Things to do in Kandy
The unmissables
Most booked
Sri Lanka Cooking Class with Granny: Learn to Make Curry★ 4.98 (749) · 3h 30m
Top rated
Kandy cooking class: Learn Sri Lankan dishes from scratch★ 4.97 (717) · 3h
Best value
Sigiriya & Dambulla day tour from Kandy: UNESCO sites with guide★ 4.95 (274) · 10h–12h
Recommended (7)
Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour: Rock Fortress & Cave Temple★ 4.84 (250) · 9h–12hUS$ 43View ›
Customized Tours in Sri Lanka: Build Your Own Itinerary★ 4.99 (215) · 1dUS$ 60View ›
Kandy City Tour by Tuk Tuk: Temple & Botanical Garden★ 4.98 (206) · 5h–6hUS$ 12View ›
Kandy to Sigiriya & Dambulla: Private Day Trip with Temple Stops★ 4.93 (203) · 10h–12hUS$ 65View ›
Sri Lanka Tours: 1 to 14 Days with Private Chauffeur Guide★ 5.00 (170) · 1d–14dUS$ 25View ›
Kandy to Sigiriya & Dambulla: Private Day Trip with Lunch★ 4.78 (167) · 6h–9hUS$ 59View ›
Private Sigiriya & Dambulla Tour from Kandy with Elephant Safari★ 4.95 (140) · 9h–12hUS$ 49View ›Top rated (8)
Kandy City Tour: Temple, Gardens & Craft WorkshopsA private guided city tour of Kandy covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, and up to six additional sites you select—temples, museums, cultural centers, gem workshops, batik studios, and wood carving ateliers. The eight-hour tour includes private transportation by car or tuk tuk, a local English-speaking guide, water, and an umbrella; half-day options are available for shorter stays. You choose which attractions matter most to your day, and the guide adjusts the route to fit.Is it for me?Book the eight-hour tour if you want to build your own itinerary instead of following a fixed route—the flexibility means you spend time on what matters to you and skip what doesn't. Choose the half-day option if you're in Kandy for only part of a day or prefer a shorter outing. The tuk tuk is best if you want to feel the city's pace and energy; the car works better if you value comfort and want to move quickly between stops.
Kandy waterfalls day tour: 4 falls and swimming by tuk tukA private day tour from Kandy visiting four waterfalls—Huluganga (75m), Lebanon Estate (30m), JoduElla (45m) and a swimming waterfall—by tuk tuk with an English or Korean-speaking guide. The route passes through tea plantations, rice paddies and small rural communities. Includes hotel pickup, lunch, water and snacks; children from age 8 are welcome.Is it for me?Seven to eight hours is enough to visit all four waterfalls, swim, eat lunch and see the villages and plantations without rushing—but it does take most of your day. Book this if you have a full free afternoon and want to spend it moving between water rather than staying in one place.
Sri Lanka Village: Cooking Class with Local Family & LunchYou’ll start with tea in a real Sri Lankan village before picking fresh ingredients for your own rice & curry feast. Cook side-by-side with a local family as you learn their kitchen secrets—yes, you’ll make coconut sambal from scratch! Sit down together for lunch or dinner you made yourself, sharing stories and laughter you might remember longer than any recipe.
Kandy City Tour by Tuk Tuk: Temple & Lake in 5–10 HoursA guided tuk tuk tour of Kandy covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Udawattakele Forest Reserve, and Peradeniya Botanic Gardens over five to ten hours, with a local English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The tuk tuk's size lets you explore narrow streets, local neighborhoods, and panoramic hilltop locations that group tours skip. You choose how long to stay at each stop and which sites matter most to your day.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through Kandy's narrow streets and hilltop locations that larger group buses cannot access, and if a flexible five to ten hour window suits your schedule better than a fixed itinerary. The tuk tuk's size and the guide's local knowledge mean you see neighborhoods and viewpoints most visitors miss, and you set the pace at each stop.
Kandy to Sigiriya & Dambulla: Day Trip with Safari & Temple StopsYou’ll sip fresh king coconut on the way from Kandy, wander through incense-filled temples in Matale, climb into Dambulla’s ancient painted caves with a local guide, eat lunch where drivers eat, scale Sigiriya Rock Fortress at sunset—and end your day watching wild elephants in Minneriya’s open plains. It’s not just sights; it’s feeling Sri Lanka under your skin.
Wilpattu Safari from Negombo: Full-Day Jeep Tour & MealsYou’ll start before dawn from Negombo or Waikkal with hotel pickup and head straight into Wilpattu’s wildness for a full-day jeep safari. Expect close-up moments with leopards (if you’re lucky), quiet lakes dotted with birds, breakfast and lunch right in the park—and that feeling you get when nature is bigger than you thought.
Kandy: Sigiriya, Dambulla & Polonnaruwa Day TripYou start from your Kandy hotel in a private air-conditioned car with an experienced driver, visit the Matale temple and Spice Garden, then move through Dambulla Cave Temple and climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress before finishing at the Polonnaruwa ruins. Lunch and all entrance fees are included. The whole day is timed to your pace, not a group schedule, and you return to your hotel in the evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see three major UNESCO heritage sites in one day without arranging transport, timing your own visits, or negotiating with multiple guides — the private car and fixed itinerary handle all of that, leaving you to focus on the sites themselves.
Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves with Safari Day TripYou leave Kandy before dawn, visit two of Sri Lanka's most significant archaeological sites — a 1st-century cave temple and a 5th-century rock fortress requiring a 1,200-step climb — eat lunch in a village, and finish with an elephant safari in Minneriya National Park. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, bottled water, and a guide are included; the full day ends around 5pm.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see Sigiriya and Dambulla in one day without arranging separate transport, tickets, and timing — the group structure and fixed schedule pack three major sites and a safari into a single departure from Kandy.
Lowest price (10)
Kandy Heritage City Tour by Tuk Tuk: Temple & GardensA guided tuk tuk tour of Kandy combines the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic—a UNESCO World Heritage site—with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy Lake and cultural performances, all arranged with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. The tour runs five to eight hours depending on which stops you choose; smaller groups travel in eco-friendly tuk tuks with bottled water provided throughout.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Royal Botanical Gardens in a single outing without committing a full day—the tuk tuk groups stay small enough that you're not stuck waiting between stops.
Kandy Tuk Tuk City Tour: Temple, Lake & Local MarketsA full-day private tuk tuk tour of Kandy with an English-speaking guide covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Gardens, Kandy Lake, the local market and a tea museum, with water and umbrella provided; temple entry and museum tickets are paid separately at each site. The tour suits travelers arriving in Kandy for the first time and wanting to move through the city's key stops without arranging transport or navigation themselves. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the tuk tuk is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?A full day in Kandy works best if you're arriving for the first time and want to see the temple, gardens, market and lake without navigating the city yourself or arranging separate transport between stops. The tuk tuk moves you through the streets quickly enough that you can fit all the main attractions into one day, but not so fast that you're just passing through each one.
Kandy City Tour in a TukTuk: 10 Hours of Temples & TeaA full-day tuktuk tour of Kandy, Sri Lanka, with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup, visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Embekka Dewalaya, a working tea factory, Royal Botanical Gardens, and ending with a cultural dance show at Kandy Lake Club. The tour runs ten hours and includes fuel; food and drinks are separate.Is it for me?The ten-hour commitment means you're out for most of the day, so plan accordingly if you have evening plans or want to explore Kandy's markets and restaurants on your own. The tuktuk pace and fixed itinerary work well if you prefer a structured route with a guide handling the stops; if you want to linger at one site or skip ahead, a private driver or self-guided walk would give you more flexibility.
Kandy to Ambuluwawa Tower Tuk Tuk Day Trip & TemplesYou’ll ride by tuk tuk from Kandy up winding hills to Ambuluwawa Tower for panoramic views, explore sacred temples filled with incense and history, stroll through lush botanical gardens with rare plants, and finish with traditional dance performances. Expect small surprises—like local stories or sudden rain—and moments that linger long after you’re back at your hotel.
Kandy Temples, Tea & Dance: Private Day Tour with PickupYou’ll walk temple corridors scented with incense, sip fresh Ceylon tea in a working factory outside Kandy, watch traditional dancers whirl by Lake Club, and wander lively markets with your local guide. This private day trip includes hotel pickup so you can just focus on soaking up every moment — even those unexpected ones that stick with you long after.
Kandy - Colombo Airport: Private transfer with local driverYou’ll leave Kandy behind in comfort with a private transfer to Colombo Airport or Negombo. Enjoy a smooth ride in an air-conditioned car with bottled water, a friendly local driver who knows every turn, and small touches that make saying goodbye feel easier than expected—something you’ll remember long after landing.
Kandy to Sigiriya Day Trip: Ancient Temples & Wildlife SafariA full-day tour from Kandy visits Dambulla Cave Temple and Sigiriya Rock Fortress, two of Sri Lanka's most significant archaeological sites, then continues to Minneriya National Park for an optional safari and village lunch. The tour includes private transportation with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and an air-conditioned vehicle; entry fees and guide services at the sites are arranged separately.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you're visiting both Dambulla and Sigiriya and want a private vehicle connecting them, with optional add-ons (village lunch and safari) to extend your day or keep it focused on the ancient sites alone.
Sigiriya Day Trip: Rock Fortress, Village & Cave TempleA private day trip from Kandy to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO site standing over 200 meters high, with village experiences and Dambulla Cave Temple included. Hotel pickup starts at 6am; the route covers Sigiriya's palace ruins and frescoes, a traditional village with catamaran and bullock carriage rides plus a cooking demonstration, and the largest preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka with 153 Buddha statues. You choose which stops to include at checkout. English-speaking driver, air-conditioned vehicle, and all transport costs are covered.Is it for me?Book this if you're visiting multiple sites (rock fortress, village, and cave temple) and prefer a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver to handle navigation and timing between stops.
Sigiriya & Dambulla: Private Day Tour with Local DriverYou’ll travel from Kandy with a local driver who knows every shortcut and story along the way. Smell spices at Matale, wander cool cave temples in Dambulla, then climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress if you’re brave enough. Expect laughter, real conversation, hotel pickup and drop-off — plus time to just sit quietly with your thoughts at the top.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya: Day Trip with Tea Factory & Ramboda FallsYou’ll wind through lush hills from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with a local driver-guide, feel cool spray at Ramboda Falls, taste fresh tea straight from the source, and relax lakeside as locals picnic nearby. Expect real moments—muddy shoes, laughter over mispronounced words—and time to breathe mountain air you won’t forget soon.
