Dambulla and Sigiriya are home to several iconic sites in Sri Lanka, including the Royal Cave Temple, Lion’s Rock, and Pidurangala Rock.
However, the two cities are just 17 km (10.2 miles) apart, so it doesn’t make sense to book separate hotels when visiting the towns.
We chose to stay in Dambulla and drive to Sigiriya on days when we wanted to see the landmarks there. This made it significantly easier to map out our itinerary!
But with no train station in Sigiriya, what are the options for traveling between cities?
You have 3 realistic options to get from Dambulla to Sigiriya. Here’s a quick breakdown of each transportation method!
Quick Overview
Depending on your mode of transportation, it takes 20-60 minutes to travel between Dambulla and Sigiriya.
Here’s a quick overview of each option’s cost and travel time.
- Dambulla to Sigiriya by Bus = 60-90 minutes | 40 LKR (0.15 USD)
- Dambulla to Sigiriya by Taxi = 20 Minutes | 2500K (8.30 USD)
- Dambulla to Sigiriya by Tuk-tuk = 30 Minutes | $14-20/day + Petrol
Dambulla to Sigiriya By Bus
This is the cheapest but (by far) the least convenient way to get from Dambulla to Sigiriya.
The Dambulla Bus Station is roughly 300 meters south of Dambulla Clock Tower, right off the Kandy—Jaffna Highway.
The bus costs just 40 LKR (0.15 USD), and the entire trip takes 75 minutes because of the stops in between towns. You should also account for a 10-minute walk to Lion’s Rock from the Sigiriya Bus Stop.
Unfortunately, information on this bus route is not very easy to find.
We can’t find a set timetable online, but the bus seems to run roughly every 30 minutes between 6:45 AM and 6:00 PM.
You’ll have to pay the driver directly when you board the bus. Bring cash with you because public buses in Sri Lanka do not accept cards. There are multiple ATMs near the bus stop, in case you forget!
Note:
All buses in Sri Lanka run less frequently on major holidays, like Full-Moon Day, Diwali, and New Year’s. (completely shutting down on occasion).
Taxis from Dambulla to Sigiriya
Although taxis are the most expensive way to travel around Sri Lanka, they are also the most convenient and will not completely break your budget.
A proper taxi from Dambulla to Sigiriya will cost between 1500-4000 LKR (5-13 USD).
Tuk-tuk ‘taxis’ will be on the cheaper end of this spectrum, while proper cars/vans will be on the higher end.
You’ll get from your guesthouse to your destination in less than 20 minutes, and you won’t have to deal with the stress of finding the bus timetables or driving yourself through the wild traffic in Sri Lanka.
Here are the best ways to hire a taxi in Dambulla:
Use Pick.me. – A local ride-sharing app that’s far more reliable than Uber in Sri Lanka. Simply download the app and request a ride from your location to the destination.
Arrange a Hotel Taxi—If you know your departure time and want to be sure you have a ride waiting for you, talk to your hotel or guesthouse about arranging a taxi for you. Usually, the hosts can negotiate a decent price for you.
Check Facebook Groups—We found some Facebook Groups created specifically for expats and foreigners traveling in Sri Lanka. On a couple of occasions, we posted where we wanted to go in the groups, and taxi drivers would contact us to negotiate a rate and arrange the pickup location (these are often shared rides with other tourists).
- South Sri Lanka Surf Community
- Sri Lanka for Foreigners, Expats, & Digital Nomads
- Sri Lanka for Travelers
Driving your Own tuk-tuk to Sigiriya
Renting a tuk-tuk has recently become a very popular way to travel around Sri Lanka, and this is actually how we traveled between Dambulla and Sigiriya.
It’s an extremely rewarding way to travel around the island if you’re up for a bit of a learning curve when dealing with the crazy traffic! We remember loving the convenience of being on our own schedule (no more waiting for buses or trains – and the most popular spots in Sigiriya, we could get there way before the crowds!
It’s also super affordable, with daily rentals starting at $14/day and filling up the entire gas tank costing just $10.
This is one of our most treasured memories from Sri Lanka. We saw so much wildlife outside the safaris and felt like we got more of a local perspective of the island.
How to Find a Tuk-tuk Rental
If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka and want the convenience and adventure of renting a tuk-tuk, we can’t say enough good about our experience with tuktukrental.com
They were so easy to work with, and we love their mission to foster sustainable travel and support local families by allowing locals to rent out their tuk-tuks to travelers for passive income.
You can even get 5% off your entire booking using our unique link (automatically applied).
Is it Better To stay in Dambulla or Sigiriya?
Honestly, it doesn’t make that much difference because the cities are so close together.
We chose Dambulla because the guesthouses were more affordable here, and we preferred to be on the quieter side of town, where we could experience more of the local culture.
Sigiriya is far more touristy, but its perks are that it’s closer to the most famous hikes (like Pidurangala Rock and Lion’s Rock), has more restaurants, and has much better nightlife.
Here are some of the best guesthouses in each town
Jetwing Lake (Dambulla)
9.2/10 ⭐ – 379 reviews (see more reviews)
Jetwing Lake in Dambulla is the place to go in this region if you’re hoping for a luxury experience. It’s just a few miles from the Dambulla Cave Temple, and it has a huge swimming pool with a view, an on-site restaurant (breakfast included in the room), and excellent Wi-Fi.
Sigiriya Village (Sigiriya)
8.1/10 ⭐ – 733 reviews (see more reviews)
Sigiriya Village Resort is a great mid-range resort in Sigiriya that offers the best luxury experience under $100/night. The property has beautiful cottages, an outdoor pool with views of Sigiriya Rock, and a buffet breakfast at their on-site restaurant.
If you’re spending your honeymoon in Sri Lanka or just want to upgrade your stay even more, you can make dinner reservations at the restaurant or add spa services (ayurvedic massages) once you arrive!
Sayare Inn (Dambulla)
9.4/10 ⭐ – 311 reviews (see more reviews)
While spending time in Dambulla/Sigiriya, we stayed at the Sayare Inn. It was perfect for what we needed, and the family-run homestay offered some of the best hospitality we’ve ever experienced in our decade of travel.
The family cooked us dinner each night for a very reasonable price, and all the rooms were clean and spacious. We also loved hanging out in the garden each morning. After struggling to find a reliable safari, he was quick to help us arrange an elephant safari for the very next morning (at a cheaper rate than anything we could find online!).
It’s also only a 5-minute drive from the Dambulla Cave Temple & Golden Temple in Dambulla.
Sigiri Rock Side Homestay (Sigiriya)
9.6/10 ⭐ – 632 reviews (see more reviews)
If you’re looking for an authentic and affordable stay in Sigiriya town, then Sigiriya Rockside Homestay is your best bet.
The charming guesthouse is right next to Sigiriya Rock (20-minute walk).
It also includes breakfast for 2 in each room, private rooms with comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, and hot showers—which are never guaranteed in Sri Lanka!
Closing Thoughts
It’s not terribly difficult (or expensive) to travel from Dambulla to Sigiriya, which hopefully makes it feel even less daunting.
You can find taxis around the clock, take the bus if you’re looking to save money, or rent your own tuk-tuk and travel around the region at your own pace!
Either way, it’s very easy, and there’s no reason to book separate stays in each city!
If you don’t have time to stay in either town, it’s worth making the journey from Colombo or even booking a day trip from Kandy to check it out!
