Galle, in Sri Lanka’s beloved southwest coast, is a beautiful town that has won the hearts of both locals and tourists for its cosmopolitan charm and old-world grandeur. There’s so much to see and do here, that if you do not plan your trip accurately, there’s a chance of missing out on the most important things. So, read on to see all what’s, where’s and how’s you need to know when planning a trip to Galle.

The first question is How to get there? Here you have three options to choose from. Number one and the cheapest is to take the train from Colombo Fort. This will cost you only about Rs 180 ($1.19). A train ride would take about 3 hours so you need to take the earliest train. Then you can also take the highway buses that will reach Galle within an hour from Maharagama. A ticket would cost about 375 ($2.8). However, if you want to enjoy the journey as much as the destination itself, you need to choose the third option which is to hire a car. Just talk to a place that organizes Galle tours, like Casons Rent a Car, and check the rates. You can ask them to either take the highway or the Galle Road. We recommend the latter, as though the highway can you to Galle faster, the Galle Road will provide you with stunning coastal sceneries.

Next, What to take, wear and pack. Now Galle being a coastal city, the temperatures can usually vary from 29° C to 32° C. So be sure to wear light, cotton clothing, and comfortable flat shoes; either sandals or rubber slippers. Also, wear a large sun hat and some protective shades. And most importantly sun block-lots and lots of it! Supermarkets and restaurants are in plenty in Galle but better to pack some munchies to have on the way.

Finally, Where to go? Like we said before Galle has many things to entertain you, but one that tops the list is the Galle Fort. This is the icon of the city and no trip is complete without taking a leisurely stroll along the many ramparts and the cobbled streets of their colonial-style buildings. The Fort has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its immense historical value.

After the fort, other attractions that should be visited include the National Maritime Museum, the National Museum of Galle, The Lighthouse and of course, the gorgeous, gold beach ideal for swimming, surfing and just relaxing…

 

Travel to Galle
Travel to Galle

 

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+