Kandy was the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, which held out in the hills until 1815. Today it is Sri Lanka’s second city, wrapped around a lake at about 500 metres, and home to the island’s most venerated shrine. UNESCO listed the sacred city in 1988.
For most visitors it is the stop after Sigiriya: about 90 km south, with the Dambulla Cave Temple conveniently on the way.
Top things to do at Kandy
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Sri Dalada Maligawa enshrines a tooth of the Buddha. Time your visit for one of the daily puja ceremonies, when drummers play and the inner shrine is opened.
Kandy Lake and the viewpoints
Walk the lake shore in the late afternoon, then climb to one of the viewpoints above the town.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
A short ride from the centre: avenues of palms, an orchid house and vast lawns beside the Mahaweli river.
How to get to Kandy
- From Sigiriya: about 2.5–3 hours by car via Dambulla and Matale. By bus, take the local bus to Dambulla and change to one of the frequent Kandy buses.
- Make the journey count: a private transfer with stops lets you see the cave temple and the spice country on the way.
- As a day trip the other way: if you are based in Kandy, Sigiriya is a long but very popular day tour.
Insider tips
- Cover shoulders and knees for the Temple of the Tooth and leave shoes at the counter.
- Kandy is cooler and wetter than Sigiriya. A light layer is useful in the evening.
- The Esala Perahera festival, usually in July or August, fills the city; book well ahead if your dates coincide.
Best tours & tickets for Kandy
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Kandy:
Transfer with sightseeing from US$25 Kandy Drop Tour: From Sigiriya or Dambulla
Most itineraries continue from Sigiriya to Kandy. This transfer does the journey by private car with stops on the way — such as the Dambulla Cave Temple or a spice garden near Matale — so that you arrive in Kandy having seen something rather than just a road.
- Private car from your hotel to Kandy
- Sightseeing stops on the way south
- Turns a travel day into a touring day
Day trip from US$27 From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure
The stand-out day trip from Kandy and one of the best-reviewed tours in the region. A local driver-guide takes you north through Matale to climb the rock, then on to the painted caves of Dambulla before the return to Kandy.
- Sigiriya rock and the Dambulla Cave Temple in one day
- Stops on the way through the spice-growing country
- Close to 900 reviews at 4.9 stars
Multi-day tour from US$444 Sri Lanka: 4N/5D Guided Highlights Tour with Hotels
A five-day, four-night private tour with accommodation included, built around Sigiriya and the other highlights of the island. For travellers who would rather have the whole route organised than piece it together themselves; check the listing for the exact itinerary and hotel standard.
- Hotels, transport and a guide included
- Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle, then onward
- One booking for the whole loop
