12 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Galle

At a distance of 1.5 km from Galle Railway Station, Galle Fort is an ancient fort situated in the Old city of Galle, Sri Lanka. Located on the southern coast of the country, it is one of the five historical monuments that one must visit as part of Sri Lanka Packages.

The Galle Fort is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument with more than 400 years of history. UNESCO described it as a World Heritage site for its unique exposition of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Today, the Galle Fort is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European settlers. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort.

Also known as Dutch Fort, Galle Fort was first built by the Portuguese on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. The initial fortification .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Galle Railway Station, the Galle National Museum is a museum situated inside the Galle Fort in Sri Lanka. Also called Galle National Museum, it is one of the national museums of Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Galle.

The National Museum of Galle is housed in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the Galle Fort. It is a single storey colonnaded Dutch building built in the year 1656 as the commissariat store for the Dutch garrison and is subsequently served as a billiards room for the adjoining New Oriental Hotel (now the Amangalla Hotel). The building was renovated and converted into a museum by the Department of National Museums in 1986.

Galle National Museum displays a wide range of archaeological and anthropological objects in s three galleries. The first gallery contains collections relating to the ancient village life including instruments used in cottage industries like Dutch lace crafting bobbins, traditional wooden mask carving, .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Galle Railway Station, National Maritime Museum is an archaeology museum situated inside the Galle Fort, Galle. It is the only museum which aware the public on marine biological and anthropological aspects of the Southern coastal area of Sri Lanka.

Established in 1992, Maritime Museum is housed in a 1671 Dutch warehouse above the Old Gate of Galle Fort. The museum mainly focused on exhibits of sea life. There were stuffed specimens, fossils, shells, skeletons and scale models of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and fish. The museum also displayed exhibits connected to sea-faring, maritime trade, fishing and relics retrieved from the 20-odd shipwrecks around Galle. Other exhibits included life-sized dioramas of Sri Lankan fishing methods, a 'walk along the seafloor' exhibit with natural coral beds, seaweed, and deep-sea fish. One of the interesting exhibits of the museum was a display of the causes of sea pollution, coast erosion, and the methods used to combat .....

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At a distance of 6 km from Galle Railway, Unawatuna Beach is a pristine beach located along the Indian Ocean at Unawatuna in the Galle district of Sri Lanka. It is one of the best beaches to visit in Sri Lanka and among the must include places in Sri Lanka Trip.

Unawatuna is one of the biggest tourist spots in Sri Lanka and is visited by both tourists as well as locals. It is a lovely banana-shaped beach of golden sand and turquoise waters, surrounded by tall palm trees. The beach brings the local culture to life and is a great place to take a dip into the ocean to relax after a hot summer day. There are also sunbeds laid out on the beach for visitors to rent out and just enjoy the day basking in the sun with scenic ocean views.

The palm-lined beach is a perfect place for swimming and many water activities to indulge in. At the west end of the beach, there are some rocks and stairs that lead up to a small hill with a pagoda .....

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At a distance of 3 km from Unawatuna Beach and 7 km from Galle Railway Station, the Jungle Beach is situated on the opposite end of the main Unawatuna Beach in Galle. It is one of the secluded beaches in Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Galle.

The beautiful and calm Jungle Beach is located between Unawatuna and Galle. The beach is secluded from the city which makes it a perfect place for those who want to sit and relax at the beach. There are sunbeds available for visitors to sit back and chill by the beach. The beach is not as easy to visit as compared to the other beaches of the city, but visitors can reach the beach either by walk or by boat.

Jungle Beach is perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling and scuba diving. One can easily rent some scuba diving gear from the nearby shops and also gain a tip or two about the activity. The vibe of the place transforms into a party at night. There is a beach party every Wednesday from sunset to sunrise, where the people of .....

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At a distance of 2 km from Unawatuna Beach and 10 km from Galle Railway Station, Dalawella Beach is a beautiful strip of sand located in the town of Unawatuna. This is one of the secluded beaches in Unawatuna and among the must-visit places during your Galle Tour.

The Dalawella Beach is secluded and less crowded compared to Unawatuna Beach where families head out for some quiet and relaxing time. The beach stretches on for miles and is separated by a few coves and bays. The beach is famous for its mesmerizing scenic view and natural seawater swimming pools where you can enjoy a quiet swim in the warm waters. Dalawella Beach is also a great place for adrenaline junkies as it is the best place for snorkelling and scuba diving where one will experience the vibrant sea creatures and the amazing sea turtles.

Also, be sure to check out the Dalawella Beach swing for a memorable experience. It should not cost more than 200-500 LKR. When in Unawatuna you will also find some of the .....

