Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kandy
Nuwara Eliya
Sat, Dec 27
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Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Destination Reviews

EH
driver was very helpful the way, driving slow and very good , pick up on time. nice experience
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, taxi Standard 2pax, Magical Sri Lanka, Nov 16, 2025
LA
A fantastic experience, beautiful scenery, comfortable seating & clean toilets. The departure time was a little later than stated but didn’t cause us any issues, we’d do it again regardless. Very easy to navigate the train stations & find our reserved seats. The train staff let you know when great photo ops are coming so you don’t miss anything. Would highly recommend!
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 13, 2025
S
The allocated seating is very confusing, as you don't get to sit together always. Unless the higher number is even, you're sitting in front/behind each other! People queue to hang out the train, so if you want that, prepare to queue. The tea & snacks are reasonably priced & good. Views are phenomenal & you pass through some really quaint places.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 6, 2025
JL
The booking experience was great. The train service was also good. The cleanliness of the train, comfortable seating and not to mention the consideration to rotate the seats in the dirwction of the train so that passengers don't motion sickness. Just that the train was late, but everything else wa great. We also didn't need to print the tickets. The station masters were helpful in providing information and so were the announcements.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1015 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 6, 2025
B
At Kandy train station, questions about the train's departure (platform, exchanging the digital ticket for a physical one) were answered. We were told that the QR code on the digital ticket was sufficient. We sat in second class, and it was incredibly comfortable. Comfortable seats, fans (although these weren't really needed with the open windows), footrests, and fold-down tables. The train departed on time. During the journey, it was possible to order drinks and snacks. The train arrived at its destination station (Nanu Oya) with only a few minutes' delay. Notice: Seat assignments were not selectable during booking, so it's possible that passengers might not be seated together. However, we were able to reach an agreement with other passengers who were in the same situation.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11141 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 3, 2025
RB
Super drive in the Firstclass with A/C.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Oct 13, 2025
SN
I was in first class. The train was confortable.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Sep 25, 2025
VM
We booked our train tickets from Kandy to Ella. Everything was perfect. Tickets were delivered before our arrival to our hotel in Kandy. 👌
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 Third Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 16, 2025
GO
Incredibly slow trip. Could have walked quicker
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1015 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 6, 2025
JA
Your comission is to high
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Aug 23, 2025
4.6
164 customer reviews
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69%
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Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Stef Lanka Tours
Comfort 2pax
Any time
+2h 20m
$49.45
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Observation class
03:30
08:54
$6.79
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
06:00
09:45
$37.38
  4.7
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Scenic Minivan
07:00
10:40
$15.00
  4.2
Train
Ella Odyssey
First Class
08:10
12:10
$35.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
2nd Class Reserved Seat
08:46
12:39
$13.14
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
09:40
13:09
$20.36
  4.8
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
10:00
14:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
11:03
14:50
$6.79
  4.8
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
14:00
18:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
17:20
21:19
$6.79
  4.8
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
22:00
02:40
$14.00
  5.0

How to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

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

  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. 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 107.62. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a van as a van ticket costs as low as USD 21.32.

How far is Kandy from Nuwara Eliya?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. Your trip will be a total of 22 miles (34 km). The flying distance is 22 miles (34 km).

How long does it take to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

The travel time from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 4 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

The cost of the trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Magical Sri Lanka: travelling by van expect to pay as low as USD 21.32 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 107.62.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 4.67 to USD 23.41;
  • Van price : USD 21.32;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 41.82 to USD 107.61.

How many trips per day are there between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya?

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

  • Vans from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya 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 Kandy to Nuwara Eliya any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. 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 41.82.

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 Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. 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 Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

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 Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya? 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:

  • 98% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Facts about the transport from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport40m
Earliest Departure7:00 AM
Latest Departure5:20 PM
Departures per day10
Distance34 kilometers
Transport CompaniesLakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, TaxiBazaar