Spend your days admiring the centuries-old landmarks, poking around artsy boutiques and getting blissed out at tropical beaches in Galle. Biblical legend states that from this coastal town King Solomon acquired gold, spices and other valuable commodities. Galle went on to become an important Asian seaport before passing through the hands of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists. Today, an air of the colonial years still permeates the town’s sleepy streets.
Start your tour in Galle Fort, the Dutch-built walled Old Town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the town’s peninsula. Stroll around the ramparts, where locals gather to chat, fly kites, play cricket and watch the sunset. Visit major landmarks such as Galle Lighthouse, the 17th-century Dutch Reformed Church and Flagrock Bastion.
Find art galleries, cafés, quirky boutiques and hotels housed in the old buildings. Don’t miss the collection of shops set in the arcaded Old Dutch Hospital. Delve into maritime and trading history at the Galle National Museum and National Maritime Museum. Browse a diverse collection of antiques, such as ceramics, typewriters and kitchen utensils, at the Historical Mansion Museum.
Go for a stroll along the waterfront Marine Walk, which leads north around the bay from the Galle Fort. Watch teams of fishermen haul in the day’s catch on huge nets. Another popular town activity is to watch the Sri Lankan national cricket team play at Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Be sure to take advantage of Galle’s many beaches. Join the locals for a swim at Lighthouse Beach, located below Galle Fort. About 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the east is the beautiful palm-fringed Unawatuna Beach. Surf in rolling waves, snorkel with hundreds of tropical fish and dive at shipwrecks. Hike to the hilltop Japanese Peace Pagoda and then continue to the secluded Jungle Beach.
Galle is about a 2-hour drive south of Colombo. A great way to get here is via a picturesque coastal train journey from Colombo Fort station. Spring brings warm temperatures and dry days while May to September is the wet season.
