Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Culture
    • Nightlife
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Galle

    Sri Lanka

    Galle

    CityUNESCO

    Galle is the main city on the south coast, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours away from Colombo via the expressway.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Sri Lanka
    7. South Coast
    9. Galle
    Galle is the main city on the south coast, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours away from Colombo via the expressway. Its heart is the Fort, an old town enclosed by ramparts, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 as the "Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications".The Portuguese established a first fortification here in the 16th century, which the Dutch expanded from 1649 onwards; the sea wall was completed in 1729. The Fort covers around 52 hectares with 14 bastions, churches, a mosque, and colonial houses, which today host cafés, boutiques, and restaurants. The walls largely withstood the 2004 tsunami, which damaged parts of the modern city.Outside the ramparts lies the new town with its train station and central bus terminal, both within walking distance of the Fort. Most visitors stay and dine within the walls, for example, around Church Street and Pedlar Street.

    Sights in Galle

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Lighthouse of Galle
    Historic Landmark

    1Lighthouse of Galle

    The approximately 18-meter-high white lighthouse stands on the Point-Utrecht Bastion. It was built in the late 1930s, after its cast-iron predecessor from England had burned down.
    Open in Google Maps
    National Maritime Museum
    Museum

    2National Maritime Museum

    The museum is located in a Dutch colonial-era warehouse near the old gate and was founded in 1997 as a center for maritime archaeology.
    Open in Google Maps
    Reformed Church of Dutch Origin
    Church

    3Reformed Church of Dutch Origin

    The Groote Kerk dates back to 1640, receiving its current appearance after a renovation from 1752 to 1755. It is considered one of the oldest still-used Protestant churches in Sri Lanka.
    Open in Google Maps
    All Saints Church
    Church

    4All Saints Church

    The Anglican Church in the fort was built in 1871 and represents the British phase of the city's history.
    Open in Google Maps
    Meeran-Jumma Mosque
    Mosque

    5Meeran-Jumma Mosque

    The White Mosque near the lighthouse was built in 1904 and is a sign of the long Muslim presence in the fort.
    Open in Google Maps
    Ramparts and bastions of the fort
    Park

    6Ramparts and bastions of the fort

    The fortification with 14 bastions, including Sun, Moon, Star, Aeolus and Flag Rock, encloses approximately 52 hectares of Old Town. The Dutch expanded it from 1649, and the sea wall was completed in 1729. A walk on the walls circles the peninsula.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Galle

    1

    Pedlar's Inn

    Housed in the former British Post Office, with a courtyard. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including curries, seafood, and sandwiches; rather expensive.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Poonie's Kitchen

    Popular lunch with courtyard; guests particularly recommend the shrimp noodles.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    The Tuna & The Crab

    Restaurant with Japanese-Sri Lankan fish cuisine, sake, and natural wines. It's among the pricier spots in the Fort and often fully booked days ahead in season.
    Show on Google Maps
    4

    Fort Printers

    Restaurant in a historic house featuring local and Mediterranean-inspired fish cuisine; serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
    Show on Google Maps
    5

    Church Street Social

    Fort's restaurant with dishes combining Middle Eastern, Moroccan, and Turkish influences with South Asian cuisine. Book early in season.
    Show on Google Maps

    Culture and Visiting the Fort

    Religious Diversity in a Compact SpaceWithin the Fort, the Dutch Reformed Church (Groote Kerk), the Anglican All Saints Church (1871) and the Meeran Jumma Mosque (1904) stand just a few streets apart. For visits to churches, mosques, and temples, covered shoulders and knees are appropriate.Practical TipsThe rampart walk is freely accessible and most pleasant in the late afternoon.Popular restaurants like Church Street Social and The Tuna & The Crab are often booked a week in advance during the season.

