Ibn Batuta, a Moroccan Berber Muslim traveller in the 14th century, referred to it as Qali.

The Galle fort is a World Heritage Site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.

Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the city's natural harbour, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island, and Amangalla, the historic luxury hotel.

On 26 December 2004, the city was devastated by the massive tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia a thousand miles away.

The major river in the area is the Gin Ganga, which begins from Gongala Kanda, passes villages such as Neluwa, Nagoda, Baddegama, Thelikada and Wakwella, and reaches the sea at Gintota.

According to James Emerson Tennent (Colonial Secretary of Ceylon) Galle was the ancient seaport of Tarshish,[6] from which King Solomon drew ivory, peacocks and other valuables.

Cinnamon was exported from Sri Lanka as early as 1400 BC, and as the root of the word itself is Hebrew, Galle may have been a main entrepôt for the spice.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, Sinhalese refugees fleeing Tamil armies from the north began to settle in Galle and other nearby areas.

In 1502, a small fleet of Portuguese ships, under the command of Lourenço de Almeida on their way to the Maldives, were blown off course by a storm.

Realising that the King resided in Kotte close to Colombo, Lourenço proceeded there after a brief stop in Galle.

The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences of the University of Ruhuna is located in Uluwitike, in the city limits.

A study centre of the Open University of Sri Lanka is also located in Galle, at Labuduwa junction.

Galle is served by Sri Lanka Railways' Coastal Line and is connected by rail to Colombo and Matara.