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Galle holidays

Stay in charming hotels in this old-world city

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Located on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, the port of Galle is a historic fortress city steeped in old colonial atmosphere. Sri Lanka’s fourth largest town, it was the island’s main port until the late 1800s and boasts an amazing fort where you can admire Dutch colonial architecture.

Laze on the beautiful beach, haggle for local handicrafts at the bazaar-style market and look out for the area’s famous stilted fishermen, perched on poles as they cast their lines along the coastline.

See our latest Galle holiday offers.

Galle Holiday Highlights
•   Explore fascinating Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Dutch Reformed Church and savour a spicy curry at a rooftop restaurant.
•   Jetwing Lighthouse – this five-star boutique retreat is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
•   Bask on pristine sandy beaches lapped by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Galle Tailor Made
Our friendly Personal Travel Experts are waiting to help you tailor make your dream holiday from scratch, tying in your desired flights, destinations, hotels and experiences. Simply:
•   Browse our fantastic range of Galle resorts
•   Call our dedicated and well-travelled team of experts on 01306 747002 – they’ll help you create a personalised break you’ll never forget.

Galle Honeymoons
If you want to enjoy your honeymoon abroad, consider one of our intimate Galle hotels for an idyllic and romantic getaway. We've specially labelled the hotels we think will give you the most unforgettable honeymoon.

Galle Weddings
Getting married at in Galle is a magical and memorable way to tie the knot. Look out for our ‘Wedding’ labelled Galle hotels for our specially negotiated Sri Lanka wedding packages. All of our Galle wedding hotels also offer Renewal of Vows ceremonies and many also offer special offers and discounts, please see the individual pages for details.

Galle Multi-Centre Holidays
If you want to see as much of Sri Lanka as possible in one holiday, we can easily combine your trip to Galle with more of the island’s stunning destinations, such as the vibrant cultural triangle, the hill country’s tea plantations or a buzzing city.

You could even continue your holiday in the sun-drenched Maldives, glittering Dubai or exotic India. Find out more.


To find out more about Galle holidays, read our online facts.

Time difference / local time

GMT +6 hours
Language

Sinhalese. Tamil and English are also widely spoken, and newspapers are printed in all three languages.

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee
Safety

Ethnic disturbances rarely occur in tourist areas. We always follow Foreign Office advice on matters of security for British visitors, but crime against foreign visitors is virtually  non-existent.

Highlights

Dutch Fort
One of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this is south Asia’s best-preserved sea fort and home to churches, mosques, temples and colonial houses.

Dutch Reformed Church
You’ll find this beautiful colonial gem in the Dutch Fort. Completed in 1754, it was built by a Dutch army officer where a Portuguese church once stood.

The Galle Lighthouse
This British-built landmark dates back to 1939 and sits at the eastern end of the Dutch Fort. If you ask nicely, the owner might let you climb it for spectacular views.

Unawatuna
Outside the city centre, this seaside village is steeped in mythical legend. It was devastated in the 2004 tsunami but its beautiful beach has now been restored and is home to marine life including sea turtles.

Koggala
Situated near Galle, this small town was the home of famous local writer Martin Wickramasinghe and hosts a Museum of Folk, Art & Culture in his honour. Explore small islands and spot a plethora of birdlife.

Events and festivals

January
Galle Literary Festival
Celebrate great writing at this festival, which features up-and-coming authors as well as Nobel, Booker, Orange, Commonwealth and Whitbread prize winners.

March
The Great Night of Shiva
You might see Hindus holding sacred rituals at temples during this important Hindu festival, which celebrates the deity Lord Shiva’s birth and wedding anniversary.

April
Sri Lankan New Year
Everyone celebrates this non-religious festival, and the festivities include traditional games such as pillow-fighting and ‘hide the wig’.

May
Vesak Poya
This is the most important full moon for Buddhists, as it marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. The island flickers with the light of delicate paper lanterns and clay coconut oil lamps.

December
Galle Film Festival
This five-day celebration of film includes a gala, workshops and discussion groups to debate how the medium affects our behaviour and values.

Shopping

In Galle’s Old Town you can buy jewellery studded with Sri Lankan gems, vibrant textiles, spices and antiques – as well as local handicrafts such as wood-carved masks, batiks, hand-loomed saris and sarongs. Markets sell fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Flying time to destination

10¾ hours

Eating/Drinking

Food
•   Within Galle Fort you’ll find tea shops; cafés serving cake, milkshakes and coffee; and rooftop restaurants offering delicious curries.
•   Venture into the New Town and feast on ‘short eats’ (small, picky dishes) and curries followed by cake and refreshing ice cream.

Water
•   Don’t drink the tap water. Most hotels offer boiled and bottled water, so stick to that instead.

Good to know

Dialling code
+94 91

Religion
Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.

Museums

Galle National Museum
This remarkable collection of historical relics is housed in the Dutch Fort’s oldest building, which dates back to 1656. Here you’ll discover traditional masks, Dutch weapons, turtle-shell ornaments and ancient carvings.

Galle National Maritime Museum
Located in the fort’s Dutch warehouse, here you can learn about the city’s maritime history and browse relics recovered from shipwrecks off Sri Lanka’s coast.

Ariyapala Mask Museum
The village of Ambalangoda is a haven of traditional Sri Lankan culture, and this museum is named after a famous carver of the masks worn during dances to ward off the devil. See examples of his intricate work and learn more about this intriguing custom.

Excursions

Kuoni hotel The Fortress offers some amazing excursions in Galle and the surrounding areas. Here’s a selection:

•   Boat ride on the River Madu
•   Handunugoda Tea Factory
•   Kanneliya Rainforest
•   Kottawa Reserve
•   Marissa Watersports Centre
•   Turtle hatchery and spice garden
•   Whale and dolphin watching
•   White water rafting
•   Yala National Park
•   Yatagala Temple

Tipping

Typically a 10% service charge is included in the bill, even in markets. If not, tip 10-15%.

Climate data for this region

Best time to visit

November to March and July to August

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