To visit Kandy is to stop in the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hills. The city is built around a lake and the Temple of the Tooth, one of the holiest places in Buddhism, and is the gateway to the tea plantations. This guide explains what to do in Kandy, how long to stay, when to go, where to stay and how to get to Ella, Sigiriya or Colombo.
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The Temple of the Tooth houses a relic presented as a tooth of the Buddha. For centuries, possessing it legitimized the power of the kings, and the temple remains a major place of pilgrimage. The Sacred City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The relic itself is not on view: it rests in a casket, and the chamber holding it is opened during the morning and evening pujas (services), the best times to watch the rituals to the sound of drums. The complex also includes the royal palace, museums and several shrines. Wear clothes covering your shoulders and knees, and leave your shoes at the entrance; socks protect your feet from the hot ground.
Kandy Lake
The artificial lake created in the early 19th century under the last king of Kandy lies beside the Temple of the Tooth. A path of about 3 km (2 mi) goes around it, with views of the city and the hills. It is the classic late-afternoon walk; traffic is heavy on the road alongside.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
About 6 km (4 mi) from the center, Peradeniya botanical gardens lie in a loop of the Mahaweli river. Highlights include an avenue of royal palms, an orchid house, a spice collection, a giant Java fig tree with an immense canopy and colonies of fruit bats in the trees. Allow two to three hours. Come in the morning, when it is cooler, and on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.
Kandyan dance show
Several halls in the center put on a show of about an hour in the late afternoon: traditional Kandyan dances in ornate costumes, drums and, to finish, a fire-walking demonstration. It is touristy, but a good introduction to a living tradition you will see again at the Perahera.
The Esala Perahera
Every year, usually in July or August, the great Esala Perahera procession winds through Kandy for about ten nights: dancers, drummers, torch bearers and decorated elephants parade in honor of the relic. The dates follow the lunar calendar and change from year to year: check them before booking. Accommodation is fully booked and prices rise sharply; seats along the route are booked in advance.
Viewpoints and the big Buddha
The white Bahirawakanda Buddha statue overlooks the city from a hill west of the center; walk up or take a tuk-tuk. The Arthur’s Seat viewpoint, above the lake, offers the best-known view of the temple and the city. The Udawatta Kele forest reserve, just behind the temple, has shady trails with monkeys and plenty of birds.
The market and the city center
The municipal market, near the clock tower, sells fruit, spices and tea. The colonial center, with the Queen’s Hotel and its shopping streets, is busy and noisy during the day. It is the right place to try rice and curry for lunch in a local restaurant.
Around Kandy
The three temples: Embekke, with its carved wooden pillars, Gadaladeniya and Lankatilaka, on a rock, make a half-day tuk-tuk loop west of the city.
Hantane Tea Museum: set in a former tea factory in the hills, it tells the story of Ceylon tea.
Ambuluwawa Tower: a spiral tower on a hilltop, about an hour’s drive away, with a 360° panorama; the final climb is narrow and dizzying.
The Knuckles Range: a mountain reserve listed as a World Heritage Site along with the central highlands, for guided day hikes.
Pinnawala: the elephant orphanage is often offered as a day trip, but its conditions have been criticized. To see elephants in the wild, choose a safari in a national park such as Minneriya or Udawalawe.
Itinerary: how long to stay in Kandy
Two days are enough for the essentials. A third day lets you add a hike in the Knuckles or the three-temple loop.
Day 1: Temple of the Tooth at opening time, walk around the lake, market, dance show in the late afternoon, then evening puja at the temple
Day 2: Peradeniya botanical gardens in the morning, Bahirawakanda Buddha, sunset at Arthur’s Seat
Day 3 (optional): hike in the Knuckles, or the three temples and Hantane Tea Museum
Kandy sits ideally between the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla) and the tea mountains (Nuwara Eliya, Ella). A classic two-week tour is detailed in our Sri Lanka travel guide.
When to go to Kandy
The best time to visit Kandy is from January to March: these are the driest months (about 70 to 80 mm, 2.8 to 3.1 in, of rain a month, five to eight rainy days), with 28 to 31 °C (82 to 88 °F) in the afternoon and nights around 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). Thanks to its altitude, Kandy is a little less stifling than Colombo. The city is exposed to both monsoons: it rains more from April to September, and October-November are the wettest months (over 260 mm, 10.2 in). July and August are still worthwhile for the Perahera, despite frequent showers.
The table uses the Sri Lankan weather service normals for Kandy. Rainy days count days with at least about 1 mm of precipitation.
Month
High °C (°F)
Low °C (°F)
Rain mm (in)
Rainy days
Crowds
Prices
Verdict
January
28.3 (83)
18.4 (65)
79 (3.1)
6
High
High
✅ Dry, cool mornings
February
29.9 (86)
18.5 (65)
74 (2.9)
5
High
High
✅ The driest month
March
31.4 (89)
19.7 (67)
72 (2.8)
8
Medium
Medium
✅ Hot and still dry
April
31.1 (88)
21.1 (70)
188 (7.4)
14
Medium (Sinhala New Year)
Medium
⚠️ Inter-monsoon storms
May
29.8 (86)
21.5 (71)
144 (5.7)
11
Low
Low
⚠️ Frequent rain
June
28.2 (83)
21.4 (71)
132 (5.2)
15
Low
Low
⚠️ Southwest monsoon, showers
July
27.8 (82)
21.1 (70)
128 (5.0)
14
High (Perahera)
High during the Perahera
⚠️ Showers, Perahera in some years
August
28.0 (82)
20.8 (69)
113 (4.4)
13
High (Perahera)
High during the Perahera
⚠️ Showers, Perahera in some years
September
28.3 (83)
20.2 (68)
155 (6.1)
13
Low
Low
⚠️ Rainy
October
28.6 (83)
20.2 (68)
264 (10.4)
17
Low
Low
❌ The most rainy days
November
28.4 (83)
20.0 (68)
296 (11.7)
16
Low
Low
❌ The wettest month
December
27.8 (82)
19.5 (67)
196 (7.7)
14
High (holidays)
High
⚠️ Still wet, end of the rains
Temperature, precipitation and rainy days: 1961-1990 climate normals of the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology for Kandy, published by the World Meteorological Organization (World Weather Information Service). Crowds and prices: estimate based on the tourist seasons.
January to March: the best season in Kandy, as on the west and south coasts. It is also the high tourist season: book early.
April to September: regular rain, often as afternoon showers or storms, which do not stop you sightseeing. April brings the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a holiday period for Sri Lankans. This is the right season for the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay).
October to December: the wettest period. According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026), monsoon rains cause floods and landslides: check local weather before taking the road or the train.
Plan
Best time
Sightseeing in Kandy and temples
January to March
Esala Perahera
July or August, depending on the lunar calendar
Kandy-Ella train and hiking
January to March; April-September possible with showers
Combining with the south or west coast
December to March
Combining with the east coast
May to September
The Perahera dates change every year: check them before booking.
Kandy remains affordable, especially if you eat in local restaurants and travel by bus or train. Admission to the major sites (Temple of the Tooth, Peradeniya gardens) is much more expensive for foreigners than for Sri Lankans. Indicative amounts per person per day, excluding flights, converted at the European Central Bank rate of 23 October 2026:
Item
Small budget
Comfort
Accommodation (based on a shared double room)
roughly US$11 to $28
roughly US$45 to $112
Food
roughly US$9 to $17
roughly US$22 to $45
Transport (tuk-tuk, bus, train)
roughly US$3 to $9
roughly US$17 to $34 (private driver)
Sightseeing and shows
roughly US$11 to $17
roughly US$17 to $28
Total per day
roughly US$35 to $65 per person per day
roughly US$100 to $200 per person per day
Indicative estimates, varying with the season and the rupee exchange rate. Accommodation prices rise sharply during the Perahera.
Kandy: who is it for?
Our verdict depending on how you travel, based on the information in this guide:
Culture: ideal: the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO-listed sacred city, Kandyan dance shows and, in July or August, the Esala Perahera.
Small budget: very suitable: roughly US$35 to $65 per person per day in a guesthouse, with buses, trains and local restaurants.
Nature: yes: Peradeniya botanical gardens, the Udawatta Kele reserve and guided hikes in the Knuckles Range.
Couples: yes: hotels with views in the hills and resorts by the Mahaweli, quiet and away from the traffic of the center.
Families: yes, with a few rules: covered clothing and bare feet in temples; to see elephants, prefer a safari at Minneriya or Udawalawe to the criticized Pinnawala orphanage.
