Kandy marks the beginning of hill country in Sri Lanka. It’s tucked among green mountains, with the city center wrapped around a calm, scenic lake. There aren’t many big, headline‑worthy things to do in Kandy. But it still offers a mix of temples, viewpoints, a botanical gardens, cultural spots, and even a hiking spot right in the center.
I stayed here in total of three nights and happened to time my visit with Buddha Day. The city came alive with celebrations, and some places were even offering free food to everyone.
In this post, I’ll cover what to do in Kandy — whether you’re in the mood for a stroll through a botanical garden, watching a cultural dance performance, or visiting some of the temples. I’ll also share where to eat and drink, and how many days you should stay in Kandy.
Map Overview of Sights in Kandy
How to Use the Map: Click the top-left corner to view and select map layers. Learn more about each point by clicking its pin or sidebar entry. To save the map, click the star next to the title. Access it later via Google Maps → Saved → Maps.
What to Do in Kandy
Stroll Around the Lake Kandy
The best way to start your visit is with a stroll around Kandy Lake, which sits right in the center of the city and offers a calm break from the busy streets around it. There’s a walking path around the lake, making it easy for a short stroll. You’ll see locals hanging around, monks passing by, and vendors selling this and that while birds gliding over the water.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth, locally known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is the most important Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage temple that houses what Buddhists believe to be a tooth of the Buddha.
Historically, the relic was more than a religious object — it was a symbol of power. Whoever possessed the tooth was believed to have the right to rule Sri Lanka, which made it both politically and spiritually significant for centuries.
However, the relic itself isn’t visible. It’s kept inside a series of nested golden caskets in the upper shrine room. During the daily ceremonies, the doors open and you can briefly see the outer golden casket, but not the tooth inside.
It makes the experience a little controversial — almost like visiting the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, only to find it locked in a vault and being shown the vault instead. Many visitors still find the atmosphere meaningful, so if the spiritual and cultural importance matters more to you than seeing the physical relic, it’s worth visiting.
Watch Cultural Dancing
The Kandyan Cultural Center is located next to the lake, which organizes a show of traditional Kandyan dances, drumming, fire shows, acrobatics and colorful costumes. It’s tourist‑oriented, but still an interesting way to see a bit of Sri Lankan culture in one place, and it’s one of the popular things to do in Kandy. Personally, I didn’t visit.
Visit the Royal Botanical Garden
There’s a botanical garden located a bit outside of the city, and it’s home to more than 4,000 plant species from all around the world. It’s considered one of the largest and finest botanical gardens in Asia and has a long, fascinating history. And of course it’s a popular spot for Instagram photo sessions thanks to its wide lawns, towering palms, and beautifully maintained paths.
It’s located 6 km from the center. But you can easily get here by booking a tuk-tuk through PickMe or Uber.
Visit the Giant White Buddha Statue
This is the famous giant white Buddha statue that overlooks the entire city. You’ll spot it from all over Kandy, no matter where you go. It’s also one of the best viewpoints in the area — as you climb the stairs to the top, the view opens up beautifully over the city and the surrounding hills.
It’s located just a 20-minute walk from Lake Kandy.
Visit the Asgiri Maha Vihara Pirivena Temple
Near the Buddha Statue lies another temple that doesn’t look particularly impressive from the outside, but once you step inside it’s a completely different story. The interior is a dome‑like chamber covered in beautifully painted artwork, with detailed illustrations of Buddhist stories stretching across both the walls and the ceiling. I enjoyed to visit this one.
Hike in Udawattakale Royal Forest Park
If you’re looking for a peaceful escape while still being right in the middle of the city, Udawattakale Royal Forest Park offers shaded forest paths and a calm, jungle‑like atmosphere. You can do some light hiking and visit a few small caves that Buddhist monks use for meditation and retreat.
There’s an interesting mix of wildlife: monkeys moving through the trees, deer darting between trunks, birds flitting overhead, and the occasional dog trotting along the path. The forest is full of natural sounds — cicadas buzzing, birds calling, and sometimes the sharp rustle of monkeys arguing in the canopy — all while the thick foliage keeps the trails cool and shaded.
There’s also a viewpoint inside the park that offers panoramic views over Kandy, making it a nice reward if you want a slightly longer walk.
You’ll see agencies offering guided tours here, but that’s honestly unnecessary. It’s just a forest park, very easy to navigate, and perfectly safe to explore on your own. Save your money and go independently.
