Quick answer
Kandy entrance fees for foreign adults are approximately US$7 to US$10 for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, about US$10 for the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya and US$5 to US$10 for a Kandyan dance performance. Smaller sights such as Udawattakele, the tea museum and the three medieval temples cost US$1 to US$5 each. A typical day of sightseeing, with tuk-tuks and a local lunch, comes to roughly US$40 to US$50 per person. Fees are set in rupees and change, so treat all figures as guides.
Key takeaways
- The three main paid sights in Kandy, the temple, the botanic gardens and a dance show, total roughly US$25 to US$30 per foreign adult.
- Sri Lanka applies dual pricing, with foreign visitors paying several times the local rate at most state-run sites.
- Visitors from South Asian countries usually qualify for reduced entrance fees on showing a passport.
- A licensed guide at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic typically charges US$5 to US$10 for a tour of about an hour.
- A car with a driver for a full day around Kandy costs about US$50 to US$90.
How pricing works in Kandy
Pricing at sights in Kandy follows the national pattern. State-run and temple-run attractions charge foreign visitors a higher rate, quoted in rupees and sometimes linked to the dollar. Residents pay a small fraction, and children are usually half price or free.
Figures for Kandy entrance fees go out of date quickly. Rates were raised several times in recent years as the currency moved. Use the ranges here for planning, carry cash in small notes and expect the exact amount to differ.
Entrance fees for the main sights
The main sights of Kandy each have their own ticket. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic ticket for foreigners normally includes the International Buddhist Museum and the Raja Tusker hall. The botanic gardens ticket covers the whole site for the day.
Smaller sights in Kandy charge modest amounts, and several are free. The list below gives approximate foreign adult prices in US dollars. Cards are accepted at the temple and gardens and rarely elsewhere.
- →Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: US$7 to US$10.
- →Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya: about US$10.
- →Kandyan dance performance: US$5 to US$10.
- →Udawattakele Forest Sanctuary: US$3 to US$5.
- →Ceylon Tea Museum: US$3 to US$5.
- →National Museum: US$2 to US$4.
- →Bahirawakanda: US$1 to US$2.
- →Embekke, Lankatilaka, Gadaladeniya: US$1 to US$3 each.
- →Lake, devales, cemeteries, viewpoint: free.
Transport costs
Transport in Kandy is cheap for short distances. A tuk-tuk across the centre costs about a dollar, and to Peradeniya three to four. Local buses cost a few cents. A half-day tuk-tuk hire with waiting time is US$10 to US$20.
Day trips from Kandy cost more because they need a car. A half-day to the three temples or Ambuluwawa is about US$40 to US$60 with a driver, and a full day to the Knuckles or Nuwara Eliya US$60 to US$100. Travellers on a private tour already have this included.
- →Tuk-tuk, short hop: about US$1.
- →Tuk-tuk, half-day: US$10 to US$20.
- →Car and driver, half-day: US$40 to US$60.
- →Car and driver, full day: US$50 to US$90 within an itinerary.
Guides, tips and donations
Guides in Kandy are optional and inexpensive. Licensed guides wait at the temple entrance and charge roughly US$5 to US$10 for an hour. A guide for a full day of sightseeing is about US$30 to US$50. Check for the tourist board licence.
Tips and donations are a small but regular cost in Kandy. Shoe-keepers at temples expect a few cents, caretakers who unlock shrines a dollar or two, and drivers and guides ten per cent or so for good service. Lankan Stays & Trails includes entrance fees and guide costs in its quotations, so there are no surprises on the day.
- →Shoe storage: a small coin or note.
- →Temple caretakers: US$1 to US$2.
- →Driver: US$5 to US$10 per day from the party.
- →Offerings: flowers at the temple gate cost under a dollar.
Sample daily budgets
A standard sightseeing day in Kandy, covering the gardens, the temple and a dance show with tuk-tuks and a local lunch, costs roughly US$40 to US$50 per person. With a private car and a guide for two people, the day comes to about US$70 to US$90 each.
A second day in Kandy is cheaper in tickets and dearer in transport. The three temples loop with a tuk-tuk, Udawattakele and Bahirawakanda cost about US$25 to US$35 per person. A Knuckles trek with car, guide and permit is nearer US$60 to US$90 each for two.
- →Budget day: US$25 to US$35, choosing one major paid sight.
- →Standard day: US$40 to US$50, three paid sights.
- →Private-guided day for two: US$70 to US$90 each.
Ways to save without missing out
Saving money in Kandy is straightforward. Walk the centre, use buses for Peradeniya and mix free sights with paid ones. The lake, the devales, the viewpoint and the cemeteries cost nothing and fill half a day.
False economies in Kandy are worth avoiding. Skipping the temple to save a few dollars misses the point of the city. Accepting a very cheap tuk-tuk tour usually means commission stops at shops. A fair price for what you actually want is the better bargain.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee to the Temple of the Tooth?
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic charges foreign adults roughly US$7 to US$10, payable in rupees or by card. The ticket usually includes the International Buddhist Museum. Visitors from South Asian countries pay less, and young children enter free.
How much is the ticket for Peradeniya Botanical Gardens?
Foreign adults pay about US$10 to enter the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, with reduced rates for children and students. The price is set in rupees and has risen in recent years, so confirm the current fee at the gate or online.
How much does a Kandyan dance show cost?
Tickets for the nightly Kandyan dance performances in Kandy cost roughly US$5 to US$10 per person, depending on the venue. Shows start at about 5 in the afternoon and last an hour. Tickets are sold at the door and through hotels.
Do you need a guide at the Temple of the Tooth?
A guide is not required at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and signs explain the main areas. A licensed guide for about US$5 to US$10 adds helpful context on the ritual, the history and the architecture, and helps you find the right place to stand.
How much money do I need for two days in Kandy?
For two days of sightseeing in Kandy, allow roughly US$70 to US$90 per person for entrance fees, tuk-tuks and local meals, not counting accommodation. A private car and guide raise that to about US$140 to US$180 each for two people.
Can I pay entrance fees in Kandy by card or US dollars?
The temple and the botanic gardens generally accept cards. Smaller sights take cash in rupees only. US dollars are not normally accepted at ticket counters, so withdraw rupees from an ATM in the centre, where there are many.