Beach: no: Kandy is in the center of the island, at about 500 m (1,640 ft); it is a stop on a tour between the Cultural Triangle and the tea mountains.
Getting to Kandy and getting around
From Colombo airport: allow several hours by car with driver, depending on traffic. Buses are cheaper but require a change.
Train from Colombo: the hill line links Colombo Fort with Kandy. Book seats in advance in high season.
Kandy-Ella train: one of the best-known rail journeys in Asia, through the tea plantations, via Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya). Allow a good part of the day to reach Ella. Reserved seats go fast: book as soon as sales open, or be ready to stand in unreserved second or third class.
To Sigiriya and Dambulla: by bus via Dambulla, or by car with driver.
In town: the center is walkable. For the rest, take a tuk-tuk with a working meter or agree a price before you set off (GOV.UK); you can also book through taxi apps.
Driving: traffic drives on the left, and many visitors hire a car and driver for longer trips (U.S. Department of State).
Where to stay in Kandy
Around the lake: the most convenient for walking to the temple and the center; guesthouses on the slopes to the northeast have views, but the streets are steep.
City center: old hotels and budget options, handy for the station and buses, but noisy.
Hills around the city: quiet hotels with views, sometimes with a pool; you need a tuk-tuk for every trip.
Towards Peradeniya and the Mahaweli valley: riverside resorts, for a green stopover away from the traffic.
For the Perahera, book several months ahead: rooms overlooking the route are in high demand.
Entry requirements, health and safety
US citizens: according to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated October 16, 2025), US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a visa. Tourists need an ETA approval, a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds; applying online is strongly recommended.
UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026), you must apply online for an ETA before traveling; it is issued free of charge and valid for 30 days. Your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive. Visible tattoos of the Buddha can lead to refusal of entry or deportation.
Health: check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before your trip. Dengue, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis are present (U.S. Department of State): protect yourself from mosquitoes. Medical facilities outside Colombo are limited, and hospitals often require payment up front.
Safety: terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out; avoid demonstrations and large gatherings (GOV.UK). Opportunistic theft has increased, and the U.S. Department of State warns of tuk-tuk drivers offering « special » tours or gem shops, a common scam.
Natural hazards: heavy rainfall has increased the risk of flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka (GOV.UK): check the state of roads and rail lines.
Medical care can be expensive, so take out insurance covering medical costs and repatriation: see our travel insurance guide.
Practical tips for Kandy
Temple dress: shoulders and knees covered, shoes and hats off. Do not pose with your back to a Buddha statue for a photo, and do not point your feet towards it.
Money: not all ATMs accept international cards; use ATMs inside banks or hotels where possible (GOV.UK). Cards are accepted in mid-range and upmarket hotels and restaurants, less so in small shops and tuk-tuks.
Tipping: appreciated for drivers and guides; check whether a service charge is already included at restaurants.
Internet: a local SIM card or an eSIM is usually cheaper than roaming.
Touts: around the temple and the station, self-appointed « guides » offer their services or steer you to gem shops: politely decline.
Electricity: check the plug type with your adapter supplier before you go (plugs by country).
Two days are enough for the Temple of the Tooth, the lake, Peradeniya gardens and a dance show. Allow three days to add a hike in the Knuckles or the temples nearby.
What is the best time to visit Kandy?
From January to March, the driest months according to the Sri Lankan weather service normals. October and November are the wettest. July and August draw visitors for the Esala Perahera.
When is the Kandy Perahera?
Usually in July or August, for about ten nights. The dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year: check them before booking.
How do you get from Kandy to Ella?
By train, on the tea-plantation line, over a good part of the day, or faster by car with driver. Book the train in advance in high season.
Do I need a visa for Kandy and Sri Lanka?
US and UK citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) obtained before arrival; the UK FCDO says it is free and valid for 30 days (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026).
What should I wear to visit the Temple of the Tooth?
Clothes covering your shoulders and knees, with no shoes or hat. Bring socks, as the ground can be hot.
Kandy climate normals: 1961-1990 climate normals of the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology for Kandy, published by the World Meteorological Organization (World Weather Information Service)
European Central Bank, euro foreign exchange reference rates of 23 October 2026 (budget conversion)
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