Hostels in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

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13 hostels currently listed in Nuwara Eliya. Every listing below was submitted by or on behalf of the property and checked by a person before publication. Contact the hostel directly using the details shown.

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Why Stay in a Hostel in Nuwara Eliya

Two reasons dominate. First, it is the base for Horton Plains and World's End, which is one of the best walks in the country and needs an early start from somewhere close. Second, it breaks the long hill-country train journey between Kandy and Ella roughly in half, which turns a punishing single day into two comfortable ones and gets you the best section of the line in daylight either way.

Best Areas to Stay in Nuwara Eliya

Town centre

Around the main street and Victoria Park. Walkable to shops, food and the bus stand, and the most practical base without transport.

Gregory Lake

South of the centre around the lake. Quieter, more open, and a pleasant walk into town.

Nanu Oya and the estate roads

Near the railway station, which is several kilometres outside town, and out among the tea estates. Convenient for early trains, inconvenient for everything else without a tuk-tuk.

How to Reach Nuwara Eliya

The railway station for Nuwara Eliya is at Nanu Oya, a short tuk-tuk ride from town, on the main Kandy-Badulla line. Trains from both Kandy and Ella stop here, which is what makes it such a natural place to break the journey. Buses connect Nuwara Eliya with Kandy, Ella, Hatton and Colombo, and the road up from Kandy is winding.

Getting Around Nuwara Eliya

The town centre is walkable. Tuk-tuks handle the run to Nanu Oya station, out to Gregory Lake and up to the tea estates. Horton Plains trips almost always mean a pre-dawn tuk-tuk or van arranged the day before, since the point is to reach World's End before the cloud closes in.

Things to Do in and Around Nuwara Eliya

Horton Plains and World's End

A high plateau national park with a circular walk taking in World's End, a sheer escarpment, and Baker's Falls. Go very early: the view is usually gone under cloud by mid-morning.

Tea estates and factories

Working estates around the town run tours of the factory and the fields. Several are close enough to reach by tuk-tuk.

Gregory Lake

The lake at the edge of town, with a walking path around it and boats in season. Busy with domestic visitors at weekends.

Victoria Park and the colonial-era town

The central park and the surviving colonial buildings, including the post office. A short and pleasant walk.

Adam's Peak

The pilgrimage climb at Sri Pada is reached from Nallathanniya, most easily via Hatton down the line rather than from Nuwara Eliya directly. The main pilgrimage season runs roughly from December to May.

Nuwara Eliya for Backpackers and Solo Travellers

Nuwara Eliya is quieter and less sociable than Ella, and it is a town rather than a traveller enclave. The single most common complaint from backpackers is the cold: it drops sharply after dark, budget rooms rarely have heating, and hot water is not always reliable. Pack a proper warm layer. The compensation is that the surrounding walking is excellent and the crowds are elsewhere.

How long to stay in Nuwara Eliya

One to two nights. One is enough to break the train journey. Two if you want to do Horton Plains, which effectively consumes a full day starting before dawn.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hostels in Nuwara Eliya

Is Nuwara Eliya worth stopping at between Kandy and Ella?

For many travellers, yes. It splits a six-to-eight hour train journey into two manageable legs, and it is the practical base for Horton Plains. If you only want the train ride itself, you can go straight through.

How cold does Nuwara Eliya get?

Cold enough to be uncomfortable in a budget room without a warm layer. It is the highest town most travellers stay in, and nights and early mornings are genuinely chilly year-round.

How do I get to Horton Plains from Nuwara Eliya?

By tuk-tuk or van arranged the day before, leaving well before dawn. The reason for the early start is that World's End is usually covered in cloud from mid-morning onwards.

Where is the train station for Nuwara Eliya?

At Nanu Oya, several kilometres outside the town itself. Tuk-tuks meet the trains and the ride into town is short.

Where to Go Next from Nuwara Eliya

Destinations most commonly combined with Nuwara Eliya on a Sri Lanka itinerary:

• Hostels in Ella — further down the line towards Badulla
• Hostels in Kandy — back down the line to the north
• Hostels in Haputale — another tea town on the same railway
• Hostels in Hatton — the station for Adam's Peak

See all Sri Lankan destinations in this directory

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If you own or manage a hostel, guesthouse or backpacker accommodation in Nuwara Eliya, you can add a listing at no cost. There is no fee, no commission and no booking system in between: travellers contact you directly. Every submission is checked by a person before it is published.