure
Shuttle + Safari Drive
05:00
17:00
$80.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:30
08:13
$20.36
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
05:55
08:47
$6.79
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
06:30
09:40
$20.36
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
07:00
09:38
$3.39
  4.3
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
08:30
11:03
$6.79
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
08:55
11:49
$5.09
  4.4
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Minivan
10:00
12:40
$13.00
  4.8
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
10:35
14:00
$5.09
  4.4
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
11:00
15:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
First Class Seat
12:30
17:20
$15.77
  4.4
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Minivan
14:00
17:30
$15.60
  4.5
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Minivan
15:00
17:40
$13.00
  4.8
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
15:30
18:00
$16.00
  4.5
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
16:00
20:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
17:10
19:44
$3.39
  4.3
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
17:35
20:13
$5.09
  4.4

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 Train 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 112.26. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a van as a van ticket costs as low as USD 33.02.

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 5 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 Tuktukdude Leisure: travelling by van expect to pay as low as USD 33.02 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 112.26.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 4.67 to USD 8.40;
  • Bus tickets - USD 7.86 to USD 7.86;
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 26.42. From Colombo to Kandy starting from 09:00 Colombo until 09:00 Colombo
  • Van price : USD 33.02;
  • Plane tickets - USD 146.68 to USD 169.06;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 41.21 to USD 112.26.

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

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

  • Vans from Colombo to Kandy depart during the day - there are approximately 1 departures a day.
  • 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 146.68.

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 41.21.

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:

  • 49% decided to catch a taxi.
  • 48% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Colombo to Kandy

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Kandy

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport45m
Earliest Departure5:55 AM
Latest Departure5:35 PM
Departures per day17
Distance118 kilometers
Transport CompaniesCinnamon Air, Lakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Nimble Taxi Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, SL Highway Bus Service and Shuttle Transfer, Sri Lanka Bus Service, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tuktukdude Leisure