Galle
Not been yet
At a glance
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Region
- Southern Province
- Population
- 95,000
- Best time to go
- December to April
- Main airport
- None — nearest is Bandaranaike International (CMB)
- Coordinates
- 6.05°N, 80.22°E
Visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Galle is the most atmospheric town on Sri Lanka's south coast. Its old quarter sits inside a huge sea fort, first built by the Portuguese and greatly expanded by the Dutch in the seventeenth century, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inside the walls are quiet streets of colonial villas, churches, cafés and boutiques. Beyond lie some of the island's best beaches, so it is easy to combine history and the sea.
Things to see
-
Photo: Rovin Shanila, CC BY-SA 4.0 Galle Fort
Walk the ramparts that encircle the old town, ideally at sunset when locals gather to watch cricket and the sea.
-
Photo: A.Savin, FAL Galle Lighthouse
A white lighthouse standing over the fort's southern bastion, with the ocean crashing below.
-
Photo: J. L. K. van Dort, Public domain Dutch Reformed Church
One of the oldest Protestant churches in Sri Lanka, its floor paved with old gravestones.
-
Photo: Shehanw, CC BY-SA 3.0 Galle International Stadium
One of the world's most scenic cricket grounds, overlooked by the fort walls.
Things to do
-
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Unawatuna beach
A curving bay of golden sand a short tuk-tuk ride east, good for swimming in season.
-
Photo: MHFAfra, CC BY-SA 4.0 Japanese Peace Pagoda
Walk up Rumassala hill to the white stupa for quiet sea views.
-
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0 Stilt fishing at Koggala
Watch fishermen perched on poles above the surf, best at dawn or dusk.
-
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0 Whale watching from Mirissa
Boats head out to spot blue whales between roughly November and April.
Find tours
Where to stay
Galle Fort
Characterful boutique hotels in old colonial houses, walkable to everything.
Hotels in Galle FortUnawatuna
Beachside guesthouses and a lively evening scene.
Hotels in UnawatunaGalle new town
Practical and good value, near the bus and train stations.
Hotels in Galle new town
Getting around
The fort is best on foot. Tuk-tuks and buses connect the beaches along the coast.
The expressway brings you from Colombo or the airport in about two hours, and the coastal railway runs from Colombo in around three.
When to go
December to April is the dry season on the south coast, with calm seas for swimming. The south-west monsoon brings rain and rough seas from May to September.
Plan your trip to Galle
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.