Quick answer
The best things to do in Kandy with kids are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, with wide lawns, a suspension bridge and thousands of fruit bats; a Kandyan dance performance with fire-walking at 5 in the afternoon; feeding the fish and spotting water monitors at Kandy Lake; and the drummers at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic's evening puja. Older children enjoy Ambuluwawa tower, a cooking class and cycling in the countryside. Keep outings to two or three hours and rest through the midday heat.
Key takeaways
- The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya are flat, shaded and pushchair-friendly across most of their 60 hectares.
- Kandyan dance performances last about an hour and end with fire-walking, which holds most children's attention.
- Children under about six or twelve, depending on the site, enter many Kandy attractions free or at half price.
- The evening puja at the temple is crowded and warm, and works best for children aged about six and above.
- Toque macaques around Kandy Lake and Udawattakele will snatch food from children's hands.
Why Kandy works for families
Kandy works for families because its main sights are compact and varied. A garden, a lake, a show and a ceremony make four completely different experiences within a few kilometres. None needs more than two hours.
The difficulties of Kandy with children are heat, traffic and narrow pavements. Pushchairs are awkward in the centre, and crossing the main roads needs care. A hotel with a pool and a driver on call turn a tiring city into an easy one.
The best activities for children
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya are the best single outing in Kandy with kids. Children can run on the great lawn, cross the swaying suspension bridge, walk through tunnels of bamboo and stare up at the colony of flying foxes. Bring a ball and a picnic.
A Kandyan dance performance is the other certain success. The drumming is loud, the costumes glitter, acrobats spin plates and the finale has performers walking on hot coals. Sit near the front, and arrive 20 minutes early for good seats.
- →Botanic gardens: two hours, any age.
- →Dance performance: one hour, from about age four.
- →Kandy Lake: fish, birds and water monitors, 30 minutes.
- →Bahirawakanda Buddha: a giant statue and a big view, 30 minutes.
The temple with children
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic can be rewarding with children if you prepare them. Explain beforehand that it is a place of worship, that shoes come off and that there will be a queue. The drummers at the start of the puja are the highlight for most.
The practical side of the temple with kids needs thought. Everyone must cover shoulders and knees, including children old enough to walk. The upper hall is hot and packed in the evening. With under-sixes, consider the 9.30 puja, which is calmer, or watch the drummers and skip the queue.
- →Dress children as you dress yourself: covered shoulders and knees.
- →Carry socks for hot stone and water for the queue.
- →Hold small children's hands in the crush at the shrine.
- →Buy a lotus flower at the gate for them to offer.
Ideas by age
Toddlers and young children in Kandy need space and shade. Stick to the gardens, the lake and the hotel pool, with one short cultural stop a day. A morning nap in the car on the way to Peradeniya is no bad thing.
Older children and teenagers in Kandy can do much more. Ambuluwawa tower appeals to the adventurous, a cooking class gets them involved, and a guided bicycle ride between the three temples burns energy. The Raja Tusker hall and the Garrison Cemetery's elephant stories interest curious minds.
- →Under 5: gardens, lake, pool.
- →5 to 10: add the dance show, the temple drummers and the tea museum.
- →11 and over: add Ambuluwawa, cycling, a cooking class and the Knuckles foothills.
Day trips that suit families
Day trips from Kandy with children should be short. The three temples loop works if you keep it to two temples and let them look for animals in the Embekke carvings. A tea factory near Pilimathalawa takes under an hour and ends with cake.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is the trip most families ask about. Children are thrilled by the herd in the river, and parents should know that the elephants are captive and managed with chains and hooks. Lankan Stays & Trails suggests a safari at Minneriya or Udawalawe elsewhere on the route as the better way to show children elephants.
Practical tips
Practical planning for Kandy with kids starts with the timetable. Do one outing from 8 to 10.30, come back to the pool, and go out again from 4 to 7. Skipping the midday hours avoids most heat-related misery.
Food and health in Kandy are manageable for families. Hotels serve mild curries, rice, noodles and fruit, and most kitchens will cook to order for small children. Carry hand sanitiser, drink bottled water and keep snacks hidden from monkeys.
- →Choose a hotel with a pool and space to run.
- →Use a car with seat belts; bring your own child seat if you need one.
- →Pack a hat, sunscreen, repellent and a light rain jacket for each child.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kandy good for kids?
Kandy is good for kids when the days are kept short and built around the botanic gardens, a dance show and the lake. It is less suitable for families who expect playgrounds and child-centred attractions, of which there are few.
Can children visit the Temple of the Tooth?
Children are welcome at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and usually enter free or at a reduced rate when young. They must dress modestly and remove shoes. The evening puja is crowded, so families with small children often prefer the mid-morning ceremony.
What is there for toddlers in Kandy?
Toddlers in Kandy enjoy the lawns and bats of the botanic gardens, the fish and birds at the lake and time in a hotel pool. Keep cultural visits brief. A pushchair works in the gardens and is difficult on the city's pavements.
Is the Kandyan dance show suitable for young children?
The Kandyan dance show suits most children from about four years old. It lasts an hour and includes acrobatics and fire-walking. The drumming is very loud, so sit a few rows back with sensitive children or bring ear protection.
Are there monkeys in Kandy and are they dangerous?
Toque macaques live around Kandy Lake, Udawattakele and the viewpoints. They are not usually aggressive but will grab food and can bite if cornered. Do not let children feed or approach them, and keep snacks in closed bags.
How many days in Kandy with children?
Two nights in Kandy suit most families, giving one full day at a relaxed pace and a second morning for the gardens or a short trip. One night feels rushed with children. Three nights work if the hotel has a good pool.