Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Nuwara Eliya travel guide

Nuwara Eliya Tourism | Nuwara Eliya Guide

You're Going to Love Nuwara Eliya

With a population of 25.775, Nuwara Eliya is a must-see destination in Central, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 10 days in order to fully appreciate everything Nuwara Eliya has to offer.

When to visit Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya in December
Estimated hotel price
$148
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nuwara Eliya in December
Estimated hotel price
$148
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Nuwara Eliya

Plane

Although Nuwara Eliya doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hambantota Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l (HRI), which is located 81 km from Nuwara Eliya.

Car

Another option to get to Nuwara Eliya is to pick up a car hire from Colombo, which is about 104 km from Nuwara Eliya. You’ll find branches of Ace and AcaRent, among others, in Colombo.

Plane

Although Nuwara Eliya doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hambantota Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l (HRI), which is located 81 km from Nuwara Eliya.

Car

Another option to get to Nuwara Eliya is to pick up a car hire from Colombo, which is about 104 km from Nuwara Eliya. You’ll find branches of Ace and AcaRent, among others, in Colombo.

Airports near Nuwara Eliya

CMBColombo Bandaranaike Intl
DWOColombo Diyawanna Oya Seaplane Base
HRIHambantota Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l

Airlines serving Nuwara Eliya

Lufthansa
Good (8,002 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,517 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,980 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,367 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,946 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,216 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,589 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,572 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,777 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,042 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,393 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,329 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,439 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,366 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,513 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,975 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,217 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (999 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (307 reviews)
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Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya

From 5-star hotels such as the Bluechip Leisure Summerhill Bungalow to great affordable options like the Hill Pride City Hotel, Nuwara Eliya offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $81 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $240 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Nuwara Eliya

Most booked hotels in Nuwara Eliya

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Heritance Tea Factory
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$191+
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Queenswood Cottage
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$111+
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Araliya Green Hills - Where Historic Charm Mingles with Natural Beauty
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$137+
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Hiring a car in Nuwara Eliya

Expect to pay $2.49 per litre in Nuwara Eliya (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $29.77 and $39.69.

Expect to pay $2.49 per litre in Nuwara Eliya (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $29.77 and $39.69.