Galle is the cultural and cosmopolitan heart of Sri Lanka’s south coast.
With a striking setting on the island’s southwestern tip, it’s framed by Indian Ocean beaches and forested hills rolling inland. Its iconic Dutch Fort — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is at the centre of a lively old town, home to boutique hotels, independent craft shops, and buzzing cafés. Over the centuries, Arab traders, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers left their imprint here, creating a layered, colourful character still felt today.
Just outside Galle, Unawatuna still hums with its 1970s bohemian spirit, offering safe year-round swimming, relaxed beach bars and affordable places to stay. Further along the coast, Thalpe leans more upscale, dotted with elegant villas and boutique beach hotels. Though reef-protected swimming is limited here, the overall pace is tranquil and refined. Inland, you’ll find a softer, greener landscape of tea fields, peaceful lakes, saffron-robed monks and a handful of serene hotels ideal for privacy and downtime.
Visit in late January and you’ll catch the renowned Galle Literary Festival — a highlight on the global arts calendar. As Sri Lanka flourishes, so too does Galle: a magnetic, ever-evolving part of the island.
