The last stop on my trip to Sri Lanka was the beautiful coastal town of Galle. I envisioned sunny days by the calm, blue ocean, but the monsoons had set in just a couple of days before we arrived. In fact, the drive to Galle had us navigate through torrential downpours in between patches of clear weather.
The word ‘Galle’in Sinhalese translates to ‘cattle field.’ The land was first conquered by the Portuguese and then taken over by the Dutch under whom it was fortified and turned into the main hub for trading spices for over 2 centuries. Today, walking along the cobbled streets of Galle lets you see the amalgamation of past rulers merged with South Asian influences. Enter any narrow lane and you’ll find white Buddha statues dotting the street, ancient relics, and stores selling Ceylon Tea that blend harmoniously with whitewashed walls, chic boutiques, and hip cafes.
How to get to Galle
From Colombo and the airport, Galle is a 110 km drive away. The city is located towards the South West, close to other popular beach destinations like Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, and Mirissa. From Colombo, we drove upwards to Kandy before visiting Ella and then driving back down to Galle – from where we made our way back to Colombo to fly out. However many tourists opt to go downwards to Galle first.
If you’re travelling from Colombo, you can choose to go to Galle by train – a beautiful journey that takes you past the coconut-tree-lined coast for most of the trip. You can also go by bus or cab – the roads are smooth and it will take you around 2 hours to get there. Lastly, and this is always my preferred option – rent a self-drive car and enjoy the stunning drive at your own pace. I rented my car from ShineAway Cars in Colombo and I’ve written about how to rent, how to get a driver’s license and more here.
How many days should I stay in Galle?
We stayed in Galle for 2 nights, and I’d recommend staying for at least that much time to get a feel of the place. Being a Unesco World Heritage Site, there are so many charming sites to take in – and you’ll need to take some time to feel like you’ve traveled back to the 1700s. Galle has an extraordinary history and that’s precisely why it will take time to make sense of everything you see. Here’s a little glimpse:
The Galle Fort is surrounded by the sea from 3 sides, and this is what made it the major trading hub for merchants the world over for centuries. In fact, in the 25-150 AD, it was a port of trade for Greek, Arabic, and Chinese traders, too. Soon, the Moors (Arabs) monopolized the market and even today, you will see Arab surnames on doors and street signs, as well as mosques around the city.
In the 16th century, it was time for the Europeans to colonize the city and take control from the Moors. With the constant threat of invaders and the development of technology, the fort was made bigger and stronger. Inevitably, the Portuguese were defeated by the Dutch in a bloody battle in 1640, and the Dutch East India Company took over. The walls were built to be thicker and taller, with fourteen bastions built to house over 100 canons.
The Galle Fort was never attacked, but as the 1800s rolled around, the Fort became too small to house larger ships. It was because of this that Galle fell into disrepair; however, the interior buildings were not demolished due to economic hardships. It is these buildings that tell the tales of the past – the imposing mosques and churches, the bastions, the lighthouse, and more.
Galle was then handed over to the British in 1796 and one of the marks they left – the Galle tower can still be seen from various points in the city. While the tsunami of 2004 ruined parts of the city, even today, Sri Lanka exports tea, pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom as major export commodities.
Best time to visit Galle
October to April is the best time to visit Galle. While October – February will have fairly cooler temperatures, the mercury keeps rising from March onwards. In April-May, the weather is extremely hot and humid. I visited in June and the monsoons were just about setting in.
Where to stay in Galle
If you like being in the heart of the action, choose a hotel that is located inside the fort. Bear in mind that it will be pricey, however, the hotels are mid-high range and offer beautiful rooms along with good Sri Lankan hospitality. I stayed at Jetwing Lighthouse which was a little less than 3 km away from the fort. It was a large resort that was always busy and bustling with families. With two pools, a spa, a massive restaurant, and large grounds, it was a wonderful escape.
We had our room so close to the sea that we felt the sea spray and salty air on our skins all the time and the stretch of beach outside the hotel had millions of beautiful shells and coral to marvel at. While the property was beautiful, I loved the Jetwing properties at Kandy and Ella more. They were smaller, less crowded and we had far more personal attention given to us in comparison. Nevertheless, the luxury that Jetwing Lighthouse offers, the great food, and the convenience of the location cannot be denied.
Things to do In Galle
Visit Galle Lighthouse
Located in Galle Fort, this is one of the most popular props to take Instagram photos with, but it is worth noting that tourists are not allowed to climb up to the top. Fringed by palm trees and located by the sea, the beautiful lighthouse is still in use and has been since 1848 (the structure was rebuilt later), guiding ships safely to harbour.
