Nuwara Eliya has no railway station of its own — the nearest station is Nanu Oya, 8 km away, on the scenic highland railway line from Kandy. Trains from Kandy take about 2.5 to 3 hours; from Ella about 4 hours. The journey through the tea country and along hillside viaducts is one of the finest train rides in South Asia. Tuk-tuks from Nanu Oya station to town take about 20 minutes and cost around 400 rupees.
By bus, direct services run from Colombo (about 6 hours) and Kandy (about 3 hours). The bus station is in the town centre. Renting a car or tuk-tuk for the uphill drive gives you the flexibility to stop at tea factories and viewpoints along the way, which the bus does not.