Galle is a charming, coastal city in southern Sri Lanka, located 120 km far from the main Colombo city. It is easily reachable within 1 hour from Colombo, by newly built southern expressway. In addition, you can reach Galle by A2 highway or by the coastal railway line. With its marvelous ancient historical monuments and stunning beaches, Galle is definitely a worthy place to visit during your Sri Lanka tour.
Dutch Fort is the major spectacular sightseeing spot in Galle, with small streets and lanes lined with old villas, churches, and other beautiful monuments of the ancient era. Furthermore, the wonderful beaches of Galle attract lots of visitors to have a fun-filled beach getaway. For example, the stunning beaches in Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are the must-visit attractions in Galle.
Most importantly, Galle is the hometown where I was born. I am so proud of growing up in such a great historical city. Here are the 20 top things to do in Galle and I have enjoyed these things since my childhood. Hope everybody will take pleasure in these splendid sights in Galle and have a wonderful time in this fascinating coastal city.
Access to Galle
It is quite easy to reach Galle within 2 hours from Colombo along the Southern Expressway. As well, you can use the southern coastal line train from Colombo Fort Station to Galle Station. Here you can find all the best methods to reach Galle.
1. Galle Dutch Fort
Galle city can be divided into two parts: the bustling new town is where you’ll find the bus and train stations. The nearby Galle Fort, enclosed by the towering fortress is where you’ll find the old Dutch town. The two parts of Galle city have contrasting characteristics. Away from bustling lively Galle town, the centuries-old ancient monuments are lying inside the calm and quiet Galle Fort. As you head through the imposing walls, the pace of life changes and you’ll feel as going back to history before hundreds of years.
Dutch Fort in Galle is a world-famous attraction and UNESCO world heritage site with the largest remaining fortress in Asia. The fortified old city was founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. As well, it was the main port of the island during the colonial period.
To clarify, Galle Dutch Fort built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards. The original fort built by the Portuguese to defend Galle was an earthen structure. The Dutch later modified it to be a more sophisticated and stronger fortress by building it with granite stones.
Galle Fort is an astonishing blend of three ancient colonial eras, including the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. Thus, Galle remains a unique monument complex of a fortified city with a fusion of several European styles. It is a historical heritage monument, which even after more than centuries of years it maintains a well-polished appearance. You can stroll along the narrow lanes in Galle Fort and see the epic colonial hotels, restaurants, and little boutiques while enjoying splendid sceneries and hundreds of years old architectural grandeur.
2. Old Gates of Dutch Fort
There are two gates to enter the Fort through the imposing walls, one is the old gate and the other one is the main gate. The old gate into the Galle Fort was made by Portuguese colonists. Now it uses as a side entrance to the Galle Fort. The old gate contains two sculptures of lions that border in-between which the letters VOC inscribed, which stands for Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie – United East Indian Company in Dutch. As well, the year 1668 also etched on this patch to mark the year of its making.
To clarify, when the British took over Galle Fort, they moved the symbol of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) to the back. Then replaced it with the British coat of arms. On the outside, the arch on the gate can be seen adorned by the British coat of arms, the phrase ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ is written on it.
Continuously, the main entrance was made in 1873 by the British. It is located opposite the roundabout with the war memorial. This one is the mainly used entrance to the Galle Fort.
3. Clock Tower
Even Before entering the Old Dutch Fort, the sight of a 25 m high huge clock tower will fascinate you. Definitely, it is one of the iconic symbols of Galle city. The British erected it closer to the main gate in 1833 after the fort came under their control. Furthermore, they made many modifications to the fort, as well as the building of British-type houses inside the Fort.
4. Galle Light House
After walking towards the southeast tip of the Dutch Fort, you’ll meet the Galle Light House, which shows exquisite beauty with its captivating architecture. The 18 m high Galle Lighthouse stands out as an iconic symbol of Galle city. It dates back to 1848, the British colonial era. It is one of the oldest Lighthouses in Sri Lanka and the most visited attraction of the fort, due to its picturesque surroundings for an Instagram-worthy photo.
Certainly, this is one of the most photogenic places in Sri Lanka. It is a dazzling sight with a picturesque view that even a camera cannot capture at its best. The soaring lighthouse gives the best shots of Galle Fort with the background of palm-fringed coast and deep blue Indian Ocean.
5. Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Fort houses several churches, cathedrals, and mosques belonging to different religions and colonial eras. This Dutch Reformed Church is the oldest Protestant church in Sri Lanka. It was built by the Dutch in 1755 and paved with tombstones from the Old Dutch cemetery. The church garden itself is beautiful with lush grass in the center flanked wall to wall by stone tablets.
6. St. Mary’s Cathedral
During the tour of Galle Fort, you’ll meet a proud and significant landmark of Galle city; the St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is a church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle. The cathedral was built by the Society of Jesus in 1874. The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and it is an important religious place to the Catholics of southern Sri Lanka.
7. Meeran Jumma Mosque
While you are walking along the ramparts and lanes, you’ll meet an alluring marvelous building in picturesque surroundings. It is the Meeran Jumma Mosque, an ancient mosque built in 1904. The inside of the mosque has a sheer beauty with Italian flooring, chandeliers, artistic glasses, and huge corridors which puts this mosque on a must-see list of places to visit in Galle.
8. Maritime Museum
Walking along Queens Street in the Galle Fort gives the opportunity to see the Maritime Museum. The Maritime Museum is a great way to understand the trading history of Sri Lanka and its economical value. Historical artifacts belonging to the Dutch and British colonial eras are displayed in the Museum. You can see some important marine items and boat models in this valuable place.
It was once a great warehouse built in the 17th century by the Dutch to store spices and ship equipment. Later it turned to the Maritime Museum. It is amongst those ancient tourist places in Galle that takes you back to the era of the historical Dutch East India Trading Company.
9. National Museum
If you go to the church street in Fort, you can visit the Galle National Museum. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the fort. National Museum is a single-story Dutch building built in 1656. It displays southern Sri Lankan artifacts such as ritual masks, wood carvings, and objects from the colonial era.
10. All Saints’ Church
Visiting Church Street will give you the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful churches in Dutch Fort, All Saints’ Church. It is an Anglican church built in 1871. The plan of the Church is cruciform firmly supported on stone columns and arches carved beautifully in timber.
The structure of this church has withstood many centuries and still stands out firm as a landmark of the historical Dutch fortress in Galle. Thousands of tourists visit this beautiful church and admire this architectural masterpiece of the colonial era.
11. Old Dutch Hospital
Walk along the hospital street in Dutch Fort and then you’ll meet the Old Dutch Hospital, one of the oldest buildings in the Galle Fort. This historical building remained without use for a long time and now it is a famous shopping and dining complex. You can have a leisurely and relaxing time in this shopping center while touring the Galle fort. Remember to see the oldest breadfruit tree in Sri Lanka just beside this building.
12. Oldest Breadfruit Tree
When you are visiting the Old Dutch Hospital in Galle Fort, you’ll meet one of the most historical, ancient trees in Sri Lanka. This oldest breadfruit tree (Artocarpus incisisus) was bought to Sri Lanka by Dutch people around 300 years ago. Now it has grown all over the place into a giant breadfruit tree and still, fruits are flowering in the tree. This historical Breadfruit tree dating back to the Dutch colonial era is a marvelous sight to witness inside the Fort.
13. Ramparts
Walking along the ramparts is one of the most enjoyable activities in Galle Fort. It gives a lot of opportunities to capture the best shots of gorgeous colonial-era buildings and surroundings. From the ramparts, you can enjoy the beauty of a well-planned city, with the roads aligned parallel to the fort’s ramparts.
The ramparts of Dutch Fort are perfect for a serene evening stroll to visit the colorful sunset with the background of the Indian Ocean. Many visitors come here to enjoy the cool sea breeze and breathtaking scenery of sunset while leisurely strolling along the ramparts.
14. Galle Fort Beach
Are you a beach lover waiting to have a dip in shallow, blue crystal clear water? Without a doubt, Galle Fort beach is one of the excellent beaches to have a fun time and chill out while catching some waves. Nestled in a beautiful tropical coastal setting, it offers a good opportunity to catch some waves. Many visitors come to enjoy a sea bath in this popular spot to enjoy the shallow waters with no strong currents. Above all, you can enjoy a warm sea bath until late in the evening while taking pleasure in the colorful sunset in the background.
15. Galle New Town
In addition to visiting the popular Dutch Fort, don’t forget to stopover at the Galle town. It is where the main bus stand and train station are located. Although the devastating Tsunami waves hit Galle in 2004 and destroyed the whole city, now all the buildings have been rebuilt and opened again to the public.
