Kandy
city · Sri Lanka
Overview
Kandy is a regional capital in Sri Lanka.
It is home to around 112,000 people.
On the map it sits in Asia, in the northern hemisphere.
Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, roughly 84 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Population | 111,701 |
| Timezone | Asia/Colombo |
| Nearest airport | Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), 84 km |
| Currency | LKR |
Where Kandy is
Kandy sits in Sri Lanka, in the northern part of Asia.
Katunayaka lies about 83 km to the west, Negombo lies about 88 km to the west and Hendala lies about 89 km to the west.
Getting there
The usual way in is to fly. Your nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB), roughly 84 km away.
Alternative gateways include Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML, 98 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Kandy →arrives CMB (83.6 km away)
Getting around
The town is easy to cover on foot, with taxis handy for longer hops or reaching nearby spots. If you drive, remember traffic here keeps to the left.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly equatorial (northern hemisphere): warm and humid all year, with wetter and drier spells rather than true seasons; the drier months are easiest for sightseeing.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Kandy is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through CMB.
Day trips & nearby
For day trips, several places sit within easy reach: Katunayaka (83 km to the west); Negombo (88 km to the west); Hendala (89 km to the west); Ja Ela (85 km to the west); Kandana (86 km to the west).
Good to know
The currency is the LKR (Rupee).
The main language spoken is Sinhala.
Clocks run on Asia/Colombo time.
Traffic drives on the left.
How long to stay
For a first visit, allow 3–5 days to see the main sights at a comfortable pace.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Kandy
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Kandy
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Kandy?
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the closest airport, about 84 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Kandy?
- There is no single best season; pick the drier months for easier sightseeing.
- What is near Kandy?
- Katunayaka is one of the closest places, about 83 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Kandy in?
- Kandy is in Sri Lanka.
On the map
Keep exploring
Nearby places
More places in Sri Lanka
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.