Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kandy
From
Nuwara Eliya
To
Tue, Nov 25
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Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Destination Reviews

EH
driver was very helpful the way, driving slow and very good , pick up on time. nice experience
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, taxi Standard 2pax, Magical Sri Lanka, Nov 16, 2025
LA
A fantastic experience, beautiful scenery, comfortable seating & clean toilets. The departure time was a little later than stated but didn’t cause us any issues, we’d do it again regardless. Very easy to navigate the train stations & find our reserved seats. The train staff let you know when great photo ops are coming so you don’t miss anything. Would highly recommend!
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 13, 2025
S
The allocated seating is very confusing, as you don't get to sit together always. Unless the higher number is even, you're sitting in front/behind each other! People queue to hang out the train, so if you want that, prepare to queue. The tea & snacks are reasonably priced & good. Views are phenomenal & you pass through some really quaint places.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 6, 2025
JL
The booking experience was great. The train service was also good. The cleanliness of the train, comfortable seating and not to mention the consideration to rotate the seats in the dirwction of the train so that passengers don't motion sickness. Just that the train was late, but everything else wa great. We also didn't need to print the tickets. The station masters were helpful in providing information and so were the announcements.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1015 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 6, 2025
B
At Kandy train station, questions about the train's departure (platform, exchanging the digital ticket for a physical one) were answered. We were told that the QR code on the digital ticket was sufficient. We sat in second class, and it was incredibly comfortable. Comfortable seats, fans (although these weren't really needed with the open windows), footrests, and fold-down tables. The train departed on time. During the journey, it was possible to order drinks and snacks. The train arrived at its destination station (Nanu Oya) with only a few minutes' delay. Notice: Seat assignments were not selectable during booking, so it's possible that passengers might not be seated together. However, we were able to reach an agreement with other passengers who were in the same situation.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11141 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Nov 3, 2025
RB
Super drive in the Firstclass with A/C.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Oct 13, 2025
SN
I was in first class. The train was confortable.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 First Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railway, Sep 25, 2025
VM
We booked our train tickets from Kandy to Ella. Everything was perfect. Tickets were delivered before our arrival to our hotel in Kandy. 👌
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1005 Third Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 16, 2025
GO
Incredibly slow trip. Could have walked quicker
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #1015 1st Class Seat, Sri Lanka Railways, Sep 6, 2025
JA
Your comission is to high
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Train #11127 Second Class Reserved Seats, Sri Lanka Railway, Aug 23, 2025
4.6
163 customer reviews
5
69%
4
23%
3
5%
2
3%
1
0%

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Stef Lanka Tours
Comfort 2pax
Any time
+2h 20m
$49.45
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Observation class
03:30
08:54
$6.82
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
06:00
09:45
$37.38
  4.7
Van
Magical Sri Lanka
Scenic Minivan
07:00
10:40
$15.00
  4.2
Train
Ella Odyssey
First Class
08:10
12:10
$35.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
2nd Class Reserved Seat
08:46
12:39
$13.14
  4.4
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
09:40
13:09
$20.47
  4.8
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
10:00
14:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
11:03
14:50
$6.82
  4.8
Bus
AKMT Holidays
Standard
14:00
18:00
$12.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
17:20
21:19
$6.82
  4.8
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
22:00
02:40
$14.00
  5.0

Transportation from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Facts about the transport from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport40m
Earliest Departure7:00 AM
Latest Departure5:20 PM
Departures per day13
Distance34 kilometers
Transport CompaniesLakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar

How to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Travelling between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya is possible by Train, van and taxi. Taxi guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Train is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you AUD 167.84 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a van which will set you back mere AUD 32.78.

How long does it take to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

It can take you anywhere between 1 and 4 hours to travel between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya depending on the means of transport you choose.

Taxi is the fastest way to travel between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Taxi will bring you to your destination in 40m. Train does a much slower job and take about 3h 59m to reach Nuwara Eliya.

How much does it cost to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

Travelling between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya can be as cheap as AUD 32.78 if you opt for a Magical Sri Lanka van and as expensive as AUD 167.84 if you buy a TaxiBazaar taxi ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

How many trips per day are there between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya ?

  • 1 from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya starting from 07:00 Kandy until 07:00 Kandy
  • 12 from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya starting from 00:00 kandy until 00:00 kandy

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Lakpura, Magical Sri Lanka, Real Lanka Holidays, TaxiBazaar

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

Van

Vans are a great alternative - or, in many cases - your only option - if you need to travel overland within one and the same province or neighbouring provinces or states. Vans ply the roads between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, too.

Things to remember: When travelling by van with huge luggage buying a separate seat for your suitcase or backpack is a good idea. Do not expect there is a roomy luggage compartment in a van - there is actually none and your fellow passengers are unlikely to appreciate your luggage stuck under their feet, alas.

Companies operating vans between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Magical Sri Lanka

What is the most popular transport to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Train remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

  • 95% took a train
  • 3% bought a taxi ride
  • 2% took a van