About Galle
This historic city of Sri Lanka is located on the country’s southwest coast, and is famous for its portuguese heritage and dutch colonial buildings. The best tourist places in Galle includes grand museums, mansions, churches and mosques. Offering the ocean and pretty sunsets, the beautiful city of Galle was founded by the portuguese in the sixteenth century, and you will find the city embracing its ancient heritage every inch. Galle will remind you of its dutch and portuguese lineage, a town famous for its rich Sri lankan cuisine, pepper pot towers and bastions. The city gives you a Mediterranean feel with its bright sunny skies, beaches and blue waters, rainforests of Kanneliya and Hiyare, the city’s narrow lanes lined with various shops that sell you everything from intricate jewellery to shoes and garments.
If you visit Galle between November and April, you can drop by a Mirissa to see the largest animal on the planet; a blue whale. For a beach lover who loves the ocean and the warm sun, there’s no better place to go other than this tropical retreat. The rainforests of Kanneliya and Hiyare are famous for the nature walks they offer, you will see small animals and an excellent diversity when it comes to the flora and fauna. To sum it up, the tourist places in Galle offers you a variety like no other place in the country.
You can explore historical buildings, relax at any beach, go scuba diving, go cliff jumping at Flag Rock, go for safaris, discover the city and its culture on foot, shop artefacts, go for nature walks, and simply relax at your hotel while enjoying the tropical spirit. You can even go on boat trips in the Indian ocean; you may be able to spot humpback whales, dolphins, blue whales, sperm whales etc. The Sri Lankan cuisine has been largely influenced by the Dutch cuisine, as you will find from the dishes.
Official Partnerships
Galle Most Popular Tours
Galle FAQ's
What is the best time to visit Galle?
Spring is the best time to visit this tropical destination. Galle is best visited from February to April, so you can enjoy the sun and yet not feel the heat. This time is perfect for relaxing on the beach or by the pool, as there’s less rainfall too.
You can also visit Galle from October to November, as these months are cooler than the rest of the year. This is the time when monsoon moves northeast and there’s practically no rain in Galle, the sea becomes much calmer and is well-suited for beachside activities and going for a swim.
How to reach Galle?
- By air: You can take a flight from any international airport of India to Colombo. From Colombo, you can reach Galle by train, car or bus. Galle is 124 kilometres away from Colombo.
- By road (taxi/car/bus): The best way to travel comfortably from Colombo to Galle is by hiring a car and a driver to take you all the distance. It takes approximately two and a half hours to reach Galle if you take the Expressway. Although this arrangement will be a little expensive, it’s much more comfortable and convenient.
- By bus: You can also take a bus to Galle from Colombo, from the Maharagama Bus Station. It takes about 90 minutes to reach Galle, but travelling by bus will not be as comfortable as going by car. Buses for Galle leave the Maharagama Bus Station at five in the morning. Travelling by bus is a cheaper option than taking a car though.
- Taxi: You can take a taxi to Galle too, it costs around INR 3600 or USD 27 to book a taxi from the airport. Travelling by taxi is very convenient too, as compared to going by bus or train.
- By rail: You can take a train to Galle from the Colombo Fort Station, but the problem with going by train is the fact that you cannot purchase the tickets in advance. So you may have to travel the distance in a jampacked compartment, and you may not get a place to sit down.
Which are the best places to visit in Galle?
Galle has numerous places to visit for tourists, because this historic city has been around since the sixteenth century. Galle gives you that old world charm you are unlikely to find in any other city in Sri Lanka. Here are some places you can see in the city:
- Flag rock
- Dutch Reformed Church
- Old Gate
- Marine Archeological Museum
- Meeran Mosque
- Sudharmalaya Temple
- Dutch Hospital
- Amangalla
- Historical Museum
- Main Gate
- Galle International Cricket Stadium
- Sun Bastion
- National Maritime Museum
- National Museum
- Point Utrecht Bastion
- Zwart Bastion
- All Saints Anglican Church
- Lighthouse
- Dutch Market
- Star Bastion
- Moon Bastion
- Clock Tower
- Lighthouse Beach
- Dutch Governor’s House
- Triton Bastion
- Muslim Saint’s Tomb
- Aurora Bastion
- Court Square
- Neptune Bastion
- Clippenberg Bastion
- Aeolus Bastion
- Bell Tower
Which are some best resorts to stay in Galle?
Some of the best resorts to stay in Galle are:
- Amangalla: 10 Church Street, Galle Fort, Galle
- Galle Fort Hotel: 28 Church Street, Galle Fort, Galle
- Lighthouse Hotel & Spa: Dadella, Galle
- The Fortress: Koggala Beach, Galle
- The Sun House & Doornberg: 18 Upper Dickson Road, Galle
- Tamarind Hill: No. 288 Dadella, Galle
Which are the best places to experience local cuisine in Galle?
Here are some places where you can find Sri Lankan food in Galle:
- Lucky Fort Restaurant
- Wijaya Beach Restaurant
- Spoon’s
- A Minute by Tuk Tuk
- Pedlar’s Inn Cafe
- Coconut Sambol
- Poonie’s Kitchen
- The Fort Printers
- The Blockhouse
- Sugar Bistro & Wine Bar
- Bedspace Kitchen
- The Stairway
- Cafe Punto
- Deco on 44
- Elita Restaurant
- Church Street Social
- Pepper
- Black & White Restaurant
- National Tea Room
- Kingfisher
- Cafe Hula Hula
- Royal Dutch Cafe
What are the best public transport modes to commute around Galle?
Local buses in Galle are a good way to go around town. Although, Galle is best discovered on foot and smaller distances can be covered by taking a tuk tuk. If the distance you need to cover is quite a lot, take a bus.
What are the best places of shopping in Galle?
Galle is famous for its spices, jewellery, garments etc. Here are some of the best places on Galle you can drop by for shopping:
- Barefoot
- Elephant Walk
- Laksana
- Mimimango
- MM Ibrahim
Which are some famous beaches in and around Galle?
Beaches are the best part of Galle, apart from its rich historical monuments, of course. So here are some of Galle’s iconic beaches you can visit to relax at:
- Hikkaduwa Beach
- Arugam Bay Beach
- Unawatuna beach
- Nilaveli Beach
- Passekudah Bay and Kalkudah Beach
- Negombo Beach
- Galle Face Green
- Kalpitiya Beach
- Tangalle Beach
- Bentota Beach
Where can we go for wildlife safari in Galle?
For wildlife safari in Galle, you can go to:
- Udawalawe National Park: This beautiful wildlife sanctuary in Mirissa can be visited from Galle. It takes up to thirteen hours for the entire safari, and you will be going on a safari jeep and will also have an expert driver and guide to assist in the trip. This park is famous for its elephants and crocodiles, along with its exotic birds you will be able to spot when here. Start from Galle early in the morning because it takes three hours to get to the Udawalawe National Park. The earlier you reach, the better chances you have at beating the crowd and getting in faster.
- Yala National Park: The Yala National Park is located in Mirissa, and is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka after the Udawalawe National Park. The Yala National Park is famous for its leopards and elephants. It takes up to thirteen hours to see the park, therefore you must start early from your hotel in Galle. Travel to Tissamaharama from where you can easily get to the Yala National Park in a safari jeep.
Which are some of the best places for scuba diving in Galle?
Here are some of the best places for scuba diving in Galle:
- Trincomalee
- Hikkaduwa
- Unawatuna
- Kalpitiya
- Kirinda
