Hotels in Kandy
Amaya Hills
Amaya Hills is a hilltop hotel in Kandy with a royal touch inspired by Kandyan culture. Its hilly setting and banquet halls make it popular for weddings, and (...)
Cinnamon Citadel
Cinnamon Citadel is in Kandy, surrounded by greenery and hills beside the Mahaweli, the longest river in Sri Lanka. It is a good base whether you are exploring (...)
Earl's Regency
Earl's Regency is a luxury hotel in the tea covered hills of Kandy, the last royal capital, where history and tradition remain strong. Its interiors carry a (...)
Grand Kandyan
The Grand Kandyan is a modern luxury resort hotel in Kandy, a city of great historical and cultural importance, with wide views of the surrounding mountain (...)
Suisse Hotel Kandy
Hotel Suisse stands beside Kandy Lake. It was the 17th century residence of the chief minister of the royal granary, and was later occupied by a British (...)
Hotel Tree of Life
Hotel Tree of Life occupies a former colonial estate home at Yahalatenna, outside Kandy. The property is set in 65 acres of estate land, surrounded by much (...)
Hotel Topaz Kandy
Hotel Topaz sits on top of Anniewatte hill in Kandy, with wide views over the city and the hills around it, a calm escape from the busy centre.
Kandy City Hotel
Kandy City Hotel is conveniently placed for Kandy's main sights, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Oak Ray Regency
Oak Ray Regency is a popular hotel in Kandy, the hill capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city.
OZO Kandy
OZO Kandy is a calm, simple, modern hotel set among greenery in Kandy, a short distance from the Temple of the Tooth.
Queen's Hotel
Queen's Hotel is Kandy's most historic hotel and one of the oldest in Sri Lanka, with a history of around 160 years. It stands in front of the Temple of the (...)
Santani Wellness Resort & Spa
Santani Wellness Resort and Spa was created to offer luxury retreats built around sustainable living. It stands among green hills and misty mountains on the (...)
The Golden Crown Hotel
The Golden Crown Hotel is a resort in Kandy surrounded by green paddy fields and mountain views. Its architecture blends colonial grandeur with modern (...)
The Hermitage by Edwards Collection
The Hermitage is a boutique villa on more than six acres of forest on the edge of the Victoria reservoir. Many birds live here, along with deer, monkeys and (...)
The Secret Kandy
The Secret Kandy is a boutique villa in the World Heritage city of Kandy, in what was once the grand home of the lawyer and thinker Siddi Lebbe. It overlooks (...)
Thilanka Hotel Kandy
Thilanka Hotel is in Kandy, the hill capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city, with views of the Hunnasgiriya mountains and the Udawattakele forest. It is (...)
Victoria Golf & Country Resort
Victoria Golf and Country Resort is a short drive from Kandy, close to the Victoria reservoir, with views of the Knuckles mountain range. The resort covers a (...)
The Elephant Stables Kandy
The Elephant Stables is a boutique villa in Kandy in colonial style, mixing old and new interiors.
Heaven Seven Kandy
Heaven Seven is a mid-range hotel in Kandy, the hill capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city. It has views over Kandy and gives easy access to the main sights (...)
The Radh
The Radh is a contemporary boutique hotel in the centre of Kandy, mixing modern comfort with the traditions of the old kingdom. The Kandy City Centre shopping (...)
In town, by the lake
Queen's Hotel faces the temple and is one of the oldest hotels in the country. Hotel Suisse sits on the lake in a building with a colonial past. The Radh, a 30-room boutique hotel, is right in the centre. OZO Kandy, Kandy City Hotel and Heaven Seven are simpler mid-range choices within walking distance of the lake. These suit anyone who wants to see the evening ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth without a car.
On the hills around the city
Most of the bigger hotels look down on Kandy from the ridges. Amaya Hills, Hotel Topaz, Thilanka, the Grand Kandyan and Oak Ray Regency all have views across the valley and pools to come back to. Cinnamon Citadel sits on the Mahaweli River on the edge of town, and Earl's Regency and The Golden Crown are further east among paddy fields and hills. The Secret Kandy and The Elephant Stables are small boutique houses in former private homes, the first once owned by the lawyer and thinker Siddi Lebbe.
Out of town
Hotel Tree of Life is a colonial estate house in Yahalatenna, surrounded by tea. The Hermitage, a boutique villa, and Victoria Golf and Country Resort, with its 18-hole course, are both east of Kandy near the Victoria reservoir and the Knuckles range. These are for slower stays, not for a quick temple visit.
At a glance
| Hotel | Area | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Queen's Hotel | Town centre | Heritage mid-range |
| Hotel Suisse | Kandy Lake | Heritage mid-range |
| The Radh | Town centre | Boutique |
| OZO Kandy / Kandy City Hotel / Heaven Seven | Town and lake | Mid-range |
| Amaya Hills / Grand Kandyan / Earl's Regency / Golden Crown | Hills around the city | Luxury |
| Cinnamon Citadel | Mahaweli River | Luxury |
| Hotel Topaz / Thilanka / Oak Ray Regency | Hills around the city | Mid-range |
| The Secret Kandy / Elephant Stables | Hills above town | Boutique |
| Hotel Tree of Life | Yahalatenna | Estate, mid-range |
| The Hermitage / Victoria Golf | Victoria reservoir | Boutique and golf resort |
When to book early
Rooms fill months ahead during the Esala Perahera, usually in July or August. If you plan to see the Peradeniya gardens as well, the hotels on the west side save some driving.
See our Kandy guide or browse things to do in Kandy.
Quick picks
- No car needed: Queen's Hotel, Hotel Suisse or The Radh, all walkable to the lake
- Views and a pool: Amaya Hills, the Grand Kandyan or Hotel Topaz
- Something different: The Elephant Stables, The Secret Kandy or Hotel Tree of Life
- Golf: Victoria Golf and Country Resort
Getting there
Kandy is about 115 km from Colombo, around three to three and a half hours by road. Sigiriya is roughly two and a half hours north.