Visit the Local Market
Near the bus station you’ll find a local market selling spices, vegetables, pastries, and everyday essentials. It doesn’t look particularly impressive, but it’s worth a visit because it caters more to locals than tourists, giving you a more authentic glimpse of daily life in Kandy. You’ll see people doing their regular shopping, vendors chatting with customers, and stalls packed with fresh produce — a simple but genuine slice of the city.
Where to Eat and Drink in Kandy
North of the lake, you’ll find a cluster of restaurants — a mix of simple local spots and a few Western places if you’re craving something other than kottu. It’s the easiest area to wander around if you want options in one place.
During my visit, I focused on finding places where locals actually eat, and ended up at a very authentic spot called Mandiya. They serve large portions of Sri Lankan rice and curry for a very low price — you can eat well for $2–2.5 USD. It’s a bit tricky to find, though, as it’s tucked away at the back of an old shopping mall.
Check the overview map at the beginning of this post for the exact location.
Where to Stay in Kandy
I stayed up on the hills in a place called Jaye’s Homestay as I had my own tuk-tuk and could easily get around. It was a great stay as the area was more tranquil and relaxing than the city centre. You can do the same even without a tuk-tuk, just book transport with the PickMe app. It had no pool though, but if you are looking for a place with a pool and a view, check out these places.
Theva Residency
A little bit tucked away in the hills, this 4‑star hotel has an infinity pool with a beautiful view of the city and consistently great reviews.
Book with Booking.com | Book with Agoda.com
Oak Ray Heritage Hotel
Centrally located 4-star hotel with a rooftop pool
Book with Booking.com | Book with Agoda.com
Is Kandy Worth Visiting
If you’re traveling on a very tight schedule, you can skip Kandy without feeling like you’re missing anything truly unique. That said, you would miss out on a beautiful botanical garden and several interesting temples.
That said, I actually liked Kandy more than Colombo. It’s much greener, the temperature is cooler, and there’s a centrally located hike that gives you a great view over the city. The occasional showers keep the air feeling fresh, too.
The traffic is also far less hectic than in Colombo — though still a bit chaotic at times especially when I arrived here on my tuk-tuk. I accidentally entered a roundabout the wrong way, got stranded in the middle with traffic swirling around me in the opposite direction, and the police had to stop everything to pull me out.
How Many Days to Spend in Kandy
Most travelers find that one full day is enough to cover Kandy’s main attractions. With two nights, you can arrive, settle in explore the next day, and move on without feeling rushed.
If you have extra time, you can stay another night and take things slow. That said, I preferred Kandy over Colombo, as it’s a bit less hectic while still being a fairly large city. I stayed three nights myself, though part of that time I was working.
Getting To Kandy
Being a largest city in Sri Lanka, Kandy is well-connected to the rest of the country, and you can easily get here by train, bus or minivan. The cheapest way is to travel like a local using trains and local buses.
By Train
The official train schedule can be found here: railway.gov.lk. Tickets are usually released 30 days in advance. The cheapest option is to buy the ticket directly at the train station.
By Bus
Getting around by bus is extremely cheap, but it can be a bit confusing to figure out where and when each bus departs in each city. Google Maps’ public transport mode actually works surprisingly well in Sri Lanka, so you can use it to find the bus station and check approximate departure times. And if you’re unsure, just ask a local — people are very friendly and happy to help. Other way is to just book with 12GO. IT costs a little bit more, but much less hassle.
By Minivan or Private Car
If you prefer something simpler and don’t want to spend time figuring out bus stations and schedule — and don’t mind paying a bit more for comfort and convenience — you can use 12Go to book a seat in a minivan or even a whole private car between cities. The prices are still reasonable.
Where to Go Next
The next popular stop is Ella, and the best way to get there is by the scenic train ride. Tickets tend to sell out quickly during high season, especially the premium seats. If you’re traveling during the busy months, it’s a good idea to book in advance. You can easily reserve your ticket through GetYourGuide or Klook.
Wrap-Up: What to Do in Kandy
While Kandy isn’t really one of the highlights of Sri Lanka, it still has something to offer for most travelers and makes a convenient stop before continuing onward. If you’re short on time, you can safely skip Kandy, and spend more time on the beach or places such as Ella or Sigiriya Town.
Read my other guides.
- Sigiriya Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Ella
- Things to do in Arugam Bay
- 1-Day Itinerary of Colombo
- Things to do in Negombo
- Anuradhapura Travel Guide.
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