Matara is a busy coastal city at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, where the old Dutch fort sits on a narrow headland between the sea and the Nilwala River. It is less polished than nearby Galle but has its own appeal — the fort area is atmospheric, the fish market is lively, and it serves as a practical base for exploring the deep south coast.
Just offshore, the tiny island temple of Parevi Duwa is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and makes for a pleasant walk. Across the river, the Star Fort — a perfectly preserved Dutch-era defensive structure — houses a small museum. The beaches east of town toward Mirissa and Dondra Head — the southernmost point on the island — are among Sri Lanka's best, with reliable surf and whale-watching boats in season.