Galle Sri Lanka Holidays
Galle
Holidays
A UNESCO World Heritage fort city — the most atmospheric and beautiful colonial town in Asia
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Flight Time
10–11h from London, then 2h drive from Colombo
Best Time
December to March (dry season on southwest coast)
Country
Sri Lanka
Suppliers
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Galle Holiday Guide
Galle is the most beautiful and atmospheric colonial town in Asia — a UNESCO World Heritage fort city with extraordinary Dutch colonial architecture, boutique hotels, excellent restaurants and a vibrant creative community.
The fort is still inhabited and has a wonderful community of hotels, galleries and restaurants. Unawatuna beach is 5 minutes away. Galle is the best base for whale watching in Sri Lanka.
The best time to visit is December to March. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals.
Popular Areas in Galle
Average Temperatures
Jan
29°C
Feb
30°C
Mar
31°C
Apr
31°C
May
30°C
Jun
28°C
Jul
27°C
Aug
27°C
Sep
27°C
Oct
27°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
28°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Galle
The UNESCO fort, colonial architecture and vibrant creative scene that make Galle the most beautiful town in Sri Lanka.
Galle Fort — UNESCO World Heritage
Galle Fort is the finest example of European colonial architecture in Asia — a Portuguese fort expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century, with extraordinary bastions, ramparts, churches, mosques, temples and colonial houses. The fort is still inhabited and has a vibrant community of boutique hotels, restaurants, galleries and shops. Walking the ramparts at sunset is one of the great experiences in Sri Lanka.
Boutique Hotels & Galleries
Galle Fort has the finest collection of boutique hotels in Sri Lanka — beautifully restored Dutch colonial houses converted into intimate hotels. Amangalla (the most celebrated), The Fort Bazaar and Galle Fort Hotel are all exceptional. The fort also has an extraordinary concentration of art galleries, antique shops and boutiques.
Galle Literary Festival
The Galle Literary Festival, held annually in January, is the most celebrated literary festival in Asia — a four-day event attracting writers, thinkers and readers from across the world. The festival takes place in the extraordinary setting of the fort and is one of the most atmospheric literary events in the world.
Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna, 5 minutes from Galle Fort, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka — a sheltered bay with calm, clear water, excellent snorkelling and a lively beach bar scene. The beach is popular with both tourists and locals and has a wide range of accommodation and restaurants.
Whale Watching
Galle is one of the best bases for whale watching in Sri Lanka — blue whales and sperm whales are regularly seen in the waters off the south coast between November and April. Boat trips from Mirissa (30 minutes from Galle) offer excellent whale watching opportunities. Blue whale sightings are among the most spectacular wildlife experiences in the world.
Cricket Ground
The Galle International Cricket Stadium, inside the fort walls, is the most atmospheric cricket ground in the world — a beautiful ground with the fort ramparts on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. Test matches at Galle are among the most extraordinary sporting events in Asia.
Stilt Fishermen
The stilt fishermen of the south coast of Sri Lanka — men perched on poles driven into the seabed, fishing with rods — are one of the most iconic images of Sri Lanka. The stilt fishermen can be seen near Galle and Koggala, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon.
Restaurants
Galle Fort has the finest restaurant scene outside Colombo — a wide range of restaurants serving Sri Lankan cuisine, seafood, international food and excellent cocktails. The Fortaleza restaurant at Amangalla, the Lucky Fort restaurant and the Ministry of Crab (Colombo) are all celebrated. The street food outside the fort is also excellent.
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