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At a distance of 300 m from the National Maritime Museum and 1 km from Galle Railway Station, the Historical Mansion Museum in Galle is located within the Galle Fort. It is one of the popular museums in Galle and among the prime places to visit in the port city while holidaying in Sri Lanka.

The Historical Mansion Museum is a private museum owned by Abdul Gaffer who established it in a classic colonial Dutch house. There is a great series of photographs show the dilapidated condition of the building prior to its restoration in 1988. The museum exhibits a collection of miscellaneous items ranging from colonial artifacts to other antiquities - with many things available for sale. The museum is also the home to a gem shop. Visitors of the museum will be able to witness live embroidery presentations and also the process of cutting and polishing gorgeous sapphires and other precious gems.

The central courtyard is the main highlight of the museum where visitors can take a look at .....

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At a distance of 18 km from Galle and 37 km from Bentota, Hikkaduwa Beach is a serene beach situated in the coastal town of Hikkaduwa. It is one of the popular beaches on the island as part of the Sri Lanka Tour.

The beach of Hikkaduwa was the first (the 1960s) beach discovered by tourists in Sri Lanka. The beach stretches over 4 kilometers and hosts many fun activities to keep the tourists engaged. These water sports include snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, swimming in the ocean and glass boats for the adventure seekers. The clear waters beckon the nature lovers who wish to take a dip inside the waters to witness the vibrant, colorful aquatic life. The coral sanctuary found along the coast of Hikkaduwa hosts gorgeous coral formations. Off the beach, there is a collection of small islets surrounded by beautiful coral formations. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here.

Hikkaduwa offers some of the best scuba diving experiences in Sri Lanka as it has .....

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At a distance of 30 km from Unawatuna and 35 km from Galle, Mirissa Beach is a beautiful sandy shore located along the mighty Indian Ocean in the coastal town of Mirissa, Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular beaches on the Southern coast of the island and among the best places to visit near Galle.

Mirissa Beach is relatively large with plenty of space to lay down and just relax and watch the beach life. The beach has clean sand and clear waters that are lined with palm trees. At one end of the Mirissa Beach is a rock formation, known as Parrot Rock that is surrounded by the ocean on three sides. Tourists can climb on top of the rock and witness a gorgeous panoramic view of the Mirissa Beach.

The stunning Mirissa Beach is a popular site for water sports, such as surfing and snorkeling, which are always on demand. Besides, Mirissa is hugely famous for its whale watching and dolphin watching activities. Whale watching in Mirissa allows visitors to enjoy watching them swim and play .....

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At a distance of 80 km from Galle, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is one of the very few virgin rainforests in the world and among the prime places to visit in Sri Lanka for nature lovers.

Sinharaja is the last viable area of primary tropical rainforest in Sri Lanka. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility. This reserve was once a royal reserve and in some colonial records, it is referred to as Rajasinghe Forest. It was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as the Lion Kingdom.

The reserve is only 21 km from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km from north to south, but it is home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies as well as .....

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At a distance of 55 km from Galle, 89 km from Mirissa, 104 km from Colombo, 180 km from Kandy, 195 km from Ella, 209 km from Nuwara Eliya, 231 km from Sigiriya and 262 km from Anuradhapura, Bentota is a coastal town in Galle district of Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Known for its sandy shores, it is one of the popular beaches to visit in the island country as part of Sri Lanka Tour.

Located on the southern bank of the Bentota River, Bentota is a quaint town surrounded by sandy shores, pristine waters and lush green landscapes with the dominance of tall palm trees. Interestingly, the name 'Bentota' is derived from Ben, a demon who once ruled the Tota or river bank. It is considered to be the prime beach resort of Sri Lanka as the National Holiday Resort Complex is associated with the Bentota Beach.

The place is known for its sun-kissed beaches, lagoon, dive sites that offer the best views of coral reefs, century-old .....

Distance (From Galle): 55 Kms
Trip Duration (From Galle - Including Travel): Full Day
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At a distance of 39 km from Negambo, 116 km from Kandy, 126 km from Galle, 150 km from Mirissa, 161 km from Dambulla, 167 km from Nuwara Eliya, 202 km from Anuradhapura, 205 km from Ella, 230 km from Polonnaruwa and 395 km from Jaffna, Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka by population. Located in the western province of the Island, it is one of the must-include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

With rich colonial heritage and very scenic and popular attractions, Colombo is arguably the most popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of the country, is within the urban area of the city, hence Colombo is often called the capital of Sri Lanka as well. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the capital of Colombo district. The name 'Colombo', is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name Kolon Thota, meaning 'port .....

Distance (From Galle): 126 Kms
Trip Duration (From Galle - Including Travel): Full Day
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