Dec → Feb
29 to 30°
nights 23 to 24°
- 19 rainy days · 144 mm
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit Galle?
- Jan29°recommended
- Feb30°recommended
- Mar30°recommended
- Apr30°recommended
- May29°fair
- Jun29°not recommended
- Jul29°not recommended
- Aug28°not recommended
- Sep28°not recommended
- Oct28°not recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec29°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Galle, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 23° | 124 mm | 18 d | 28° | ✓ |
| February | 30° | 24° | 110 mm | 17 d | 29° | ✓ |
| March | 30° | 24° | 111 mm | 21 d | 29° | ✓ |
| April | 30° | 25° | 176 mm | 26 d | 31° | ✓ |
| May | 29° | 26° | 415 mm | 30 d | 30° | |
| June | 29° | 26° | 269 mm | 29 d | 29° | |
| July | 29° | 25° | 245 mm | 29 d | 28° | |
| August | 28° | 25° | 276 mm | 29 d | 29° | |
| September | 28° | 25° | 324 mm | 29 d | 29° | |
| October | 28° | 24° | 343 mm | 29 d | 29° | |
| November | 29° | 24° | 389 mm | 26 d | 29° | |
| December | 29° | 24° | 199 mm | 23 d | 29° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Galle, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Galle) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
29 to 30°
nights 24 to 26°
- 26 rainy days · 234 mm
- sea 30°
Jun → Aug
28 to 29°
nights 25 to 26°
- 29 rainy days · 263 mm
- sea 29°
Sep → Nov
28 to 29°
nights 24 to 25°
- 28 rainy days · 352 mm
- sea 29°
Book early for December to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Galle, month by month
EventsVesakMaySinhala and Tamil New YearAprilBlue whales off MirissaDecember to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Galle, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- MayVesak
Paper lanterns outside homes, stalls handing out free food to passers-by and temples lit up at the full moon.
- AprilSinhala and Tamil New Year
In mid-April, families return to their villages, traditional games come out and many shops close.
- December to AprilBlue whales off Mirissa
Boat trips leave early from Mirissa, an hour from Galle, while the southern sea stays calm between two monsoons.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended29°23° at night
- 124 mm · 18 d
- sea 28°
High season, book early
February
Recommended30°24° at night
- 110 mm · 17 d
- sea 29°
High season, book early
March
Recommended30°24° at night
- 111 mm · 21 d
- sea 29°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended30°25° at night
- 176 mm · 26 d
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair29°26° at night
- 415 mm · 30 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended29°26° at night
- 269 mm · 29 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended29°25° at night
- 245 mm · 29 d
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended28°25° at night
- 276 mm · 29 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended28°25° at night
- 324 mm · 29 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 343 mm · 29 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair29°24° at night
- 389 mm · 26 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended29°24° at night
- 199 mm · 23 d
- sea 29°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 124 mm over 18 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 110 mm over 17 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 111 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 176 mm over 26 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 415 mm over 30 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 269 mm of rain over 29 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 245 mm of rain over 29 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 276 mm of rain over 29 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 324 mm of rain over 29 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 343 mm of rain over 29 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 389 mm over 26 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 199 mm over 23 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Galle?
December to April: over these months, recorded highs range from 29 to 30 °C, with 21 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Galle).
Which month should you avoid in Galle?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 343 mm over 29 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Galle).
What is the hottest month in Galle?
February, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Galle).
What is the coldest month in Galle?
August, with 28 °C at best during the day and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Galle).
What is the driest month in Galle?
February: 110 mm over 17 days of rain, against 415 mm in May, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Galle?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 28 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Galle).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Galle guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Sri Lanka: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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