Things to do — Galle

The heart of a Galle visit is of course the UNESCO Fort. Allow a full day to take it in without rushing.

Start with the ramparts walk — 2.5 km of stroll above the Indian Ocean, ideally at sunset. Start at the lighthouse on the southern tip of the Fort (the most photographed white building in Sri Lanka, built in 1939 on the site of an 1848 Dutch lighthouse), follow the ramparts clockwise via Flag Rock (where the Dutch raised the alert flag), the Triton Bastion, the Star Bastion (five-pointed star shape, perfectly preserved), then come back down via the Old Gate (1668) which was the Fort's only entrance until the 19th century. At each bastion, the Dutch had installed cannons of which some are still in place — the most impressive is at Flag Rock, pointed at the ocean.

Inside the ramparts, the streets organise in a grid following the classic Dutch urban plan. Pedlar Street and Church Street are the main arteries, with their colonial houses converted into boutique hotels, restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. The Dutch Reformed Church (1755) at the corner of Church Street is one of Asia's oldest Protestant churches — austere interior, funeral slabs with Dutch names, moving atmosphere. The Maritime Museum (Queen's Street, entry 600 LKR / £1.60) retraces Dutch maritime trade history with ship models and old maps. The National Museum of Galle offers a less rich but interesting collection of colonial artefacts.

The Old Dutch Hospital, recently restored, has become a quarter of upmarket shops and restaurants (similar to Colombo's, but ocean-side). The Galle Fort Lighthouse and the white-and-green Meera Mosque (1904) nearby offer one of the Fort's finest photographic compositions.

Once the Fort is explored, time for the beaches. Unawatuna (5 km east, 15 min by tuk-tuk for 500 LKR / £1.30) is the most accessible: golden crescent sand beach, shallow waters, snorkelling possible on nearby reefs, lively café-restaurant scene (Wijaya Beach Restaurant, Roti Shop). Jungle Beach right next door is wilder (30-min walk from Unawatuna). For intermediate surfers, Hikkaduwa (20 km north) offers the southern region's best waves, with its coral reef famous for snorkelling. Mirissa (35 km east, 45 min) is the next stop for blue whale watching (December-April) and quieter beaches.

For food lovers, don't miss the fish market in the modern town (at dawn, north pier) to see the local catch: tuna, snapper, crab, lobster landed from traditional outriggers. And for an unforgettable experience, dinner on the Galle Fort Hotel rooftop or at Sun House (luxury boutique hotel perched on a hill with Fort view) remains one of the highlights of a Galle stay.