Galle
Galle Fort is an endlessly colorful old town full of spice scents and salty breezes that will transport you without a time machine to a centuries-old Dutch city fort. This ancient trading port reflects its colonial history and is focused around a large, 17th-century seafront fort. It is an entire preserved walled town, now filled with boutique hotels, shops, and restaurants (along with real residents). The entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from and outside the fort, the city is surrounded by some amazing beaches. Like others in the country, the wide sand beach leads into the clear, turquoise water. There's even a beach right beneath the iconic Galle lighthouse. Another picturesque destination for sightseeing in Sri Lanka is the Japanese Peace Pagoda. Quite close to the Unawatuna beach, it is a white dome of serenity.