Galle is a picturesque coastal city on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka. Long before European colonization, it was a prosperous port that drew traders from Arabia, Persia, Rome and Greece crossing the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese arrived and established a presence in 1505; the Dutch captured the town 135 years later and constructed the well-known Galle Fort. When the British assumed control in 1796, the city enjoyed renewed prosperity, leaving behind grand mansions and other architectural traces of the colonial era.
Today, Galle Fort—one of the best-preserved colonial sea fortresses in Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage site—forms the heart of the old city. Locals and visitors alike stroll the seawall, relax in small parks playing board games, and children play in the surf. The fort’s narrow streets reveal cloistered courtyards, hedgerows bursting with color, and shuttered buildings that reflect its layered past. Notable historic landmarks include the Galle Lighthouse and St. Mary’s Cathedral. For an elegant stay that evokes colonial charm, consider spending a night at the Amangalla Hotel, set within the fort’s ramparts.