Best Things to Do in Kandy - practical advice with names and honest picks.
Kandy offers direct access to living Buddhist culture and Ceylon tea heritage that defines Sri Lanka's identity. The scenic hill country setting provides cooler temperatures and mountain views that contrast sharply with the coastal regions, while the compact city centre makes it easy to experience temples, gardens and cultural performances within walking distance.
What makes Kandy worth a visit
Kandy offers direct access to living Buddhist culture and Ceylon tea heritage that defines Sri Lanka's identity. The scenic hill country setting provides cooler temperatures and mountain views that contrast sharply with the coastal regions, while the compact city centre makes it easy to experience temples, gardens and cultural performances within walking distance.
How we picked these
This ranking is compiled from published information about Kandy: official sites, opening hours and ticket prices. It does not yet include first-hand visit notes, so there are no queue times or personal verdicts here.
Ranking criteria: how distinctive the place is (does this exist anywhere else?), what it costs, and how much of your day it takes.
Best Things to Do in Kandy
Ranked and reviewed — 10 of the best in Kandy
1Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The tooth is never shown. It rests in a series of nested golden caskets, and the outermost one is what you see upstairs in the inner shrine room. The octagonal Patthirippuwa tower beside the lake was added by Kandy's last king and is worth a look on the way out
2Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya
The Java fig on the Great Lawn spreads so wide it looks like a small forest, held up by propped branches and buttress roots. Sit in its shade for ten minutes before you start the longer walk
3Kandy Lake
Skip if: You're short on time and prefer indoor attractions
4Kandy Cultural Show
The Kandyan Art Association venue is run by descendants of royal court dancers and maintains the most authentic performances
5Udawatte Kele Sanctuary
The best wildlife viewing happens early morning when purple-faced langurs are most active near the main trail
6Kandy Central Market
Visit the third floor for the best selection of authentic Ceylon tea at wholesale prices
7Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
Local families come here for evening prayers around 6 PM - a more authentic experience than daytime tourist visits
8International Buddhist Centre
The evening meditation sessions welcome visitors, but arrive 15 minutes early for brief orientation on proper protocol
9National Museum of Kandy
The building itself, a wooden Kandyan-era palace structure, is as interesting as the exhibits - look up at the ceiling and carved beams rather than just the display cases.
10Ceylon Tea Museum
Look for the exhibits on the first Kandy-area tea experiments in the 1860s, after the island's coffee crop failed - it explains why the hills around you look the way they do
Honourable Mentions
A few more worth knowing about in Kandy
Embekke Devalaya
Ask the caretaker which pillars they think are the oldest - the answers vary, and each comes with a story.
Lankatilaka Vihara
Walk round the outside of the shrine before going in - the building's solid brick bulk reads better from the foot of the rock.
Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya
The temple is often empty - take a few minutes to sit under the Bodhi tree and listen to the village around you.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
The walk of the herd through the village to the river is as interesting as the bathing itself - stand near the road and watch it go by.
Ambuluwawa Tower
Check the weather before you drive up - the view on a clear morning is the whole point, and cloud can close it in.
Where to Eat
Dishes worth seeking out in Kandy
Kottu Roti
Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar
Rice and Curry
White House Restaurant
Hoppers
Devon Restaurant
String Hoppers
Watalappam
Kandy in one day vs two days
More on Kandy
Start with the main Kandy page if this is your first read. The Kandy travel guide is the longer read.
We plan trips to Kandy and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.