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Sri Lanka · Southern Province

Galle travel guide

A walled colonial fort town on the sea

Galle Fort and its lighthouse. Photo: Rovin Shanila, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

11h 15mflight from London
CMBnearest main airport
28° in Maywarmest month
27° in Jancoolest month

Galle Fort is a walled old town on a headland, built by the Portuguese and Dutch, with boutique hotels, cafés and galleries in old merchant houses.

Walk the ramparts at sunset, then head to nearby beaches such as Unawatuna and Jungle Beach.

Good forHistoryFoodBeachesShopping

What Galle is known for

  • The ramparts

    Sunset walks on the walls.

  • UNESCO fort

    A living old town.

  • Boutique cafés

    Great food scene.

  • Beaches nearby

    Unawatuna and Jungle Beach.

Top things to do in Galle

  1. 1

    Walk the fort walls

    Best at sunset.

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  2. 2

    Galle Lighthouse

    The fort's landmark.

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  3. 3

    Unawatuna Beach

    A calm bay nearby.

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  4. 4

    Stilt fishermen

    Traditional fishing at Koggala.

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See all tours and tickets in Galle

Where to stay in Galle

Find a hotel in Galle

Best time to visit Galle

Best value: Apr, Jul–Sep, Nov. December to April: dry and sunny on the south coast.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
26.8 C27°J27.2 C27°F27.8 C28°M28.2 C28°A28.3 C28°M27.7 C28°J27.2 C27°J27.1 C27°A27.2 C27°S27.2 C27°O27.1 C27°N26.9 C27°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Galle, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 11h 15m from London to CMB, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Walk the fort. The expressway reaches Colombo in about 1.5 hours.

Airport transfer to Galle

Find flights to Galle (CMB)

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Good to know

  • Many stilt fishermen now pose for tips.
  • Book fort hotels early in high season.
  • Cover up in the fort's churches and mosques.
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Galle FAQ

How many days in Galle?

Two days.

Is Galle Fort walkable?

Yes, it's small and car-light.

More places in Sri Lanka

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