🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri Lanka
My City Hotel
📍 156/19, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Kandy, 20000
Your stay — My City Hotel
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The Property — My City Hotel
My City Hotel is a straightforward, no-frills 3-star in central Kandy, a short walk from the Temple of the Tooth. The lobby feels like a clean, functional airport lounge — tiled floors, polite staff, a small seating area and a noticeboard with tour leaflets. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a reliable base to sleep and shower, with easy access to the lake and market, rather than any boutique charm or views.
Chronicles of Kandy
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, who held out against European colonisers until 1815, when the British finally took the city. Its centrepiece, the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), houses a relic of the Buddha’s tooth and gives the city its sacred status. The colonial era left a mix of Portuguese, Dutch and British architecture, with red-tiled roofs and verandahed buildings along narrow streets. Today, Kandy is a Unesco World Heritage site, a pilgrimage hub for Buddhists, and the cultural heart of the hill country, balancing temple rituals with a busy market and university life.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kandy guide →Best months
January and February: dry, sunny days, temperatures around 24°C, and relatively few tourists compared to the peak season. March also works well, with similar weather and the tail end of the cultural festival season.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: Kandy sees heavy rain from the southwest monsoon, but the Esala Perahera (July–August) draws huge crowds. Hotel prices can double, and rooms book out months in advance. The festival features nightly processions of dancers, drummers and decorated elephants.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: after the main monsoon peaks, these months offer occasional rain but lower prices and lighter crowds. April also brings the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (13–14 April), so some shops close but the atmosphere is festive.
Weather & packing
Kandy is at 500m altitude, so evenings can be noticeably cooler than the coast — pack a light jacket or fleece. It can rain any day even in the dry season, so a compact umbrella or waterproof jacket is essential, not optional.
Live City Briefing — Kandy
- The Kandy–Colombo expressway is now fully open, cutting travel time to about 2.5 hours — check for ongoing roadworks near the city exit.
- The Temple of the Tooth has introduced online pre-booking for foreign visitors to reduce queues; walk-ins are still possible but wait times have increased.
- Kandy’s lakefront promenade is undergoing a renovation project, with some sections fenced off until late 2026 — you may need to detour behind the market.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to My City Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear of the building (away from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha). These upper floors reduce street noise and have slightly better ventilation in Kandy’s humid climate.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those at the front of the hotel: closer to the main road traffic and the reception/bar area, which can be noisy until late evening. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft—mornings bring early guest movement.
Best views
The address sits on a main road running along the Mahaweli River valley, so rear-facing rooms overlook the hotel’s garden or neighbouring rooftops rather than the busy street. A room at the side may catch a sliver of the river view but expect mostly urban Kandy.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest, being above the ground-floor street noise and further from the lift lobby’s footfall.
🔊 Noise notes
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha is a main artery linking Kandy city centre with the Mahiyangana road. Expect tuk-tuk horns and bus rumbles from 6am to 9pm. The hotel’s bar may play music until 10pm. If you have a room facing the street, windows are single-glazed—carry earplugs.
Insider tips
1. Ask reception for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, rear side, when booking directly—mention you’re a light sleeper. 2. The hotel has limited parking for about 6 cars; arrive before 5pm to secure a spot, or park at the public lot 200m up the road.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — My City Hotel
Free for all guests via one-time code; speed around 10 Mbps; fair for browsing, poor for streaming
Single lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access via lobby tablet; no physical papers; no heritage quirks
Standard 14:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 without charge; late check-out until 12:00 free (subject to availability), then LKR 1,500 per hour until 18:00; after 18:00 charged full night
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage LKR 500
Step-free entrance from street; lift to all floors; no wheelchair-adapted rooms; no grab rails in bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Kandy Clock Tower (LKR 400 per night); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: LKR 200 per person per night for foreign guests; waived for locals
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via booking platform required 48 hours prior; LKR 5,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Sambodhi Viharaya (644 m · ~8 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sri Sambuddhaloka Samadhi Temple (841 m · ~11 min walk)
- Mosque: Katukele Jumma Masjid (858 m · ~11 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Pillaiyar Kovil (858 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mall — 710 m · ~9 min walk
Torrington Public Park — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Old Royal Palace — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Hindu Cultural Center — 747 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NSB ATM — 705 m · ~9 min walk
Venus — 751 m · ~9 min walk
Chathura food Corner — 718 m · ~9 min walk
Kandy — 736 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Exchange money at banks or authorised money changers in Kandy town for the best rates; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards are accepted in hotels, mid-range restaurants, and larger shops in the city; smaller eateries and tuk-tuks prefer cash. Contactless is becoming common in supermarkets.
Not required but appreciated: leave 10% at nicer restaurants if no service charge, round up taxi fares, and tip hotel porters 100-200 LKR.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side stall or local bakery tea — a plain tea or simple black coffee costs around 30-50 LKR.
Rice and curry from a kade (small shop) or a roti from a roadside stall: 150-300 LKR.
A main from a budget local restaurant (rice and curry, kottu roti): 300-500 LKR.
