Getting around
Sri Lanka looks small on the map, but winding roads and busy towns make journeys longer than you'd expect. These guides compare private car, bus and train on the most-travelled routes, with honest timings and the stops worth making.
Kandy to Sigiriya is about 90 km by road and takes around 2.5 to 3 hours by car. There is no train. Public buses don't run direct: take a bus from Kandy to Dambulla, then a local bus to Sigiriya, which takes about 3 hours or more in total.
Colombo to Kandy is about 115 km by road and takes roughly 3 to 3.5 hours by car. Buses take about 4 hours. Since Cyclone Ditwah, trains from Colombo Fort run only as far as Peradeniya, on the edge of Kandy, so the last few kilometres are by road.
Kandy to Ella is about 140 km by road and takes roughly 3 to 4 hours by car, longer with stops in tea country. The Kandy to Nanu Oya rail section is closed after Cyclone Ditwah, so the most popular option now is to drive to Nanu Oya and take the train from there to Ella.
Kandy to Anuradhapura is about 135 km by road and takes around 2.5 hours by car. Buses run from Kandy's Goods Shed bus stand, including air-conditioned services, and take longer. The train is not practical on this route.
A private car and driver is the most flexible and comfortable option. Trains are scenic but slow and partly closed for repairs, and buses are cheap but crowded with little room for luggage.
Self-driving is possible with the right permit, but roads are busy and driving styles take getting used to. Most visitors prefer a local driver.
Partly. See the dated rail update on this page. We drive the closed sections and plan train rides where the line is open.
Usually longer than the distance suggests: 40 to 50 km an hour on average is a fair rule of thumb. Each route guide gives typical times.
Tell us your route and dates, and we'll plan the journey and drive you in our own vehicles.