THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN GALLE FORT

Visiting Sri Lanka and looking for the best things to do in Galle fort? Look no further, because this guide on the best things to do in Galle fort will cover every place that you have to visit here along with lots of options for eating and shopping. So lets begin!

The port city of Galle that is located on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka has a very important place in Sri Lankan history. Galle fort was originally built by the Portugese in 1588 and later taken over by the Dutch who added extensive renovations to it in the 17^th century. The British took over in 1796 and it remained under them till Sri Lanka attained independence in 1948.

Thanks to all these conquests, Galle fort became a melting pot of various cultures with a diverse array of food, architecture and heritage sites. Galle fort gives off some serious European vibes, with charming alleys, Western architecture and a few beautiful churches. But there are also temples and mosques inside the premises. Today, the old buildings have all been renovated and converted into trendy art galleries, shops and restaurants making Galle fort a vibrant place for explorations. Galle fort is a UNESCO heritage site so if you are a history and culture lover like me, you should definitely make time to visit Galle.

Check out Fort Kochi in Kerala and Georgetown in Penang for more cultural vibes.

BEST TIME TO VISIT GALLE

Sri Lanka has 2 distinct monsoon seasons striking the north east and south west coasts at different times of the year. Galle gets most of its rainfall from May to September. The best time to visit Galle is during the warm and dry months from December to March when the days are bright and sunny. However, this is peak season with huge numbers of tourists and high prices that can drive up your budget. October, November and April are shoulder season months. If you don’t mind some showers and want to cut costs you can travel during this time.

HOW TO REACH GALLE

Galle is located around 146 kms from Colombo and taxi takes around 2 hours to make the trip.   Price : 50-60 USD. Alternately, Trains and buses run throughout the day. From Unawatuna, it’s only 6 km and a tuk tuk is the best option to reach in 15 mins. From Mirissa, Galle is 42 kms and it takes an hour by tuk tuk/bus.

GETTING AROUND IN GALLE FORT

The best way to explore Galle fort is by walking. Most of the fort area can be covered in 2-3 hours. Make sure to put on your walking shoes, plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated as the sun can get pretty hot. Its best to reach in the morning to try and finish off the major sightseeing before it starts burning up. You can also hire a tuk tuk if you want to see more of the town.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN GALLE FORT

1. GALLE FORT LIGHTHOUSE

This iconic lighthouse is the BEST thing to see in Galle Fort. Surrounded by palm trees and the blue waves of the ocean crashing below, the lighthouse stands tall and the whole scene looks picture perfect. This is the image that has been used most often to represent Sri Lanka in their tourism campaigns and postcards, so suffice to say, it’s a must visit place!

The lighthouse is the oldest in Sri Lanka and was built by the British in 1848. The best time to photograph it is during sunset.

Read about the Top 10 instagram spots in Sri Lanka here.

2. WALK ALONG THE GALLE FORT WALLS

Climb up the walls and take a walk along the perimeter of the fort. You can get to see many different vantage points to get some good views of the ocean. The whole walk is around 2-3 kms and it’s a good way to get different perspectives of the Galle fort.

 3. EXPLORE THE PRETTY ALLEYS OF THE FORT COMPLEX

One of my favourite things to do in Galle Fort was walking through the old charming alleys and discovering the place myself. The streets are filled with pretty houses, shops and cultural buildings and it’s a great way to explore the fort complex. Make sure to wear good walking shoes and carry plenty of water as it can get really hot.

4. VISIT A FEW CULTURAL SITES

Galle fort has a mix of different cultural influences and heritage sites making it a very interesting place to explore. Thanks to the Portugese, Dutch and British rule, the fort complex looks more like a charming European town. There are so many cultural sites and museums that you can visit here. Some of the impressive ones include:

• Dutch Reformed church (Groote Kerk): one of the most famous churches in Sri Lanka, this old protestant church boasts of a beautiful white façade.
• All Saints Anglican church : A gothic, Victorian style church
• St Mary’s cathedral
• Meeran mosque
• National Maritime Archeology museum
• Sri Suddharmalaya temple

5. CHECK OUT THE OLD DUTCH HOSPITAL

One of the oldest buildings in Galle fort dating back to the 17^th century is the Old Dutch hospital. This lovely building with a beautiful white façade and archways was earlier used as a hospital by the Dutch and later as army barracks by the British. Today, it has been restored and transformed into a vibrant shopping area filled with shops, trendy cafes, bars and restaurants.

6. SHOP AT PEDDLERS’ STREET

The best places to go souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka is Peddler’s street inside the Galle Fort.  This alley is filled with boutiques, art galleries and handicraft shops perfect to pick up some Sri Lankan gifts. Some of the best shops here include:

• Stick No Bills: for unique retro postcards and posters
• Orchid House: for local handmade products like tea, spices and spa products
• Barefoot: for colourful clothes, bags and plushies hand made from fabric
• Exotic Roots: for home décor, ceramics, jewellery and post cards
• Made in Ceylon: for handicraft items

7. HAVE SOME DELICIOUS FOOD

After all that walking in the hot sun, its time to take care of those hunger pangs. Galle fort has many amazing restaurants to try, some of which have even become insta famous! Here’s a list of highly reviewed and recommended restaurants to try out in Galle for your next trip:

• Poonie’s kitchen: modeled on a cool hipster Bali café, Poonie’s kitchen became insta famous thanks to its thalis. Dishes to try: Salad Thali,
• Peddler Inn: One of those iconic local eating joints in Galle fort is the Peddler Inn. They have a mix of everything along with some delicious gelato.
• Sugar Bistro: A dependable option for some classic Sri Lankan and Western dishes: come here for their burgers and Crab Kottu
• The Tuna and the Crab: the chef behind this restaurant is the same guy who’s behind the famous “Ministry of Crab’: Darshan munidasa. Come here for Crab and some quality Japanese sushi fusion dishes.
• Amangalla
• A minute by Tuk tuk
• The Heritage Café and Bistro

 8. CATCH A CRICKET MATCH

Cricket is Sri Lanka’s national sport and the international cricket stadium in Galle is a good place to catch a match while hanging out with locals.

 9. HAVE COCKTAILS AT GALLE FORT HOTEL

Galle fort hotel is probably one of the most gorgeous and luxurious heritage properties to stay in Sri Lanka. It was originally built in the 18^th century and renovated in 2003 into a hotel retaining many of the old architecture features. While it can be pretty expensive staying here, you can get a feel of the place by going for some sunset cocktails in this beautiful setting!

8. SEE THE STUNNING SUNSET FROM THE FORT WALLS

End your lovely day in Galle by watch a stunning sunset from the fort walls. The walls are a popular place for both locals and travellers to sit with some snacks while watching the sky change colours. Keep an eye on the Flag rock bastion, from where some locals proudly show off their skills by jumping onto the waves below!

I hope this Galle travel guide proves useful for planning your own trip ! Happy travelling !

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