Top Things to Do in the Galle | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Galle

Places To Visit In Galle

Koggala Turtle Hatchery

Turtle hatchery of Koggala opened in the year 1996 on the fringes of Koggala town. It is a turtle farm which is a crucial breeding spot for the endangered sea turtles and also an care centre for crippled, blinded and wounded turtles. This place is open for public visit and the money from the entrance fee is used in the breeding, feeding and treatment of the turtles. There is a giant turtle-shaped entrance, and upon entering, on the left, there is a mini pond under a shed. Here one can find several giant turtles swimming lazily in the water while the instructor lifts one of them and allows visitors to touch them. The turtles found here can weigh up to 15 kgs.Visiting the Koggala Turtle Hatchery is more of an overwhelming experience rather than just a fun outing. The centre is protecting dying sea turtles with their limited resources and are putting their best foot forward to help secure the future of these beautiful animals. Read More

Madu Ganga River, one of Sri Lanka’s most prized possessions and the home of the mangroves is located in the Galle district. The river covers at least 150 acres of land and consists of 14 mangroves out of the 24 mangrove species found in Sri Lanka. The river having the mangrove environment has different species of both flora and fauna living inside of it, which makes it a haven for the ecologists and the botanists. The river is a different world in itself; consisting of varied species of both flora and fauna that co-exist harmoniously with each other. The visitors can book themselves for boat rides and bird-watching rides. Accompanied along with trained professionals and local fishermen, the visitors can engage themselves in the amusements of the river. The river also consists of 25 islands, out of which only 15 are of sizeable landmass and safe to visit. The river is used for various sources of economic income such as boating, fishing and the cinnamon industry. Read More

Galle is much more than the historic fort and its attractions. The Old Dutch Market in Galle is one of the unique remnants of colonial times. As the name suggests, it is a marketplace, popular amongst locals as well as tourists for selling some of the freshest and exotic produce in all of Galle. Perhaps one of the oldest markets in Sri Lanka, the Old Dutch Market is also known as Green Market. Exotic fruits such as rambutan and wood-apple, native to the region, are favourites with shoppers. Do visit the Old Dutch market to soak in the sights and sounds of a true-blue Sri Lankan marketplace with a bit of history attached to it. Read More

Old Gate is a point of entry to Galle Fort at Queen Street. The Dutch originally built the gate, but later modified by the British. On the outside, the arch on the gate is adorned by the British coat of arms, the phrase ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ and a plaque with the year 1668 inscribed on it. Inside the fort, the arch is decorated with the Dutch coat of arms, the letters VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, which translates to the Dutch East India Company) and a plaque below it with the letters ANNOMDCLXIX. Read More

Galle is one of the best destinations to practice surfing in Sri Lanka. One can rent a surfboard and ride waves individually, or beginners can get an instructor to brush up on the basics. Professionals can even catch bigger waves at the beaches in and around Galle. Galle boasts of great brooding waves and high biodiversity density. The added advantage is that it is another skill that you can learn or an item to check off on your bucket list. It is cheap and will make for a fantastic activity to try on your trip to Sri Lanka. Read More

The Old Dutch Hospital is Galle’s longest-standing Dutch colonial building, now converted into a high-end shopping and dining precinct. The complex features two central courtyards and long colonnaded verandas with multi-cuisine restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and souvenir stores. Preserving its historic 17th-century architecture, this UNESCO-listed heritage building is now occupied by the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct overlooking the turquoise ocean. Read More

Constructed on the site of the former guard room, Galle Fort Clock Tower is a longstanding landmark within the ramparts of Galle Fort. Surrounded by old Dutch ruins, this four-storey-tall stone monument with a large clock face hails from 1883 and overlooks the oceanfront central Moon Bastion and Galle Cricket Stadium. There is a scenic stone ramp and walkway alongside.

Martin Wickramasinghe House & Folk Museum

Once the home of the famous Sri Lankan author, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum sits amidst gardens dotted with tropics on Galle-Matara Main Road. The main building features stunning displays depicting the lives of Lankan fishermen, colonial crockery, traditional masks, ancient Jewellery, a Buddhist culture exhibit, and the author’s bedroom and study.

Sat next to the Utrecht lighthouse, Meeran Jumma Masjid is the only mosque inside Galle Fort. With an alluring whitewashed facade, this mosque has been operational since the 1750s. Unlike other mosques with Islamic details, Jumma Masjid showcases Victorian and Baroque architecture, a European-style atrium, and stained glass windows like churches. Separate prayer areas for women and men are available.

Listed by UNESCO, the National Maritime Archaeology Museum occupies a 1671-built Dutch warehouse above the Galle Fort Old Gate. The museum introduces Sri Lanka’s history of navigation, marine life, and anthropology, with 3,600 archaeological exhibits. The displays include of sea-faring, maritime trade, scaled-down whale models, natural coral beds, deep sea fish, and life-size dioramas of traditional fishing. The final exhibit portrays methods to combat sea pollution. Read More