The Galle Lighthouse stands at the southeast corner of the fort, the symbol most people associate with the town. It is unusual in being shaded by coconut palms rather than open sky, and the small beach at its base — Lighthouse Beach — is one of the few spots inside the ramparts where you can swim.
You cannot enter the tower, but the surrounding bastion is a fine viewpoint and a popular sunset gathering place. The nearby Meeran Jumma Mosque, built in the form of a Christian church for camouflage reasons, makes a striking neighbour.