How can I get to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka's international airport, the Bandaranaike International Airport, is also known as the Katunayake International Airport or the Colombo International Airport. The airport is located in Katunayake, 35 kilometres north of Colombo, the economic capital of Sri Lanka. Bandaranaike International Airport is the hub of Sri Lankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka and Mihin Lanka, the budget airline of Sri Lanka.

How far is Kandy from the airport?
The regal city of Kandy is the second largest city of the island and is approximately 99 kilometres (62 miles) away from the airport.

How far is Kandy from Colombo?
Kandy is approximately 114 kilometres (72 miles) away from Colombo.

How can I get to Kandy from the airport or Colombo?
The most common methods of travel between the airport or Colombo to Kandy are by hotel transport, car rental, chauffeured vehicle, bus or the train. Keep in mind that once you arrive in Kandy, tuk tuks(taxies) are available to transport you within the city.

Hotel Transport
Airport pick-up can be requested from the hotel at the time of making your reservation. A chauffeured vehicle will meet you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. Please review the airport pick-up charges on our Rates page.

Car Rental
There are a number of companies that rent out vehicles for self-driving tourists. The rental contract usually consists of a certain number of free kilometres per day and a fixed rate per additional kilometre. A temporary international driving permit is available for tourists visiting the country – these permits can be obtained prior to arrival in Sri Lanka via your local motor vehicle office; contact your travel agent for more information. International driving permits can be obtained after landing in Sri Lanka but the process may be time consuming.

Chauffeured Vehicle
If you are not up to driving around Sri Lanka on your own, please contact us to arrange a chauffeured vehicle for you.

Bus
There are a number of buses that travel to Kandy on a daily basis. Buses leave for Kandy approximately every half an hour from the main bus station in Pettah (Colombo); there are no fixed bus schedules – buses wait at the bus stand till they have enough people and start their journey once their seats fill. Air-conditioned as well as non-air-conditioned buses are available and prices vary accordingly. If you are travelling with lots of luggage, travelling by bus may prove difficult.

Train
The Fort Railway Station in Colombo is the hub of all train transfers island wide. There are two Intercity trains to Kandy daily – one departs at 7 am while the other departs at 3:30 pm. Purchase your tickets in advance; ticket prices vary depending on whether you decide to travel on the observation carriage (first class), second class or third class. When travelling by train, most tourists choose to sit in the observation carriage – the large windows provide a picturesque view of the picturesque landscape between Colombo and Kandy.