Sri Lanka
Kandy
The hill capital and its sacred Buddhist temple by the lake. Stay 2 nights. Below: 3 sights, 1 activity and 2 outdoor spots, plus how Kandy fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Warmest month
- April
- Coolest month
- December
- Wettest month
- November
3 See · 1 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast
from our route notes
30°C / 86°F avg high
26°C / 78°F avg high
about 279 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Kandy
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
3 sights worth building a day around across Kandy Lake and Hantane.
Photo: بالعقل نبدأ · GoogleSeeTemple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist site, housing a tooth of the Buddha beside Kandy Lake.
Tip Attend the evening puja with drums; wear white if you can.
Photo: Arnaud Dupont · Google
Photo: calflier001 · CC BY-SA 2.0SeeCeylon Tea Museum
Former tea factory in the hills with old machinery and a top-floor tasting room.
Do
1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Kandy Lake.
Photo: Peter “L3p” Brands · GoogleDoKandyan dance show
Evening performance of drumming, acrobatic dance and fire-walking at the Kandy Lake Club.
Outdoors
2 outdoor spots for fresh air across Peradeniya and Kandy Lake.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsRoyal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
147 acres of palms, orchids, giant bamboo and a vast Javan fig tree.
Photo: Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0
Eat
Where we would book a table in Kandy in City center.
Photo: Sri Krishna Dosai · GoogleEatSri Krishna Dosai
Busy vegetarian South Indian canteen in central Kandy turning out crisp dosas, vadai and sambar at low prices.
Tip Order the masala dosa with an extra side of coconut chutney.
Photo: Shakil Nadir · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Kandy in Kandy Lake.
Photo: Slightly Chilled Lounge, Sports Bar & Restaurant · Google
How to fit Kandy into a trip
Kandy is stop 2 of 4 on our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast route. Follow it as-is or lift Kandy into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 4
Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast
Sigiriya, Kandy, the Ella train and Galle Fort
- Trip length
- 11 days
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Sigiriya & Dambulla
- Next: Ella
Getting here and onward
- Kandy to EllaElla is about 66 km / 41 mi away in a straight line
- Sigiriya & Dambulla to KandySigiriya & Dambulla is about 75 km / 47 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Kandy month by month
Average daily highs run from 26°C / 78°F in December to 30°C / 86°F in April. November is the wettest month, with about 279 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan26° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar30° / 86°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr30° / 86°F average high, in our recommended season
- May29° / 83°F average high
- Jun27° / 81°F average high
- Jul27° / 81°F average high
- Aug28° / 82°F average high
- Sep28° / 83°F average high
- Oct28° / 82°F average high
- Nov26° / 79°F average high
- Dec26° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Kandy weather and the best time to visit →
Near Kandy
3 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.
Kandy questions, answered
How many days do you need in Kandy?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Kandy. On our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast route it is stop 2 of 4 in a 11-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Kandy best known for?
The hill capital and its sacred Buddhist temple by the lake. Stay 2 nights. Standouts on our list: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist site, housing a tooth of the Buddha beside Kandy Lake); Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue (Huge white Buddha on a hill overlooking the city); Ceylon Tea Museum (Former tea factory in the hills with old machinery and a top-floor tasting room).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
Our Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast route is best Dec – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in April (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in December (26°C / 78°F) and the most rain in November (about 279 mm).
What are the best things to do in Kandy?
Start with Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Kandy Lake, Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue and Kandyan dance show. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 activity, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Kandy?
Our picks: Sri Krishna Dosai (City center); Kandy Muslim Hotel (City center). Order the masala dosa with an extra side of coconut chutney (Sri Krishna Dosai).
What is near Kandy?
The closest destinations in our guides are Ella (about 66 km / 41 mi), Sigiriya & Dambulla (about 75 km / 47 mi) and Galle (about 147 km / 91 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Kandy with your crew
Open the Sri Lanka: Rock Forts to the South Coast route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.