Photos
Galle Face in photos
60 real photos. Tap one to see it bigger.
Sunsets over the sea
The green faces west, so on clear evenings the sun goes down over the sea right in front of you.
-
A bright sunset over the sea at Galle Face Photo: Mayooresan, 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
The big flag at sunset. The armed forces lower it in a short ceremony at about 6 PM. Photo: Rehman Abubakr, 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
A calm golden sunset over the sea at Galle Face Photo: AKS.9955, 2016, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
A purple and pink sky over the sea after sunset Photo: AKS.9955, 2016, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
People on the shore as the sun goes down Photo: Arul915, 2018, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
People on the old pier at Galle Face in the evening Photo: Scott Edmunds, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
Galle Face beach at sunset, seen from a hotel window, with Port City beyond Photo: Bex Walton, 2024, CC BY 2.0
Kites, families and big nights
Every evening the green fills with families, kite sellers and people out for a walk. On big days it is packed.
-
Kite sellers and families on Galle Face Green Photo: Scott Edmunds, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
Long, colourful kites above Galle Face Green Photo: Scott Edmunds, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
Families flying kites on Galle Face Green Photo: Saqib Qayyum, 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Kites over Galle Face Green in 2019, with new towers being built behind Photo: Gobalakrishnan Thuvaragan, 2019, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Tuk-tuks and people by the lawn at Galle Face Photo: Jérôme Decq, 2012, CC BY 2.0 -
A kite contest fills the green (2015) Photo: Suranga D Wijeratne, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
Fireworks over Galle Face Green on New Year’s Eve Photo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd, 2026, CC BY 4.0
The seaside walk and the sea wall
A paved walk runs along the sea wall beside the green. The waves and currents here are strong and people have drowned, so please stay out of the water.
-
Waves along the Galle Face sea wall in golden evening light Photo: Sergei Gussev, 2018, CC BY 2.0 -
Crowds on the Galle Face seaside walk in the evening Photo: amanderson2, 2019, CC BY 2.0 -
The lawn and the seaside walk by day Photo: Thamilselvan Kiritharan, 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The paved seaside walk at Galle Face Green Photo: Fabio Achilli, 2024, CC BY 2.0 -
The seaside walk and the small beach at Galle Face Photo: Sergei Gussev, 2018, CC BY 2.0 -
Waves below the long Galle Face sea wall Photo: Francisco Anzola, 2019, CC BY 2.0 -
The old stone pillar on the seaside walk, at dusk Photo: Scott Edmunds, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
A rain storm coming in from the sea at Galle Face Photo: Levi Clancy, 2018, CC0
Street food
Stalls and carts light up in the evening. Ask the price before you order.
-
A fruit and snack stall at Galle Face Photo: Scott Edmunds, 2015, CC BY 2.0 -
Isso wade (prawn fritters) on a food cart at Galle Face Photo: amanderson2, 2019, CC BY 2.0 -
A street-food cart at Galle Face with vadai and prawn fritters Photo: Jérôme Decq, 2012, CC BY 2.0 -
Food stalls and carts by the seaside walk at night Photo: Chanuka Perera, 2019, Public domain -
Isso wade up close: a lentil fritter with prawns on top Photo: Jonathan Lin, 2006, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Green mango with chilli and spices, a street snack Photo: rhythmicdiaspora, 2019, CC BY 2.0 -
A cart full of king coconuts (thambili) Photo: Dudva, 2026, CC0 -
Kottu: chopped roti fried with vegetables Photo: young shanahan, 2024, CC BY 2.0
Around the green
The grand old hotel at one end, the Old Parliament at the other, and new towers all around.
-
The Galle Face Hotel from its seaside lawn Photo: Bernard Gagnon, 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
The Galle Face Hotel, seen from the road Photo: Rehman A. and Azeez A., 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Sunset from the verandah of the Galle Face Hotel Photo: claire rowland, 2008, CC BY 2.0 -
The arched verandah of the Galle Face Hotel Photo: Fabio Achilli, 2024, CC BY 2.0 -
The Old Parliament Building, opened in 1930 Photo: Grayswoodsurrey, 2015, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The Old Parliament Building at dusk, behind the lion fountain Photo: Azeez Abubakr, 2016, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The Old Parliament and the Galle Face roundabout at dusk, seen from above Photo: rhythmicdiaspora, 2019, CC BY 2.0 -
One Galle Face mall and the towers above it, seen from Galle Face Green Photo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd, 2025, CC BY 4.0
Port City and the Lotus Tower
New Colombo: a beach and seaside walks on new land next to the green, and the tallest tower in South Asia.
-
The beach at Port City Colombo, seen from above Photo: SinsiDILINI123, 2023, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The Port City marina and its arch bridge, from above Photo: SinsiDILINI123, 2022, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The palm-lined Marina Promenade at Port City Colombo Photo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd, 2022, CC0 -
A red sunset behind the Port City arch bridge Photo: Bex Walton, 2024, CC BY 2.0 -
The Lotus Tower by day, behind the floating market on Beira Lake Photo: Saaremees, 2023, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
The Lotus Tower lit up at night Photo: Bex Walton, 2024, CC BY 2.0 -
The Lotus Tower at night, reflected in Beira Lake Photo: Mike Krüger, 2026, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
A busy Pettah street with the Lotus Tower behind Photo: amanderson2, 2019, CC BY 2.0
Temples by Beira Lake
A short ride inland: busy Gangaramaya Temple, and calm Seema Malaka on the lake.
-
The front of Gangaramaya Temple with Buddhist flags Photo: Pol van den Scheetekens, 2012, CC BY 3.0 -
Stone lions and golden Buddha statues at Gangaramaya Temple Photo: vivali, 2013, CC BY 3.0 -
A big seated Buddha statue inside Gangaramaya Temple Photo: Dan arndt, 2016, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Old cars on show at Gangaramaya Temple Photo: Balou46, 2014, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
The Navam Perahera, the temple’s big night procession around the February full moon Photo: Bergentroll, 2024, CC0 -
Seema Malaka on Beira Lake at dusk Photo: Shamli071, 2011, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
The walkway to Seema Malaka on Beira Lake Photo: Nigel Swales, 2014, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
The blue-roofed main hall of Seema Malaka Photo: Balou46, 2018, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Seema Malaka lit up for Vesak in May, with lotus lanterns on the lake Photo: Samantha Weerasinghe, 2018, Public domain -
Swan boats on Beira Lake at sunset Photo: Kapila Perera, 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0
Galle Face long ago
Old photos and postcards from more than 100 years ago.
-
Galle Face seen from Colombo Fort, about 1880 Photo: Unknown photographer (Rijksmuseum), about 1880, CC0 -
The Galle Face Hotel on an old postcard (1901) Photo: Scan by NYPL, 1901, Public domain -
An old postcard of the Galle Face Hotel (about 1907) Photo: Scan by NYPL, about 1907, Public domain -
Monsoon waves in Colombo, about 1905 Photo: Unknown photographer (book by V. M. Doroshevich), 1905, Public domain
_01.jpg){kind=link}
_04.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_Buddhist_Temple)_-_panoramio.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_(NYPL_Hades-2359783-4044548).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
About these photos
All the photos here are real. The people who took them shared them under free licences, and the oldest ones are free for anyone to use. We made them smaller and cropped a few (see the photo credits). Each photo says who took it. Some show places as they were a few years ago.
Updated
See it for yourself
Sunset times, street food, the way there and what is nearby, all in one simple guide.