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Galle Sri Lanka, Southern Province

Catch a Sunset atop the Wall of Galle Fort

Beach City History UNESCO
This charming old-style city in Sri Lanka is surrounded on all sides by a wall that locks in the city’s character and charm. It’s a great day visit but can also be done in a couple of days if you want to soak up the magic of this adorable place. The streets are lined with Dutch architecture and there’s a colorful scene around every corner. At dusk, the whole city stops and enjoys the sunset from the wall surrounding the town.
Good to know

At a glance

Best time to visit
Dec–Apr
Recommended duration
1 night / 2 days
Average price per night Partner link

$50.00 / 44,00€ in Galle Fort

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Current weather
26.6°C / 79.8°F
overcast clouds
What's around

Highlights

Splash in the Water at Unawatuna Beach

Notoriously known as Sri Lanka’s “most famous” beach, Unawatuna Beach is the perfect place to catch some rays, splash around, or lounge on the beach. Unfortunately, the catastrophic 2004 tsunami devastated this beach and it has never fully recovered. Adding this to your list of stops will help support the small beach community surrounding this gem. When you need a break from the water, stroll up to the Pagoda on the west side of the beach. Bonus: you’ll get a wonderful ocean view from the statue!

Trek through the forest to Jungle Beach

This out-of-the-way beach takes effort to get to, but it’s worth it. It’s a bit less busy than most other beaches in the area (although it's by no means a secret spot anymore) and is a great location for swimming and snorkeling. The first bay has some sunbeds and a small snack bar, but if you walk a bit further to the second bay you will likely meet fewer tourists. If you don’t want to make the journey to get to this beach by land, hop on a boat to get dropped off on the shore or take a tuk-tuk.

Hikkaduwa Beach

Located about 20 km northwest of Galle, Hikkaduwa Beach is the perfect place for a short break from the city. The white long beach is known as one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka and is a popular vacation destination for foreigners and locals alike.
Just off the beach is a beautiful coral reef, perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. If you like surfing, you should visit Hikkaduwa Beach between November and April for the best waves. If you like turtles, head to Turtle Beach on the southern part of Hikkaduwa Beach. While the peak nesting season is between February and April, turtles can be found in the water and on the beach all year round (please do not touch or feed the turtles).
Where to stay

Accommodation

Where to go next

Experiences nearby

All distances are direct distances.
How to get there

Getting there & away

transit
Inbound and outbound transit connections depart and arrive in Galle.
CMB
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo is located about 153 km and 2:10 hrs away if you take a car, taxi or minibus.
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