Walk through Galle Fort
This is one of the most popular things to do in Galle and when we were not at our hotel, we were almost always at Galle Fort. The things to see in Galle Fort are plenty – the clock tower, the Dutch Reform Church, Dutch Hospital, a Maritime museum, Meeran Mosque, Flag Rock, Triton Bastion, and Star Bastion – to name a few. You can watch students and locals playing cricket or pop into any one of the several bars, restaurants, cafes, ice cream stores, and boutiques.
Just walking down the cobblestone streets will make you feel like you’ve been whisked away to Europe. Keep in mind, it will take you around 2 hours to walk through the fort and you can only enter through the main gate.
While it is said that the sunsets at Galle Fort are special but it was raining on both evenings that we were in Galle and we did not go. If the weather is favourable, stop by to end your day lying on the grass or sitting on the fort walls and gazing at the setting sun over the Indian Ocean. This is the time when locals visit the fort and you may get the opportunity to meet and mingle with them.
Marvel at the monuments
Given the incredible fusion of culture in Galle, you’ll find architecture that could make you forget you were in Sri Lanka, to begin with. While the fort itself is a massive monument, within its walls you will find churches, museums, and more that will impress even those who are not interested in architecture and culture. We visited the All Saints Church which is an Anglican style church built in a gothic, Victorian style. Another church you can see is the Dutch Reform Church, and the interiors are very different from the first church – kitschy while also being simpler and unadorned.
Go shopping on Peddler’s Street
From bookstores and jewelry shops to clothing boutiques souvenir shops, tea, and even spice stores to stores selling gorgeous paintings, the shopaholic in you will have literally hundreds of options of stores to choose from. If you don’t mind splurging, you will find the best shopping within the Galle Fort walls. You will need to heavily bargain as the shopping here isn’t cheap.
Eat, eat, eat!
There are food options galore at Galle Fort, and honestly, it’s hard to find a place with bad reviews – they all seem to be good, judging my online recommendations. Poonies Kitchen is one of the most popular restaurants. We enjoyed the gelato at the Isle of Gelato. As I had a lot of office work to do for most of the day, we had most of our meals at our hotel in Jetwing Lighthouse.
Admire Art
You don’t have to visit an art gallery to get your fill of all things beautiful. At Galle, there’s art waiting to be discovered at every street corner. From beautiful installations to posters, architecture, windows, vintage cars, cafes with pretty facades, and little shops with windows that open out into the street – everything you see will make you want to click a mental picture. While you can buy artwork from many shops inside the fort, the most popular spot for vintage posters is Stick No Bills. I popped into several random art galleries and didn’t miss an opportunity to pose with golden rickshaws shaped like elephants, graffiti, and more.
Visit markets
For items such as fruits, spices, teas, and more, visit the markets outside the fort walls. The prices are 1/10th of those inside the fort and it is here that you will get a glimpse into the non-touristy side of Galle.
Offbeat activity – Visit a Turtle Hatchery
Visiting a turtle hatchery in Galle was a spur-of-the-moment decision we made one morning over breakfast when we were wondering what to do before heading to the Fort. Luckily, we came across the Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre, Mahamodara just meters away from Jetwing Lighthouse. Upon paying a fee of LKR 1000 each, we headed in and got a quick well-rehearsed show-around and learned about different types of turtles, the unique marks they make in the sand, how they are rescued, cared for, and more.
We watched little baby turtles hatch in the sand and played with little ones that were born a few days ago and would be released into the ocean in a few days. And we watched how the conservation staff cared for big turtles that were bitten by sharks, had swallowed plastic bags and needed surgery, were caught in nets, or were injured by boat propellers. So many emotions were felt in one turtle hatchery experience – awe, sadness, hope, anger… Experiences like these make me wish I’d made a career for myself in animal welfare.
Other things to do in Galle
Here are some things to do in Galle that I didn’t do. Let’s start with whale watching! Being on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Galle is perfectly located for off-shore adventure. December to March is the ideal time to go Whale Watching (you may also spot dolphins and sperm whales) and you can do this through a variety of tour operators. I visited in the first week of June and monsoons had set in – so I did not do this activity, although I did enjoy it in Canada. You can also do day trips to Mirissa and Unawatuna from Galle with ease.
Galle is an enchanting place and it will have you under its spell. For more real-time updates on how I spent my time there, head to my Instagram page and scroll through the highlights. You may also like to read my Galle itinerary. Until next time!
Enchanting with its rich history and quaint atmosphere, Galle is a lovely Dutch colonial town tucked away along Sri Lanka’s stunning coastline. Galle offers a charming blend of old-world charm and modern attraction, from its historic fort to cobblestone alleys dotted with quaint cafes and stores. Visitors can travel back in time by exploring its winding lanes and historical sites, while the breathtaking views of the seaside offer a peaceful haven. Any traveller interested in seeing Sri Lanka’s cultural treasures should make time to visit Galle, which is a voyage through time in and of itself.