Cinnamon Citadel is a comfortable, family-friendly base in the Kandy hills, set on the banks of the Mahaweli river a short drive from the centre of town. The hotel has around one hundred and twenty rooms, with several room types offering views over the river and the green hills beyond, and the water is a constant presence, with the sound of the current drifting through the public spaces. It is part of the Cinnamon group, which gives it dependable service and a good reputation with reviewers. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a separate children’s pool, two restaurants serving international and Sri Lankan dishes, a sauna and a gym, as well as free parking. There is no full spa on site, so visitors who want treatments should plan accordingly. The hotel is quieter and more modern than the lakeside heritage properties in central Kandy, which suits travellers who prefer contemporary rooms and a river outlook.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on Srimath Kuda Ratwatte Mawatha, a short drive from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Kandy Lake, and on the road toward Peradeniya, so the Royal Botanic Gardens are an easy trip. Tuk-tuks and taxis are readily available from the front door, and the hotel can help to arrange a driver, a cultural show or a tea estate visit. Free self parking and valet parking are available, which suits travellers with a driver.
The rooms
Rooms are modern and fairly spacious, with comfortable beds, large windows and balconies in some categories. Ask for a river-view room, which has the best outlook, especially in the early morning when mist hangs over the water. Family rooms and suites offer extra space.
Who it suits
Families who want a pool and children’s pool, couples who want a quiet riverside stay and travellers touring with a driver who want easy parking and a break from the busier centre. If you prefer to walk to the temple, the lakeside hotels are closer to the action, while this one offers more peace and more modern comfort.
Good to know
The pools are open in daytime hours, from about nine in the morning until the evening. There is no spa, but a sauna and gym are available. Breakfast may be included or charged separately depending on the rate. Rail services from Colombo have been disrupted by cyclone damage in recent years, so check current services or travel by road.
Afternoon showers are common in the hills, so keep a light rain layer handy. Ask the front desk about cultural dance shows and tea estate visits, which many guests add to an evening or a spare morning.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Children’s pool
- ✓River-view rooms
- ✓Two restaurants
- ✓Sauna
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Free self and valet parking
- ✓Free WiFi
Good questions
Does Cinnamon Citadel have a spa?+
No, there is no full spa, but the hotel has a sauna and a gym, along with an outdoor pool and a children’s pool.
Is the hotel close to the Temple of the Tooth?+
It is a short drive rather than a walk, so plan on a tuk-tuk or taxi for the temple and the lake in the centre of Kandy.
Are the rooms river-view?+
Several room types face the Mahaweli river, so ask for a river view when you book for the best outlook.
