Holiday in Kandy
City in Sri Lanka — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇱🇰
Country
Sri Lanka
Type
City
Best time to travel
January to April — the driest and warmest. July/August for the Esala Perahera Festival. Open year-round.
Budget/day
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Colombo (approx. 10-12 hours with a layover), then 3 hours by train or bus to Kandy.
Deals for Kandy:
What makes Kandy special as a destination?
Kandy is the cultural heart of Sri Lanka and the last royal city of the island. Nestled in green hills in the central highlands, surrounded by tea plantations and tropical gardens, this UNESCO World Heritage city combines over 2,000 years of Buddhist tradition with the charm of a vibrant modern city. The Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the spiritual center of Buddhist Sri Lanka. In a golden shrine, the country's holiest relic is kept: a tooth of Buddha. The Puja ceremony takes place three times a day, during which the shrine is opened — accompanied by drum sounds, flower offerings, and the scent of incense. The Esala Perahera Festival in July/August, where the relic is paraded through the city on a decorated elephant, is Sri Lanka's most spectacular festival. Kandy Lake, artificially created by the last kings, forms the picturesque center of the city. A walk around the lake in the early morning, when the mist lies over the water and the temples on the shore are bathed in golden light, is one of the most peaceful moments Sri Lanka has to offer. The surrounding hills with the Upper Lake Drive provide panoramic views over the city and the lake. The Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya, just 6 kilometers away, is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Asia. On 60 hectares, orchids of all colors grow, giant Java fig trees with sprawling crowns, a spice collection, and a palm house with 200 species. Flying foxes hang upside down in the trees — a quirky sight. Kandy is also the gateway to Sri Lanka's tea country. The train ride from Kandy to Ella — one of the most famous train routes in the world — passes through endless tea plantations, over spectacular viaducts, and through misty mountain landscapes. Along the way, you can visit tea factories and see how green leaves are turned into Ceylon tea.
What are the top highlights in Kandy?
The top highlights in Kandy include Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake, Royal Botanical Garden, Train ride to Ella, Esala Perahera Festival.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Temple of the Tooth
The holiest Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka with the tooth relic of Buddha — Puja ceremony three times daily
Kandy Lake
Artificial lake in the city center with temples, palaces, and a peaceful promenade
Royal Botanical Garden
60 hectares of tropical splendor: orchids, giant trees, and a flying fox colony in Peradeniya
Train ride to Ella
One of the most beautiful train routes in the world — through tea plantations and over spectacular bridges
Esala Perahera Festival
Elephant procession in July/August with dancers, fire artists, and the tooth relic
Hotels in Kandy
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Reise-SIM für Kandy
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
The best time to visit Kandy is January to April — the driest and warmest. July/August for the Esala Perahera Festival. Open year-round.. 26-30°C, humid, afternoon thunderstorms In winter: 22-28°C, cooler, driest period Jan-Apr
Recommended travel time
January to April — the driest and warmest. July/August for the Esala Perahera Festival. Open year-round.
Summer
26-30°C, humid, afternoon thunderstorms
Winter
22-28°C, cooler, driest period Jan-Apr
How much does a holiday in Kandy cost?
Budget travellers: 15-30€ (Guesthouse, Rice & Curry, Tuk-Tuk)/day, mid-range: /day, luxury: 100-250€ (Luxury hotel, private tour, Ayurveda spa)/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
15-30€ (Guesthouse, Rice & Curry, Tuk-Tuk)
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
100-250€ (Luxury hotel, private tour, Ayurveda spa)
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Kandy?
Flight to Colombo (approx. 10-12 hours with a layover), then 3 hours by train or bus to Kandy.
Book a package holiday to Kandy
Compare thousands of package holidays to Kandy and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Kandy?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Book train tickets in advance: The Kandy–Ella route is famous and gets fully booked. Tickets can be booked online at seatreservation.railway.gov.lk — 2nd class has the best open windows!
White clothing in the temple: In the Temple of the Tooth, wearing white is traditional (but not mandatory). Covering shoulders and knees is mandatory.
Cultural show in the evening: The Kandy Cultural Show features traditional dances and fire rituals — daily at 5 PM, approx. 1,500 LKR.
Tuk-Tuk prices: Insist on using the taximeter or negotiate the price beforehand. From the city to the Botanical Garden max. 500 LKR.
What should you eat in Kandy?
Typical specialities in Kandy: Rice & Curry — Sri Lanka's national dish: rice with 5-8 different curries — vegetables, dal, sambol, and meat/fish, Kottu Roti — Chopped flatbread with vegetables, egg, and meat on a hot plate — Sri Lanka's most popular street food, String Hoppers — Fine rice noodle nests for breakfast, served with coconut sambol and curry, Ceylon Tea — Freshly brewed black tea from the surrounding plantations — best with a splash of milk, Wood Apple Juice — Juice from the wood apple fruit — tart-sweet, uniquely Sri Lankan, and a must-try.
These specialties you must try!
