Kandy from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Kandy, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Kandy tripDay to day in Kandy, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £7 | £8 |
| A balanced mix | £9 | £11 |
| Mostly restaurants | £14 | £15 |
- Local transport: about £2 a day. Taxi: £0 to start, then £0.20 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £5 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, newsfirst.lk, en.wikivoyage.org; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
27°F
29°M
31°A
32°M
30°J
29°J
29°A
29°S
29°O
29°N
28°D
27°
The most pleasant months are January, February and June to September. July is the driest month (62 mm of rain) and November the wettest (279 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka, place by placeCompare: Thailand or Sri Lanka · Indonesia or Sri Lanka · Vietnam or Sri Lanka
Visa for British travellers
Electronic Travel Authorization
Allow at least 7 days before you fly.
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Kandy
Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa)temple · a couple of hoursVisit during a puja ceremony when the relic chamber is open
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardengarden · half a day
Kandy Lakelake · a couple of hours
Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuarynature reserve · a couple of hours- Bahirawakanda Buddha Statuemonument · a couple of hours
Ceylon Tea Museummuseum · a couple of hours- Kandyan dance showexperience · a couple of hours
- Scenic train ride Kandy to Ellaexperience · a full day
Book reserved seats well ahead; about 6-7 hours
- Knuckles Mountain Range guided trekexperience · a full day
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Kandy cost?
Food and getting around come to about £8 a person a day eating street food, £11 with a balanced mix and £15 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
The most pleasant months are January, February and June to September. July is the driest month (62 mm of rain) and November the wettest (279 mm); daytime highs run from 27 to 32 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Electronic Travel Authorization. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Kandy?
Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, Kandy Lake, Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary, Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue.
Your whole Kandy trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Kandy trip