Car Rental in Kandy
Kandy is where most hill-country trips begin. Vehicles here are listed by owners in and around the city, and a car collected in Kandy saves you the three-hour drive up from Colombo at the start of a holiday that is mostly about what is above Kandy anyway.
From here, Sigiriya and Dambulla are a comfortable morning’s drive north, Nuwara Eliya is two hours up into the tea, and Ella is a long but spectacular day.
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LKR 10,000.00/ daySuzuki Spacia Custom xs turbo
Digana
With driver or self-drive 
LKR 10,350.00/ dayToyota Axio Hybrid G grade
Kandy
With driver 
LKR 11,000.00/ dayMG Motor ZS
Kandy
LKR 15,000.00/ daySuzuki Wagon-R
Teldeniya
LKR 17,250.00/ dayToyota Axio Hybrid WXP
Wattegama
LKR 17,250.00/ dayDaihatsu Hi Jet
Werellagama
LKR 18,400.00/ dayToyota Prius Hybrid S touring
Kandy
LKR 19,000.00/ dayMitsubishi Outlander
Gampola
LKR 20,000.00/ dayNissan Navara
Kandy
LKR 20,500.00/ daySuzuki Spacia Custom
Polgolla
LKR 20,700.00/ dayToyota Axio
Gampola
LKR 20,700.00/ dayToyota Raize Z
Kandy
What to rent for the hills
The roads out of Kandy climb steadily and bend constantly. A car with a willing engine makes the difference between enjoying the drive and crawling behind a lorry for an hour. An SUV is not necessary for sealed roads, but it is more comfortable over the rougher stretches towards Knuckles.
If you are planning a route with many stops and photographs, a driver is worth considering. On these roads a local driver covers ground faster and more safely than a visitor will.
Parking and the city centre
The centre around the lake and the Temple of the Tooth is congested and parking is limited. Most guesthouses have space for a car; check before you book one. A smaller vehicle is much easier in the old streets.
Market day traffic can close the centre to a crawl. Leaving for the tea estates before eight in the morning avoids most of it.
Questions people ask
Can I pick up in Kandy and drop off in Colombo?
Some owners allow it for a one-way fee. Ask the owner before booking.
Is a four-wheel drive needed in the hill country?
Not for the main roads to Nuwara Eliya, Ella or Sigiriya, which are sealed. It helps on estate tracks and around Knuckles.
How long is the drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?
Roughly two to three hours depending on traffic and how often you stop, and it climbs the whole way.
Are vehicles available with a driver in Kandy?
Yes. Use the chauffeur-driven filter or see the vehicles listed on our car rental with driver page.