Located in the southern region of the country, Galle is known for its stilt fishermen and the fortified old town, a Unesco World Heritage Site that is a delight to wander around.
Galle’s Dutch Fort has a 400-year-old history, with colonial buildings, ancient mosques and mansions. Nowadays, the beautiful old buildings are transformed into trendy shops, cafes and restaurants. An entire day can be spent exploring Galle Fort.
The main focal point for travellers to Galle is the amazing architectural UNESCO Galle Fort. The fort was built in the 17th century and showcases the defensive and aesthetic architectural features of 17th-century Sri Lankan buildings.
The fort is still used today as part of a working community, populated with administrative offices and courts, along with bustling streets that stretch from Galle’s historic district.
Unawatuna, Wijaya and Talpe all lie to the east of Galle, within about 15 to 20 minutes’ drive. This stretch of coastline runs parallel to the main east-west highway allowing easy access however it does make it the busiest stretch of beach in Sri Lanka. Alternatively, you can stay inland or in Galle Fort itself and make a day trip to the beach. Some of the city hotels have access to dedicated beach clubs.
This part of the coast is lined with beautiful boutique beach hotels and private villas. Swimming is possible here in the sheltered lagoons of Unawatuna and Wijaya, so ideal for families. There are plenty of restaurants, bar and cafes to find delicious local and international cuisine.
Accommodation in Galle ranges from the sympathetically restored hotel of Amangalla, with sublime services and attention to detail to 25 Rampart Street featuring an elegant combination of colonial charm and modern amenities. Many of the restored hotels are located in Galle Fort itself offering easy exploring on foot to the shops and restaurants of this UNESCO site.
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A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
My travels were first inspired by my love of the UK, which I take as much pleasure in exploring as countries far and wide. For me, travel is all about the adventure, the people I meet and the food I sample along the way.
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