By rail
Galle station, the coastal line from Colombo
Indian Ocean Islands · Sri Lanka
Galle, Sri Lanka
A Dutch fort town above the sea
Getting there
By air
Bandaranaike (CMB), ~2.5 h by expressway
Best time to visit
December to March — dry on the south coast
Don't miss
Galle Fort
The lighthouse
The Dutch Reformed Church
The Old Gate
Things to do
Walking the ramparts at sunset
Unawatuna's beaches
Whale watching from Mirissa
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: A.Savin · FAL
What to pack
Light clothes, swimwear
A quieter corner
Jungle Beach, a sheltered cove near Unawatuna
Questions travellers ask
Which months are driest in Galle?
December to March, when the south coast is dry. Pack light clothes and swimwear.
Can I take the train to Galle?
Yes: Galle station is on the coastal line from Colombo. By road, it's about 2.5 hours on the expressway from Bandaranaike (CMB).
What should I see in Galle?
Galle Fort, the lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church and the Old Gate. Walk the ramparts at sunset, then settle in for seafood curries or egg hoppers.
Is there a good beach near Galle?
Jungle Beach, a sheltered cove near Unawatuna, or Unawatuna's beaches. Whale watching from Mirissa makes another outing.
About Galle
- Coastal
Where it is
Galle lies on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka in Southern Province, about 120 km south of Colombo, its old fort set on a rocky headland between the harbour and the Indian Ocean.
History
Galle was a busy port long before the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century, and the Dutch captured it in 1640 and built the great ramparts of Galle Fort. It passed to the British in 1796, and the fort, with its streets of Dutch-era houses, churches and warehouses, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
People
Galle's people speak Sinhala and Tamil, and the fort has a long-established Muslim community of gem traders alongside Sinhalese, Burgher and Tamil families. The coast around Galle is known for stilt fishing, Beeralu bobbin lace and seafood curries.
Known for
- The ramparts of Galle Fort
- The lighthouse and the Dutch Reformed Church
- Shops and cafés in the old fort
- The beaches of Unawatuna
- Stilt fishermen along the coast
Did you know?
The ramparts of Galle Fort withstood the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which devastated much of the modern town outside them.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.