Travellers & locals
Getting around
The Ella train in 2026: what’s running and how to get to Ella
The Kandy–Ella line is still being repaired after Cyclone Ditwah, but the most scenic stretch is running. Here is what works right now, and the best ways to get to Ella.
Travellers & locals
Eat & drink
The best cafés in Colombo 7, picked by locals
Specialty coffee, healthy brunch and the city’s most famous tres leches: where to go for coffee and cake in Cinnamon Gardens.
Travellers & locals
Stay
Where to stay in Kandy: the best areas, compared
Lakeside, Rajapihilla Mawatha, the town centre or the hills? How to pick the right part of Kandy, with our favourite stays in each.
Travellers & locals
Money
How to exchange money in Sri Lanka: a guide for travellers and locals
Where to change money, how ATMs and cards work, how much cash to carry, declaration rules and the mistakes to avoid, for visitors and residents.
Travellers & locals
Eat & drink
Colombo street food: where to eat like a local
Kottu at Pilawoos, isso vadai on Galle Face Green, egg hoppers in Slave Island: what to eat in Colombo and where to find it.