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Helga's Folly

3.0 star property
Travelers find a peaceful retreat with beautiful gardens, diverse dining options, and staff who know exactly how to make guests comfortable

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Photo gallery for Helga's Folly

Front of property - evening/night - Helga's Folly (Kandy)
Exterior detail - Helga's Folly (Kandy)
Interior detail - Helga's Folly (Kandy)
4 restaurants, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine - Helga's Folly (Kandy)
Outdoor pool - Helga's Folly (Kandy)
Helga's Folly welcomes visitors with beautiful gardens and a peaceful library. Guests can enjoy international dishes at 4 restaurants or relax with drinks by the outdoor pool. Helpful staff offers services like dry cleaning and laundry to make every stay memorable.

Reviews

6.4 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Mountain View

Deluxe Double Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Mountain View | Desk, free cribs/infant beds, free WiFi

Deluxe Double Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Mountain View

  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Mountain View

Desk, free cribs/infant beds, free WiFi

Superior Double Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Mountain View

  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

About the neighborhood

Kandy is home to Helga's Folly. Dhamma Kuta Vipassana Meditation Centre and Nilambe Meditation Centre are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre and New Ranweli Spice Garden. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Asgiriya Stadium or Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Visit our Kandy travel guide
Map
70,Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy

What's nearby

  • Two reasons to come to Kandy: 1, to walk around this lake, and 2, to visit the temple with the sacred tooth relic
    Kandy Lake
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as Temple of the Buddha Tooth in English, is a UNESCO heritage site, and a popular place to visit for newly weds. It was awfully packed over the full moon weekend (would not recommend visiting during this period)! This pavilion-like structure at the front Paththirippuwa, or Octagon. It is a symbol of identity in Kandyan Architecture. In the olden days, the king would stand there to address his citizens who were gathered in front of him. The golden roof behind stands over the Buddha tooth relic that this temple is famous for. Footwear is not permitted inside, so you should either carry a bag where you can keep your shoes, or leave your shoes out on the grass like everyone else! #srilanka #kandy #wanderlust #explore #adventure #travel #igtravel #instatravel #vacation #travelgram #trip #travelandleisure #asia #throwback #tourist #temple #religion #beautiful #traveltips #nofilter #picoftheday #architecture #buddhist #sridaladamaligawa
    Temple of the Tooth
    17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Lakeside Adventist Hospital
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
    10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Royal Palace of Kandy
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile

Getting around

  • Kandy Railway Station
    14 min drive
  • Bandaranaike Intl. Airport (CMB)
    171 min drive

Restaurants

  • World Of Spice
    6 min drive
  • Balaji Dosai
    6 min drive
  • Hela Bojun Hala
    6 min drive
  • Hideout Lounge
    13 min walk
  • The Trees Kandy
    4 min drive

About this property

Helga's Folly

Property highlights
Take advantage of a garden, a library, and dry cleaning/laundry services at Helga's Folly. At the 4 on-site restaurants, enjoy lunch, dinner, and international cuisine. In addition to a bar, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self parking
  • Continental breakfast (surcharge), a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), and luggage storage
  • A front-desk safe, a 24-hour front desk, and newspapers in the lobby
Room features
All guestrooms at Helga's Folly feature perks such as air conditioning, in addition to amenities like free WiFi and free bottled water.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with tubs or showers and free toiletries
  • Balconies, free infant beds, and ceiling fans

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: USD 12 per person
  • 4 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge

Restaurants on site

  • Blue Room
  • Green Room
  • Nut Cracker Suite
  • Red Room

Things to do

  • Library
  • Outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • In-room crib
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Newspapers in lobby
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Picnic area

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Art Deco architecture
  • Built in 1965

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Free crib

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: approximately USD 12 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards

We should mention

No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Helga's Folly Hotel Kandy
Helga's Folly Hotel
Helga's Folly Kandy
Helga's Folly
Helga`s Folly Hotel Kandy
Helgas Folly Kandy
Helgas Folly Hotel Kandy
Helga's Folly Hotel
Helga's Folly Kandy
Helga's Folly Hotel Kandy

Frequently asked questions

Does Helga's Folly have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Helga's Folly pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Helga's Folly?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM.

What time is check-out at Helga's Folly?

Check-out is at 11 AM.

Does Helga's Folly provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle.

Where is Helga's Folly located?

Situated in Kandy, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Kandy Lake, Lakeside Adventist Hospital, and Malwathu Maha Viharaya. Kandy Viewpoint and Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre are also within 1 mi (2 km).

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Reviews

Helga's Folly Reviews

6.4

5.2

Cleanliness

7.0

Location

7.8

Staff & service

5.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 19 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Helga’s Folly is a revelry

Helga’s Folly is a dreamscape, unlike any other place I’ve been. Our stay here was one of the highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka. In addition to the incredible artwork and decorations that fill the mansion, the service is wonderful, Madame Helga is a graceful hostess, and the food is delicious. This is a hotel for artists, dreamers, novel readers, and monkey lovers. However, if your top priority is having all the comforts and luxuries of a modern upscale hotel, you should look elsewhere.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

8/10 Good

Alexandre

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Piscine

La piscine n’était pas propre.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Girleen

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I wanted to love this place, but dirty sheets, dirt in the shower and cockroaches scuttling around ruined it for me. Not to mention atrocious conditions for my driver to stay in (3 to a room cots, exposed bathroom). Not cool. I get the whole “eccentric artist hotel” thing. I expected it to be a little tatty, but dirty? No thank you. This place needs the lights turned up and a massive scrubbing. Madame needs to quit coasting on her aristocratic family and connections and be a gracious hostess worthy of paying guests. Her manager turned up his nose at my complaints basically saying he doesn’t care about bad reviews and gave me a paltry 10% off my dinner. Not enough. Well here you go. Reader, you’ve been warned.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Jo

