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Colombo is Sri Lanka's biggest city and its commercial capital. You'll find colonial-era streets, a seafront promenade and the bustle of Pettah market. It lies 95 kilometres (59 miles) west of Kandy. Flying is the quickest way to get from Kandy to Colombo, taking 30 minutes. Overland, the bus is the cheapest option at $1.20 (410 LKR), and the train costs a little more.
Distance from Kandy to Colombo
Kandy and Colombo are about 95 km (59 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 114 km by road. The quickest way to get from Kandy to Colombo is by taking the flight, which takes around 30 minutes.
5 ways to travel from Kandy to Colombo
There are five ways to travel from Kandy to Colombo. You can choose between the bus, train*, shared minivan, taxi, and flight. The journey takes 30m–4h and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $1.20 (410 LKR).
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Kandy to Colombo by Bus
The bus is an affordable way to get from Kandy to Colombo. Bus fares start from $1.20 (410 LKR), and the journey takes around 4h.
Both ordinary and air-conditioned buses operate on Route 1, connecting the two cities.
Ordinary Buses
If you’re travelling on a tight budget, ordinary buses are the cheapest option, with tickets costing $1.20 (410 LKR).
However, these buses offer only wooden seats. They also make a lot of stops, making the travel time longer.
Air-conditioned Buses
For a more comfortable journey, we recommend taking air-conditioned buses. You’ll get cushioned seats, fewer stops, and a faster trip overall.
Tickets for AC buses cost $2.20 (740 LKR), and buses usually depart every 30–45 minutes.
Departure Stations
Bus #1 operates several daily buses from Kandy to Colombo. You have two options to get on this bus:
- Go to the Goods Shed Bus Stand, Kandy's main bus station, located near the railway station
- Ask your hotel to guide you to the nearest bus stop where buses bound for Colombo pass by
Note that buses can be a bit crowded, especially during rush hour. Also, expect heavy traffic as these buses pass through very busy roads.
Kandy to Colombo by Train
You can get a 1st-class train ticket on Kandy to Colombo for as low as $1.50 (500 LKR). But that’s if you can avail them at the train station, where reserved 1st and 2nd class tickets sell out fast.
Sri Lanka Railways
Sri Lanka Railways offers several trips daily, and you can choose between 1st, 2nd and 3rd class trains.
Trains depart from Kandy Railway Station and arrive at the Fort Railway Station in Colombo. Both stations are in the city centre and are a short tuk-tuk ride to your hotel.
You can find the train schedules below, as well as a booking link to BookAway for easy reservation. Online ticket prices start from $3.90 (1,290 LKR). Remember that you should book a month before your desired travel date when booking this train online.
Train schedule from Kandy to Colombo
Train tickets are available on Bookaway.
We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you're eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on 12Go.Asia.
Blueline Express Train
Blueline offers royal saloon class seats for $8.40 (2,810 LKR). This price already includes food & drinks. The good thing about Blueline is you can book a reserved ticket online even a few days before your trip, if there are tickets still available.
- Departs every 06:15 and 15:00 from Kandy Railway Station
- Arrives at 08:45 and 17:30 at Colombo Fort Railway Station. You can book your tickets below.
Viceroy II
This restored train features posh interiors, comfortable seats and soft lighting. The Viceroy II train from Kandy to Colombo operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The only downside of this train is that it only runs in the evening, so you will miss out on the beautiful scenery (18:15-20:10).
- Departs at 18:15 from Peradeniya, a suburb located west of Kandy’s city centre
- Arrives at 20:10 at the Fort Railway Station in Colombo
- Tickets cost $7.60 (2,550 LKR). You can book your Viceroy II ticket via 12go.Asia in the link below.
Unreserved seats
If you failed to book train tickets online a month before, there is still the last resort of taking the train with an unreserved seat. Note that the line from Kandy to Colombo can be very busy and there’s a risk you will be standing for a huge part of the journey.
Unreserved tickets are unlimited and available at the train station on the day of your trip. Fares start at $0.40 (125 LKR) for a 3rd class seat and you can check other train schedules on Sri Lanka Railways.
If you don’t want to take that risk and are willing to pay a few more dollars, you can buy reserved train tickets from agencies even a few days before your trip. For more details and other booking options, visit our post on How to Book Train Tickets in Sri Lanka.
Kandy to Colombo by Shared Minivan
A minivan ride from Kandy to Colombo costs around $18 (6,100 LKR). The minivan journey takes about 2h 40m - 4h, depending on traffic.
There are three companies operating on this route: Magical Sri Lanka, Tuktukdude Leisure and Real Lanka Holidays.
Minivan tickets are more expensive than the bus, but you can book them online in advance.
Also, what we like about this option is that some minivan companies offer free hotel pickup. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.
Shared Minivan schedule from Kandy to Colombo
Shared Minivan tickets are available on Bookaway.
Kandy to Colombo by Taxi
A private transfer from Kandy to Colombo is the easiest and most convenient option. The journey takes 2h 50m - 3h 40m, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.
Uber is the most budget-friendly option for this route, with prices starting at $40 (14,000 LKR) for a 4-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about $13 (4,200 LKR) each.
If you prefer booking in advance, platforms like BookAway or 12GoAsia are great choices. They’re very reliable but come with a higher price tag, starting at $50 (17,000 LKR).
Kandy to Colombo by Flight
Taking a flight from Kandy to Colombo might look like the fastest option, but it is also the most expensive at $170 (56,000 LKR), excluding taxi transfers. On top of that, short-haul flights are far from eco-friendly. They can be up to 10x more polluting than trains or buses.
And once you factor in airport transfers, flying isn’t always that quick either. You’ll depart from Cinammon Air Seaplane Jetty near Victoria Golf Resort, about 23km from Kandy city centre. The journey alone takes around 1 hour, depending on traffic.
You'll land at Cinnamon Air's dedicated terminal within the Colombo Bandaranaike Airport complex. With traffic, getting to and from the airport can take anywhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours.
That said, there is one big highlight. You’ll be flying in a small plane, which means incredible views over Sri Lanka’s Tea Country along the way.
Flights from Kandy to Colombo usually operate daily from November to April. From May to October, there are typically no flights. It’s best to check the Cinnamon Air website for the latest schedule.
If you want to fly, you can book your tickets using the link below.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Flight tickets are available on Skyscanner.
Rounding it up
That's the full picture for getting from Kandy to Colombo, roughly 95 kilometres (59 miles) apart. In all, there are 5 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $1.20 (410 LKR). The quickest trip takes 30m.
Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the distance from Kandy to Colombo?
The distance from Kandy to Colombo is 95 kilometres (59 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kandy to Colombo?
The fastest way to get from Kandy to Colombo is by flight and takes 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kandy to Colombo?
The cheapest way to get from Kandy to Colombo is by bus with ticket costs starting from 410 LKR.
About the Authors
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
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