Galle Fort- The Ultimate Guide- Galle is by far one of the most adorable seaside towns located on the South Western tip of Sri Lanka. Within its fortified walls, tourists can find a wide array of European influence, buildings and shops. Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, Galle was the main port for the entire island. A wide variety of imports and exports came through the fort. There is a rich history in Galle, and walking along the streets, it’s easy to imagine what life may have been like back in the day. Built by the Portuguese, yet fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century, Galle was named a world heritage site by UNESCO and it is clear why. With loads of trendy shops, cafes and art galleries, Galle is a must on our Sri Lanka tour!
Galle Fort – The Ultimate Guide
How To Get There
Due to the fact that Galle is quite small, many people actually make a day trip out of it. While this is definitely an option for those with limited time, we do strongly suggest you take a night, or two to really experience the fort. For us, Galle was one of our favourite stops in all of Sri Lanka. The streets reminded us of Europe in many ways and it was a great change from the typical Asian feel.
To get there, travellers can take the train. The train is likely the most popular method of transportation. For us, we took the train from Colombo station to Galle Fort. The train took roughly 2-3 hours, but the ride was beautiful along the coast! By train, the tickets only cost 180 rupees per person for 2nd class. This is just $1 per person!
If you are not coming from Colombo, chances are you will be arriving from the beach cities. If so, a car/taxi will suffice. Galle is only about a 15-20 minute drive to Unawatuna, so no train is necessary.
Galle Fort – The Ultimate Guide
Things To Do
The Fort
The main attraction of Galle is without a doubt, the fort. We spent several hours walking around finding new and exciting art shops and restaurants. If you walk along the fort, you also get some amazing ocean views. The most popular time to be out on the fort is the evening. Make sure you catch the sunset there if you have time! Sunset is the best time to catch all the locals gathering out on the green. There are also so many great places to watch the sun disappear over the sea.
Galle Lighthouse
The Galle Lighthouse is a popular place to visit in Galle. While it makes for a great photo opportunity, it is also just an impressive monument to see up close.
Galle National Museum
If you are interested in learning more about the fort and the history behind the Dutch settlement, make sure you take a few hours at the National Museum.
Shopping
There are so many adorable and unique shops in Galle. While the prices tend to be a bit more expensive than other areas in Sri Lanka, we found that the items were generally more artisanal and handmade. Be sure to check out Stick No Bills. This was a really cool poster and postcard shop. We wanted to buy everything in there!
Church Street
If you are in the fort walls, make sure you walk by church street. There you can find many old churches and buildings. Its a great place to get a feel for the history that laid the foundation of Galle.
Galle Fort – The Ultimate Guide
Places to Eat
Hoppa
Luckily for us, we happened to find this place per a recommendation from one of our followers. Both of us were so impressed by the food, the atmosphere and the experience. We highly suggest you check this place out for dinner one evening. Hoppers are a traditional Sri Lankan dish made up of fermented rice flour and coconut milk. They are cooked and shaped into a bowl like manner and topped with various curries, or even egg. If you want to try some authentic food be sure to stop by!
Peddlers Cafe
A safe go-to for dinner, or lunch! Although a bit pricey, the food is good and it is also located right near the water!
Isle of Gelato
We love gelato, and this little shop was so cute! The gelato here is all made from scratch using real ingredients and no artificial flavouring. Perfect for any hot day, Isle of Gelato was somewhere we ventured out to daily in Galle. We suggest you try their Puttalam Sea Salt and Caramel flavour, it was out of this world!
Punto Cafe
This is a cute family run place with super affordable prices for being inside the fort! We ate here for lunch twice and were not disappointed. We loved their chicken and dal curry.
Calorie Counter
A trendy, healthy restaurant perfect for those on a health kick! They have a variety of different salads and yummy treats. This is a great spot for anyone who needs to get work done as well. The cafe has a nice ambiance and is a great working space.
Galle Fort – The Ultimate Guide
Places to Stay
Many people generally stay in Unawatuna and make Galle a day trip. However, we strongly suggest you stay in the fort if time permits. The town itself is so charming and truly transported us out of Asia. It reminded us so much of a small Italian coastal town. Once again, the experience is better if you actually stay within the fort walls. If you stay outside the fort, you may have a slightly different experience.
The Bartizan
One of the best stays we had in Sri Lanka. The rooms were incredible, spacious and comfortable. Not to mention the rooms had views of the ocean just outside the balcony. The Bartizan is one of the closest hotels to the fort and the sea so you really are just walking distance from everything you need! The staff, food and evening complimentary tea was something we really enjoyed. If you want to read more about The Bartizan, click the link here: Also, if you are planning a stay before November 2019, we have a discount code for you to get 15% off your stay. Just use the code ‘am&brit’ at checkout when booking directly on their site!
Curry Leaf Hostel
If you are looking for something more budget, check out the curry leaf hostel! We met a few people who had stayed there and enjoyed their accommodation! For the latest prices Check Here.
Overall, if time permits we strongly suggest you take a few days out of your Sri Lanka trip to experience the charm of Galle. It is easy to see why so many people love it.
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