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Dirty throughout. Must have been amazing 25 years

The hotel has been sadly neglected and whilst it's quirky to look at ... it's very dirty and very disappointing.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018
Verified

2/10 Terrible

O + J

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Fast wie eine veraltete Ruine

Es fing damit an, dass unser einheimischer Fahrer die Hotelzufahrt nicht gefunden hat, da wir uns nicht vorstellen konnten über Schutthaufen einen ramponierten Weg fahren zu können. Der Empfang des 2. Managers war zutiefst unfreundlich und der Zustand des Hauses unzumutbar. Wir sind auf die interessanten Fotos bei der Buchung reingefallen. Das Essen konnte nur im Eingangsbereich beim Manager bestellt werden. Da das Hühnchen undefinierbar geschmeckt hat, haben wir es dem Manager auch persönlich präsentiert. Wir sind nach einer Nacht abgereist und halten diese Erfahrung bestimmt in Erinnerung.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yvonne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Helga's wonderland

Helga"s Folly is more than simply an hotel where one goes for rest and refreshment. Being there is like entering a dream - on arrival your surroundings appear both vaguely familiar and disconcertingly strange. Our room for example, contained a regular double bed which on closer inspection was dressed with silk sheets and the softest, most generous pillows that we had encountered on our travels. Colour was everywhere. The windows leading the balcony were covered with gorgeous butterflies and the pink ceiling was embellished with a white magnolia tree. Every journey from our room to other parts of the premises was an encounter with something wonderful. Our corridor contained many images of Alice in wonderland which seemed most apt to us. Helga and her team have created an alternative world that we can marvel at, explore and enjoy. We found the food delicious and the staff, especially manager Singa helpful and friendly and all times.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

MR

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Living off past glories

A hotel that is living on its past glories - poor food, slow service, poor maintenance, needs updating. Many of Helga’s art and artworks are amazing but the hotel is doomed unless the many issues are sorted. Hopefully the new manager can turn things around.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

8/10 Good

Laurie

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

Magical

One of the coolest hotels I have ever stayed in
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marius

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Magical artistic hide out

Helga‘s Folly is a magical place! Go see and experience this beautiful museum-ish diary of an flomboyant life.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

bohemian mess.. dirty, smelly, neglected and sad

We booked but upon arrival found that the hotel did not meet even basic levels of hygiene. I have travelled in Asia and China all of my life and the condition of this hotel startled me. Neglected and dirty - bathrooms not clean and the bed sheets stained. Honestly, I could not stay in this hotel and left immediately to look for a different hotel. I know the hotel is meant to be eccentric and bohemian and charming - but there is no charm in dirty rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Nadine

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
leider konnte uns dieses vom design her einzigartige häuschen nicht überzeugen. es hat seine beste zeit schon gehabt. was echt schade ist, da die leute sehr nett und hilfsbereit sind. es ist nur oberflächlich sauber, essen war leider echt nicht genießbar, pool konnte man nicht schwimmen (laut personal wäre es möglich, aber das wasser bewegte sich gar nicht und war schon sehr trüb...) man braucht immer ein tuk tuk um vom hügel in die city zukommen.
Verified

8/10 Good

Dennis

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

Unique experience.

Unique experience. Staff friendly and welcoming.Food very good. Bats in sitting room, monkeys on roof and fireflies in garden. Unmissable.
Verified

8/10 Good

Nehal Kishore

Liked: Staff & service

Art Lovers Rejoice

Helga's Folly is an art gallery, a museum, a boutique hotel all rolled in to one. Very colorful, full of curios, photographs, artefacts, etc. An amazing place. But needs some maintenance or maybe it is intended to give the old antiquated look.
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

センスは嫌いじゃないけど残念すぎる

以前雑誌で見てずっと気になってました。 予想以上の奇抜なセンスにちょっと驚きましたが、これはこれでありだと思います。 ただ、まず部屋がかび臭い。バスルームには蟻の行列。バスタブが茶ばんでる。排水口にはゴキブリ。絶対お湯をはるなんてできない。 どんな安宿でもこんな汚いとこに泊まったことないです。 そこそこの金額払ってるのにこれはないと思います。 ただ、スタッフの方はフレンドリーな方が多かったです。
Verified

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
ガイドブックで面白そうなホテルだと思って予約しましたが、まるでサイケでカオスなホーンテッドマンションという雰囲気で面白いというよりちょっと怖かったです。 全体的にメンテナンス状態が悪く、ベッドも歪んでいたり、シャワーもほとんどお湯が出ないなど、全く高級ホテルとは思えませんでしたが、なかなか他では味わえない雰囲気でスタッフも親切だったので、こういうアートが好きな人は一度泊まってみてもよいかもしれません。
Verified

8/10 Good

Niklas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Bra hotell vid stranden

Ett bra hotell precis på stranden. Tidvattnet gör dock att stranden försvinner delar av dagen. Poolen är väldigt fin och passade oss perfekt. Hotellet ligger i en lugn del av Hikkaduwa och på en lugn del av stranden, vi reste med en tvååring så det passade oss perfekt.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

En anderledes hoteloplevelse, men et "must do"

Hotellet er indrettet utrolig charmerende og en lille smule uhyggeligt... Det er meget anderledes, men absolut et besøg værd.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Sam

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018