Galle

Galle (ගාල්ල) is a historic port city on Sri Lanka's southwest coast, famous for Galle Fort, a walled old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First fortified by the Portuguese and greatly expanded by the Dutch, it is one of the best preserved European fortified towns in South and Southeast Asia.

Massive stone ramparts with bastions surround a grid of narrow streets lined with colonial houses, churches, mosques and verandas. The white lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, the Meeran Mosque, the old gate with the VOC coat of arms and the clock tower are landmarks, and small museums tell the story of the maritime town. Walking along the ramparts at sunset, with waves breaking below, is one of the classic experiences of Sri Lanka. Show more

Inside the walls, a living community of Muslim, Sinhalese and Burgher families shares the old town with cafés, galleries, boutiques and boutique hotels. Outside the fort, the new town has busy markets and the cricket stadium. Beaches such as Unawatuna, Jungle Beach and Dalawella, the Japanese Peace Pagoda and the stilt fishermen of Koggala are close by.

Galle is reached by train or the southern expressway from Colombo. One or two days suit the fort, with more time for nearby beaches. The dry season on this coast runs from December to April, while the fort can be enjoyed in every season.