The newly built modern two-storied bus stand is the longest one in Sri Lanka. Currently, Galle town is a sophisticated and lively town with entirely new shopping complexes.
If you love to see the lively fishing harbor and fish markets, Galle town is the ideal place. Galle is a major fishing hub in Sri Lanka with lots of Fish markets and stalls along the beach road. You can see many varieties of freshly caught fish in these fish markets. The fishermen hauling fish nets are common scenery in Galle beach. You can join with them to give a helping hand and encourage them while enjoying their life for a second.
16. Galle International Cricket Stadium
If you are a cricket fan interested in watching cricket matches, you might know about the Galle International stadium. It is located near the Dutch fort, fringed by the Indian Ocean. Most importantly, this stadium is one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. It is one of the luckiest venues for the Sri Lankan cricket team. If you are lucky, you might be able to watch a live cricket match from the ramparts of Galle Fort, of course. Free of Charge.!
17. Unawatuna Beach
If you want to venture outside the fortified city, take the time to head down to Unawatuna beach. It is a highly famous tourist destination, located around 5 km from the main Galle city. The reef in Unawatuna beach acts as a protected sanctuary and it is a well-known place for swimming with no strong waves or currents.
It is popular as a family-friendly beach with shallow water suitable to swim and have a sea bath safely. Unawatuna beach is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for surfing, even kids can enjoy surfing here.
Above all, the Peace Pagoda is on the hillside of the Unawatuna and is a lovely and peaceful place to visit. This large peace pagoda is a gift from Japan. The journey to visit the temple is a pleasant walk with a lovely view overlooking the beach. The temple on the peak of the hill and the lush greenery in the surrounding forest make a spectacular sight to witness.
18. Hikkaduwa Beach
Similar to the famous Unawatuna Beach, another touristic beach closer to Galle is Hikkaduwa. It is located at 20 km or simply half an hour drive from Galle city. It is a world-famous destination to see colorful coral reefs and beautiful reef fish. Both foreign and local visitors are flocking to Hikkaduwa to see the famous coral gardens. Large schools of colored reef fish can be seen close to the shore.
The fascinating underwater marine life and rainbow colors of beautiful reef fish and corals can be enjoyed by scuba diving, snorkeling, or glass-bottomed boats. The calm waters with light waves in Hikkaduwa make it one of the best beach destinations in southern Sri Lanka. It is popular as a surfing spot and a wonderful family-friendly beach suitable for both adults and kids.
19. Whale Watching
Whale watching is one of the most exciting water activities, which attracts a lot of tourists. This will give you the thrilling experience of watching live sea giants in their natural habitat. You’ll have the rare opportunity of a close encounter with the largest living mammals and spinning dolphins with luxury and comfort.
The best whale watching project in Galle is operated by the Sri Lanka Navy from the month of November to April. The rare sight of majestic whales and the marvelous scenery of dolphins swimming around your boat playing and putting up a spectacular show is an amazing sight to experience during your excursion.
20. Turtle Watching
If you love to see turtles, Hikkaduwa and Dalawella beaches are famous spots for turtle watching. At Hikkaduwa, you can hand-feed the giant turtles in the shallow waters. At sunset each day, turtles come to the shallow waters to feed on seaweed. Since they are accustomed to humans, they will eat from your hand. Certainly, watching turtles in their natural habitat will be a most fun-filled experience for kids and nature-loving adults.
As well as, Turtle Beach in Dalawella closer to Unawatuna Beach, is particularly well known to spot sea turtles. You can go snorkeling to witness them in the shallow waters of the beach. A Turtle conservation project is going on in Dalawella Beach and it will be fun to release baby turtles into the sea.
Accommodation in Galle
Galle is a good place where you can feel the colonial charm of the past. There are some best hotels with exquisite beauty to experience everything that historical Galle city has to offer.
Here you can find the best hotels to stay in in historical Galle City.
In conclusion, Galle City is a historical location that manages to hold its past glory and grandeur throughout the centuries. With its ancient monuments, as well as the stunning beaches rich in fascinating marine life, Galle has so much to offer for a peaceful and fun-filled holiday. Hope everybody will have a fantastic time in this beautiful coastal city.
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images by Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, and Twitter. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
