Where to stay in Kandy — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Kandy is Sri Lanka's ancient hill capital, set around 500m above sea level and ringed by the Hanthana and Knuckles ranges, so the air is cooler than the lowlands. At its heart sits the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), beside the man-made Kandy Lake. The whole old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, and getting here on the scenic mountain train from Colombo is half the experience.
Why stay in Kandy
Buddhist heartland
The Temple of the Tooth houses a relic of the Buddha — one of the most sacred sites in the Buddhist world.
Cool hill capital
At 500m elevation, Kandy is greener and cooler than the coast, wrapped in forested hills and Ceylon tea estates.
Living Kandyan culture
Nightly Kandyan dance and drumming, fire-walking, and the spectacular Esala Perahera elephant procession.
Nature on the doorstep
The vast Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, Udawattakele forest, and panoramic city views from Bahirawakanda hill.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Kandy
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
City CentreWalk to the Temple of the Tooth, markets and restaurants — everything close
Coming soonKandy LakeLake views, the lakeside walk, and easy access to the temple museums
Coming soonHanthana HillsBoutique hotels and villas on the hillside, valley views, peace and quiet
Coming soonKatugele / AmpitiyaNear the railway station, budget guesthouses, more affordable
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Kandy
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
We're rolling out Kandy stay reviews — meanwhile search Kandy hotels across all 3 sites now
Local dishes to try in Kandy
- 1🥘
Rice & Curry
Rice served with several vegetable and meat curries, sambols and pickles — boldly spiced with hill-country spices. The classic Sri Lankan lunch.
📍 Main meal - 2🍳
Kottu Roti
Chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg and meat on a hot griddle — you'll hear the rhythmic chopping all over town at night.
📍 Street food - 3🥞
Hoppers (Appa)
Bowl-shaped fermented rice-and-coconut pancakes with crispy edges and a soft centre, eaten with sambol or with an egg cracked in.
📍 Morning & evening - 4🍮
Watalappam
A rich steamed pudding of coconut milk, jaggery, cashews and cardamom — a Malay-Muslim sweet and a Kandyan favourite.
📍 Dessert - 5🌴
Polos Curry
A hearty young-jackfruit curry with a meaty texture — a signature dish of central-highland cooking.
📍 Local specialty - 6🍵
Ceylon Tea
Fine black tea from the surrounding hill estates — sip it hot with a snack, or taste varieties at the Hanthana tea museum.
📍 Drink
- 1🦷
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka's holiest shrine, enshrining a tooth relic of the Buddha beside Kandy Lake. Time your visit for one of the three daily puja ceremonies.
📍 City Centre - 2🌿
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Sri Lanka's largest botanic gardens — 147 hectares and around 4,000 species, with a famous royal-palm avenue, orchid house and giant Javan fig.
📍 Peradeniya - 3🌊
Kandy Lake
A serene man-made lake in the heart of town with a ~3.4km lakeside path, framed by hills — lovely for a morning or sunset stroll.
📍 City Centre - 4🛕
Bahirawakanda Buddha
A 27m white seated Buddha statue on a hilltop, with sweeping panoramic views over Kandy — best at sunset.
📍 Bahirawa Hill - 5💃
Kandyan Cultural Dance
A nightly show of traditional Kandyan dance, drumming and a fire-walking finale at the Kandy Lake Club cultural centre.
📍 Kandy Lake Club - 6🌳
Udawattakele Forest Reserve
A former royal garden, now an urban forest sanctuary with walking trails, birds, monkeys and hermitages used by meditating monks.
📍 Above the city - 7🍃
Ceylon Tea Museum
Set in the old Hantane tea factory, with vintage processing machinery, a tasting room for Ceylon teas and estate views.
📍 Hanthana - 8🐘
Esala Perahera
Kandy's grand annual procession of decorated elephants, dancers and drummers around the Temple of the Tooth (held around August).
📍 August
Things to do in Kandy
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Kandy — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Kandy hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 8.4Luxury
★ 8.3Luxury
★ 8.2Luxuryโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในKandy
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
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Compare real-time room availability for your Kandy dates
🚆 Getting around Kandy
Train from Colombo
The scenic hill-country line from Colombo Fort takes about 3 hours. Book 1st/2nd class ahead in high season; fares start from a few dollars.
From the airport (CMB)
Bandaranaike Airport near Colombo is ~120km away — a private taxi takes around 3 hours, or connect to the train at Colombo Fort.
Tuk-tuks in town
Tuk-tuks are the main way to get around. Agree the fare first, or use the PickMe app for fair metered rides.
Local buses
Cheap local and a/c buses run from Kandy's bus stands across town and to nearby towns — the cheapest option, but crowded.
Money & paying
Use Sri Lankan rupees (LKR). Carry cash for tuk-tuks and small shops; ATMs are common and larger places take cards.
Where to go next near Kandy
ColomboA practical guide to where to stay in Colombo — by neighbourhood, budget and travel style — plus the real sights, street food and airport-to-city transport you'll actually use.
See this city's guide →
GalleA guide to where to stay in Galle, Sri Lanka — comparing life inside the UNESCO fort with beachside Unawatuna, plus top sights, fresh seafood and local dishes, and how to get here from Colombo.
See this city's guide →
SigiriyaA rock-top fortress on Lion Rock — ancient frescoes, royal water gardens and sweeping plains views at the heart of the Cultural Triangle.
See this city's guide →
EllaA misty mountain town wrapped in tea estates — home to the Nine Arch Bridge, one of the world's most scenic train rides, Little Adam's Peak and Ravana Falls.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Kandy
Where should I stay in Kandy for a first visit?+
The City Centre and Kandy Lake areas are ideal — you can walk to the Temple of the Tooth, markets and restaurants. For quiet and views, choose a boutique stay in the Hanthana hills; for budget travel, look around Katugele near the railway station.
What's the best way to get to Kandy from Colombo?+
The scenic mountain train is the favourite — beautiful views and around 3 hours from Colombo Fort, but book ahead. A private taxi takes roughly the same time and is more flexible.
How many days do I need in Kandy?+
Two days covers the Temple of the Tooth, the lake, the botanic gardens and a Kandyan dance show. Add a day or two if you want to explore the surrounding tea country, waterfalls or Nuwara Eliya.
Ready to book your Kandy stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking