Galle Face Green
Half a kilometre of lawn facing the ocean, where Colombo comes to eat and fly kites.
Duration
1 hr – 2 hrs
Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Galle Face Green is a half-kilometre lawn along the ocean, laid out by the British in 1859 — officially for the ladies and children of Colombo, in practice as a racecourse and golf links.
It has become the city's public space. Late in the day families settle in, kites go up, and thirty-odd stalls sell isso vadai, lentil fritters with prawns, and kottu roti chopped to the sound of two blades on the griddle.
Getting there
Along Galle Road, south of Colombo Fort. Tuk-tuk from anywhere in the centre.
Rules on site
The sea here is rough with an uneven bottom: swimming is not advised, whatever it looks like. Agree the tuk-tuk fare before getting in, or insist on the meter.