City or town
Things to see in Galle (Sri Lanka): 8 places and when to go
Galle is a town in Sri Lanka with around 99,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 8 places in and around it, mainly History (2), Temples (2), Museums and art (2). The best known are Galle Fort, St. Mary's Cathedral, Galle and Groote Kerk, Galle. The best time to come is January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Sri Lanka · 6.03, 80.24
- Population
- About 99,000
- Places
- 8 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (2) · Temples (2) · Museums and art (2) · Beaches (2) · Nature (1) · Wildlife (1)
- Best time
- January to March and July to August.
- Also possible
- April to June, September and December.
- Nearest airport
- HRI Mattala, 102 km as the crow flies
What to see in Galle
The places in and around Galle, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Galle FortHistoric military fortress in Sri Lanka2.6 km
- St. Mary's Cathedral, GalleCathedral in Galle, Sri Lanka3.1 km
- Groote Kerk, GalleChurch building in Galle, Sri Lanka2.5 km
- Handunugoda Tea EstateMuseum14 km
- Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya Forest ReserveProtected area28 km
- National Museum FortMuseum2.6 km
- The Cove Surf SpotReef16 km
- Unawatuna BeachBeach in the south coast of Sri Lanka close to Galle2.6 km
When to go to Galle
The best time to visit Galle is January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:41
- FebBest time11:49
- MarBest time11:58
- AprPossible12:08
- MayPossible12:16
- JunPossible12:21
- JulBest time12:19
- AugBest time12:12
- SepPossible12:02
- OctBetter not11:52
- NovBetter not11:43
- DecPossible11:39
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In January, 8 of the 8 places are at their best.
When to go to Sri Lanka in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Galle
The nearest main airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI, Mattala), 102 km as the crow flies. How to get around Sri Lanka (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Colombo30 places109 km
- Haputale11 places113 km
- Nuwara Eliya13 places120 km
- Badulla9 places139 km
- Kandy18 places147 km
- Manampitiya6 places230 km
And all of Sri Lanka, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Galle?
The best known: Galle Fort, St. Mary's Cathedral, Galle, Groote Kerk, Galle. In all, 8 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Galle?
January to March and July to August; also possible: April to June, September and December. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Galle?
The nearest main airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), 102 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Galle as the destination and these 8 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- Sri LankaBefore travelling to Sri Lanka: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. You need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for before you fly on the…
- History28 places for history in Sri Lanka, from Anuradhapura to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: January to March and July to August. Each with its own season by altitude
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.