    Nightlife

    1

    Ropewalk

    Speakeasy-style cocktail bar at the historic Galle Fort Hotel, opened June 2023. The menu offers Arrack-based drinks like the GFH Arrack Sour.
    Show on Google Maps

    Getting Here and Around

    From ColomboTrain: From Colombo Fort, trains run along the coastal railway throughout the day; depending on the train, the journey takes approximately 2 to 3.5 hours. It is significantly less crowded outside of commuter times.Bus: Air-conditioned express buses via the E01 expressway take around 1.5 hours, but often start in Maharagama instead of Colombo Fort. Regular coastal buses take approximately 3 hours.Car: A private transfer via the expressway takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Tuk-tuks are not permitted on the E01.LocallyThe train station and bus terminal are located outside the walls, but within walking distance of the Fort. You can explore the Fort itself on foot; for short distances in the surroundings, tuk-tuks are suitable, for which you should negotiate the price beforehand or estimate it via an app (such as PickMe).

    Accommodations in Galle

    Find perfect stay in Galle

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Galle

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Galle

      Live
      • 1Lighthouse of Galle3 days
      • 2National Maritime Museum4 days
      • 3Reformed Church of Dutch Origin5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Galle
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Unawatuna

    Unawatuna

    Unawatuna is a seaside resort on a curving bay about five kilometers southeast of Galle and around 108 kilometers south of Colombo. Due to its proximity to the Fort and the coral reefs off the coast, it is one of the most visited beaches on the south coast.In front of the beach lie reefs and shipwrecks, home to fish and turtles. West of the bay rises the forested hill Rumassala, with the hidden Jungle Beach and the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The 2004 tsunami destroyed many beach restaurants; the development along the beach has since been rebuilt.Life unfolds along the beachfront promenade and in the alleys behind it; quieter accommodations are located towards Dalawella in the east.

    Hikkaduwa is located approximately 98 kilometers south of Colombo and 17 kilometers northwest of Galle. The town is known for its coral reef in Sri Lanka's first marine protected area, for sea turtles near the beach, and for surf waves during the season.The fringing reef of Hikkaduwa National Park lies at a depth of about five meters and comprises around 70 coral species. Since 2023, a reef restoration program has been underway under the wildlife protection authority; touching corals is strictly forbidden. Green sea turtles and Hawksbill sea turtles graze on the reef year-round.The beach stretches for several kilometers. At the northern end is Turtle Beach, with Narigama to the south, where bars and guesthouses are abundant. North of the town, in Peraliya and Telwatta, memorials commemorate the 2004 tsunami.
    South Coast

    South Coast

    Sri Lanka's south coast stretches from Hikkaduwa, about 100 kilometers south of Colombo, through Galle and the bays of Weligama and Mirissa, all the way to Tangalle. It connects a UNESCO-protected colonial city with surf beaches, fishing ports, and, further inland, some of the island's most renowned national parks.Most coastal towns are located along the coastal railway from Colombo to Matara and the A2 highway, making travel between them easy. Further inland lie the Sinharaja rainforest and the dry forests of Udawalawe and Yala, all of which can be visited from the coast as day or overnight excursions.
    Weligama

    Weligama

    Weligama is situated on a wide sandy bay about 144 kilometers south of Colombo, between Galle and Mirissa. The sheltered bay is considered one of the best beginner spots for surfing in Sri Lanka, with surf schools lining the central beach.The name means "sandy village". Off the western part of the bay lies the tiny island of Taprobane with a single villa, and on the outskirts of the village is the Kusta Raja Gala relief carved into the rock. West of Weligama, along the coast near Ahangama, Kathaluwa, and Koggala, the famous stilt fishermen sit on their poles.Besides simple surf camps, a variety of cafés and restaurants have established themselves in and around Weligama, ranging from brunch spots to the gourmet offerings of the Cape Weligama resort on the headland to the west.

    Mirissa is a beach town in the Matara District, approximately 150 kilometers south of Colombo. It is primarily known as a starting point for whale watching tours, where blue whales are sighted during the season, and for its bright sandy beach with bars.The Mirissa boat harbor is considered the largest fishing port on the south coast, where tuna, mullet, and snapper, among other fish, are landed. On the beach lies the small rocky island Parrot Rock, and at its eastern end is the palm-covered Coconut Tree Hill.The main beach, with most restaurants and bars, lies between the A2 and the sea. Slightly off the beaten path, Secret Beach is reachable via a short walk.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI