When to visit Galle?

Galle is __120 km south of Colombo__. Three options: __coastal train__ (3 hours in 2nd class for £1.30, one of Asia's most beautiful coastal journeys, runs along the Indian Ocean for the last 100 km — sit on the right for the view); __motorway__ from Colombo (1h30, private driver £45-60); __express bus__ from Pettah (2-3 hours, £2.70). The motorway is the quickest, the train the most scenic.

Two nights minimum in the Fort. Day 1: arrival, lunch in a Fort restaurant (Pedlar's Inn Café, Heritage Café), afternoon stroll through the streets, sunset on the ramparts (1h30 loop from the lighthouse to Star Bastion), dinner at Galle Fort Hotel or The Bartizan. Day 2: visit Maritime Museum and Dutch Reformed Church in the morning, beach at Unawatuna in the afternoon (15 min by tuk-tuk, snorkelling possible), dinner. If staying 3-4 nights, add Mirissa (35 km east) for the whales.

Three areas. __Galle Fort__: for total immersion in the colonial atmosphere (exceptional boutique hotels: __Amangalla__ £440-880/night, __Galle Fort Hotel__ £220-440, __Fort Bazaar__ £175-310, __The Bartizan__ £160-265, cheaper guesthouses £70-105). __Unawatuna__ (5 km east): for beach and surf (lodges and boutique hotels by the beach £50-175/night). __Modern Galle town__: to avoid — charmless, noisy. Outside high season (May-November), Fort rates drop 40-60%.

__December to March__ for the dry season: calm sea, swimming and surf at Unawatuna in optimal conditions, clear skies for photographing the Fort. It's also peak tourist season with prices up 40-60%, book 2 months ahead for Fort boutique hotels. Avoid May to November (south-west monsoon, frequent rain, rough sea), unless you want very low rates and the Fort without crowds.

Three options depending on what you want. __Unawatuna__ (5 km east, 15 min by tuk-tuk): golden crescent sand beach, family swimming, snorkelling, lively café-restaurant scene, beginner surf. The most accessible and most touristy. __Jungle Beach__ (right next to Unawatuna, 30-min walk): wilder, less busy. __Hikkaduwa__ (20 km north): intermediate surf, coral reef (snorkelling), backpacker atmosphere. __Mirissa__ (35 km east, 45 min by tuk-tuk): magnificent beaches, blue whale watching in season.

Allow 3-4 hours for the walking tour of the Fort. __Ramparts walk__ (2.5 km loop, 1h30): the iconic walk, start at the lighthouse on the southern tip and do the full loop, ideally at sunset. __Dutch Reformed Church__ (1755): one of Asia's oldest Protestant churches, austere and moving interior. __Maritime Museum__: history of Dutch and British maritime trade, ship models (entry 600 LKR / £1.60). __Galle Lighthouse__ (1939): the white lighthouse on the southern tip, one of Sri Lanka's iconic images. __National Museum of Galle__: colonial artefacts. __Pedlar Street__ and __Church Street__: the finest streets with their boutique hotels and restaurants.

Yes, it's one of Sri Lanka's best food scenes. __The Bartizan__ and __Galle Fort Hotel__ restaurant offer refined contemporary Sinhalese cuisine (£30-55/person with wine). __Pedlar's Inn Café__ and __Heritage Café__ are the Fort institutions for breakfast and lunch (£9-18/person). __Lucky Fort Restaurant__ offers an excellent traditional rice and curry for £4.50-7/person. The fish market on the modern town's north pier (in the morning) lets you see the authenticity of local fishing.