The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka

This Sri Lanka guidebook is perfect for independent travellers planning a longer trip. It features all of the must-see sights and a wide range of off-the-beaten-track places. It also provides detailed practical information on preparing for a trip and what to do on the ground. And this Sri Lanka travel guidebook is printed on paper from responsible sources, and verified to meet the FSC’s strict environmental and social standards. 

This Sri Lanka guidebook covers: Colombo and the west coast, the south, Kandy and the hill country, the Cultural Triangle, the east, Jaffna and the north.

Inside this Sri Lanka travel book, you’ll find:

• A wide range of sights – Rough Guides experts have hand-picked places for travellers with different needs and desires: off-the-beaten-track adventures, family activities or chilled-out breaks

• Itinerary examples – created for different time frames or types of trip

• Practical information – how to get to Sri Lanka, all about public transport, food and drink, shopping, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, tips for travellers with disabilities and more

• Author picks and things not to miss in Sri Lanka –  Cricket, Adam's Peak, Big Buddhas, Galle, Yala National Park, World's End, rice & curry, birds, Kataragama, Anuradhapura, Bawa hotels, Sigiriya, Ella, The Pettah, whale and dolphin-watching, Polonnaruwa, Bentota, Kandy Esala Perahera, Sinharaja, Ayurveda, Arugam Bay, Kandyan dancing and drumming, Dambulla, Mirissa, Kandy   

• Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money, and find the best local spots

• When to go to Sri Lanka – high season, low season, climate information and festivals 

• Where to go – a clear introduction to Sri Lanka with key places and a handy overview 

• Extensive coverage of regions, places and experiences – regional highlights, sights and places for different types of travellers, with experiences matching different needs

• Places to eat, drink and stay – hand-picked restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels

• Practical info at each site – hours of operation, websites, transit tips, charges

• Colour-coded mapping – with keys and legends listing sites categorised as highlights, eating, accommodation, shopping, drinking and nightlife  

• Background information for connoisseurs – history, culture, art, architecture, film, books, religion, diversity

• Essential Sinhala and Tamil dictionary and glossary of local terms 

• Fully updated post-COVID-19

The guide provides a comprehensive and rich selection of places to see and things to do in Sri Lanka, as well as great planning tools. It’s the perfect companion, both ahead of your trip and on the ground.