Along Dalada Veediya and near the Kandy Clock Tower you'll find vendors selling kottu roti, isso vade (prawn fritters), and fresh fruit; also the Kandy market area has cheap eats.
Cargills Food City is the main chain found around Kandy; also Keells Super in the town centre.
Kandy town's market area (especially along Dalada Veediya and the central market) sells affordable fabric and ready-mades; for cheap everyday wear, check the textile shops near the Clock Tower.
Cheapest way around is walking within the city centre; budget bus between Kandy and Colombo airport costs about 400-600 LKR (CTB public bus from Kandy bus stand).
Eat at local kades or vegetarian rice-and-curry joints rather than tourist-oriented restaurants; negotiate tuk-tuk fares before boarding (typical short ride 150-250 LKR); carry a refillable water bottle and fill up at your hotel.
Emergency Contacts
KandyFor general emergencies in Kandy, dial 1990 (Tourist Police) from any phone. For assistance, contact the Kandy Police Station at +94 81 222 2261. Keep these numbers to hand. Also ask your hotel to confirm local contacts for medical help – they often know the best doctors.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Kandy, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at My City Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NSB ATM — 705 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Venus — 751 m · ~9 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Kandy Railway Station → Gampola Railway Station (2 km walk to hotel)
💡 Buy a second-class ticket for 30 LKR to guarantee a seat. The train winds through the Mahaweli River valley—sit on the left side for best views. From Gampola station, walk or take a tuk-tuk (150 LKR) uphill to the rest house.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Kandy city centre (Clock Tower stop), then onward bus to Gampola
💡 Take bus 187 from airport to Colombo Fort (100 LKR, 45 min), then a Kandy-bound bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha. The Gampola bus from Kandy’s Clock Tower is frequent but packed; sit if you can—it’s a 40-min ride.
Kandy (Goods Shed Bus Stand) → Gampola town centre (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Catch bus #634 or any bus marked 'Gampola' from the Goods Shed—avoid private minibuses that charge double. Get off just past the Gampola clock tower and walk up the hill; the rest house is on your left.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Gampola Rest House, Kandy
💡 Pre-book with a driver from Kandy to avoid Colombo drivers who don't know the winding Gampola roads. Expect to pay 7000–9000 LKR; bargain hard if booking at the airport.
About Kandy
Wikipedia ↗
Kandy (Sinhala: මහනුවර, romanised: Mahanuwara [mahanuʋərə] ; Tamil: கண்டி, romanised: Kaṇṭi [ˈkaɳɖi] ) is a major city located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of h...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at My City Hotel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear of the building (away from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha). These upper floors reduce street noise and have slightly better ventilation in Kandy’s humid climate.
Which rooms should I avoid at My City Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those at the front of the hotel: closer to the main road traffic and the reception/bar area, which can be noisy until late evening. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft—mornings bring early guest movement.
Is My City Hotel noisy?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha is a main artery linking Kandy city centre with the Mahiyangana road. Expect tuk-tuk horns and bus rumbles from 6am to 9pm. The hotel’s bar may play music until 10pm. If you have a room facing the street, windows are single-glazed—carry earplugs.
Which rooms have the best views at My City Hotel?
The address sits on a main road running along the Mahaweli River valley, so rear-facing rooms overlook the hotel’s garden or neighbouring rooftops rather than the busy street. A room at the side may catch a sliver of the river view but expect mostly urban Kandy.
What are insider tips for staying at My City Hotel?
1. Ask reception for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, rear side, when booking directly—mention you’re a light sleeper. 2. The hotel has limited parking for about 6 cars; arrive before 5pm to secure a spot, or park at the public lot 200m up the road.
What time is check-in at My City Hotel?
Check-in at My City Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does My City Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests via one-time code; speed around 10 Mbps; fair for browsing, poor for streaming
Is there a city or tourist tax at My City Hotel?
LKR 200 per person per night for foreign guests; waived for locals
Where can I eat cheaply near My City Hotel?
Rice and curry from a kade (small shop) or a roti from a roadside stall: 150-300 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from My City Hotel?
Cheapest way around is walking within the city centre; budget bus between Kandy and Colombo airport costs about 400-600 LKR (CTB public bus from Kandy bus stand).
When is the best time to visit Kandy?
January and February: dry, sunny days, temperatures around 24°C, and relatively few tourists compared to the peak season. March also works well, with similar weather and the tail end of the cultural festival season.
Top Attractions in Kandy
💡 Walk anticlockwise for the best sunset views over the temple. Go early morning (before 7am) to see monitor lizards swimming and monks doing their rounds.
💡 Go at sunrise (6am) for clear views before the haze rolls in. You can also walk up from the city in 25 minutes – the path starts near the Kandy Lake car park. Take water.
💡 The museum is small and takes only 45 minutes. The best items are the golden throne and the ivory–embedded swords. Skip if you're short on time – it's basic and dimly lit.
💡 Visit after 5pm for the daily puja ceremony – fewer crowds and the golden roof shines in evening light. Entrance is cheaper if you skip the museum add-on.
💡 Buy only a basic entry ticket – ignore the extras for the orchid house. Visit on a weekday morning to avoid Sri Lankan school groups. Take mosquito repellent.