Galle has been an important port for centuries. Long before European colonisers arrived, traders from Persia, Arabia, Greece, Rome, China, India, and Malaysia conducted business through Galle’s port. Around the 12th and 13th centuries, Sinhalese refugees escaping northern conflicts settled in the area. The famous Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta stopped by in 1342, and in 1411, Admiral Zheng He left the Galle Trilingual Inscription—a tablet engraved in Chinese, Tamil, and Persian.
Portuguese sailors accidentally landed in Galle in 1502 after a storm pushed them off course. They later took control of the area and built the first fort in 1588. In 1640, however, the Dutch ousted the Portuguese and greatly expanded the fort into what visitors can see today. When the British seized power in 1796, they kept the fort intact, using it as an administrative centre.
The fort has survived centuries of use and even the 2004 tsunami, maintaining its charm and historical significance. Its community is vibrant and multicultural. In the fort area you’ll find cobblestone streets, colonial-era buildings, museums, shops, eateries, places of worship, beaches and ocean views.
From Colombo you can take one of many southern line trains to Galle, or the bus. Both routes follow the coastline and have beautiful views.
By bus from Colombo: at Kotuwa bus station, Terminal 2, platform 12/13, "luxury" air con 22 seater mini coach, price 715LKR. Large non A/C old type bus, ticket 400LKR.
There are 2 options for bus transport between Colombo and the main bus station in Galle: private a/c minibus and luxury Southern Expressway bus.
Private a/c minibus. Smaller than the typical big buses, it seats only about 25 people (plus another 7 people will be jammed inside standing). 3 hours in normal conditions; more than 4 hours if Colombo traffic is bad. This option is more convenient than the Southern Expressway bus if you need to start or end in central Colombo. Also more comfortable than the train: on the bus, you can be sure to get a seat if you start at either Galle main bus station or Colombo Fort, whereas getting a seat on the train is a matter of luck (and ability to push). Beautiful ocean views during almost the entire trip (the road is even closer to the ocean than the train tracks and spends much more time on the edge of the water). Rs 270. (updated Nov 2022)
Southern Expressway bus. 1½ hr. Bus goes from Maharagama station, not Colombo Fort. Direct, comfortable "luxury" bus runs every 20 minutes in both directions. Travels via the Southern Expressway, a very modern, smooth and essentially empty toll highway. Views of forests (many palm trees), but no ocean views. Much faster and direct than the private a/c buses which start and end at Colombo Fort, but not so convenient for tourists who want to be at Colombo Fort. Colombo Fort to Maharagama is around 60 minutes or more on the crowded public buses; luggage bigger than a small bag can be very difficult, but definitely easier than on the private a/c minibus. Rs 370. (updated Nov 2022)
Trains travel several times every day and can be crowded:
6.0333180.214311Galle Railway Station, Colombo Rd (right on the seashore). Train timetable. The 115km journey from Colombo takes beteween 1½ hr - 3½ hr depending on the train taken. Rs 120 - 220 (depending on class).
From Ella/Badulla:
There is one public bus in the morning from Badulla at 6:30AM and Ella around 7AM to Galle. From Badulla the ticket costs Rs 346 (as of May 2018).
Tuk Tuk or on foot is your best bet if you are traveling in Galle or close by. The Old Town of Galle and its fortifications are within walking distance from the central bus station, so it's better to walk rather than to take a tuk-tuk.
6.0274580.217471All Saint's Church, Church St, Fort. Masses: F Su 8AM. Anglican Church.
Kalutara temple. is a place you must not miss
Seenigama temple. Always make a donation and say a prayer for good luck.
The south ramparts of Galle Fort
6.0240480.217762Fort's walls, Rampart Rd. A walk here at sunset is very pleasant if you don't mind being hassled to buy table cloths, fake antique 'Dutch' coins, or powdered milk. Be wary of unauthorized local or foreign guides who offer you a walk round the Fort for a fee. Walking round the Fort is free for everybody.. (updated Oct 2021)
Peace Pagoda. the view from on a clear day is also quite lovely
6.035880.22863Galle Port, Matara Rd (1 km east from the Bus Station).
6.0245580.218734Meeran Masjid, Fort Galle, Rampart St.
6.0280180.217665National Sea Museum, Queens Street, ☏ +94 91 22 42261. It is housed in the old Dutch East India Company VOC Warehouse in Galle Fort.
6.0282680.217196Dutch Reformed church, Church Street (Middle St corner). Look inside.
6.0354280.212717St-Mary's Cathedral (Kaluwella Catholic Church), Kaluwella, between Templers Rd and Prison Rd.
6.0253780.217758Arabic College (Al Bahjathul Ibrahimiya Arabic College), New Lane 2 (In the Fort, Church St corner). Found: 1892.
6.0264280.218999Historical Mansion Museum, 31-39, Layn Baan St, Fort (near Front Cross St).
5.99550280.2874744Talpe Beach, 1042, Matara Rd, Thalpe. Beach club with great vibe and excellent drinks. Bring your towel and enjoy the day there.
If you're staying in the Fort, get a bit of exercise by walking around the ramparts first thing in the morning, as a lot of the locals do. The evenings are lovely too.
Galle Fort. Hear all the interesting stories about the Galle Fort. Audios will play automatically as you explore the ramparts using the curated route maps. Will work offline once downloaded. $1. (updated Jan 2023)
6.0258680.217841Commercial Bank, 22 Church St, Matara (in the Fort, south of the Church Cross St), ☏ +94 91 2 232223, fax: +94 91-2242770, [email protected]. Open weekdays 9AM to 3PM. Other unit: Galle City Branch, No. 130, MAIN St., Tel:+94 91-2225786/ +94 91-2234469 /+94 91-2234446, Fax:+94 91-2234356, [email protected]. Open weekdays 9AM to 3PM, weekend & holidays 9AM to 1:30PM
6.0343280.212352National Savings Bank, Colombo Rd (west to the Galle Railway Station).
6.0342280.21883Fruit and Flower Market (Municipal Fruits Market), Sea St (next to Municipal Shopping).
6.0345380.219334Fish Market, Fish Market St (Sea Street at corner of Dickson Street (across from ocean, next to Fruits Market)). A fish market opened in 2011, paid for by the UN and BASF [1]. The old colonial style market built by the British in the 1890s was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. There were fourteen fish stalls, trading in the traditional style. The new facility is more hygienic than the majority of fish stalls on the beach. Prices are typically 10-40% higher than for the same fish direct from fishermen on the beach (for example, compared to the informal market located a 5-minute walk away to the northeast (along the water towards Unawatuna)).
You will find the best tourist shopping inside the Fort. But you will need to go into town if you want fresh fruit, veggies or clothing
Lihiniya Gems, 42A Hospital St, Fort (opposite the lighthouse tower), ☏ +94 91-2234600. Established in 1983, this small family-run business deals in precious and semiprecious gems and hand made jewellery. Approved by the Sri Lanka Government.
There is a good gift shop at 67A Pedlar Street called Shoba. It stocks a large range of handmade goods which are direct from the craftsman/women who have made them. It is a good alternative to the large retail chain "Barefoot" which you will find is often crowded with tourists. The owner loves a chat and is very knowledgable about the history of Galle.
6.0335280.218086Municipal Shopping (GMS Shopping Complex), Main Street / Sea St (east to the Galle Central Bus Station).
Seafood Restraurant (Fish Market Street at the corner of Dickson Road). Literally a hole in the wall located just behind the main Galle Fish Market. 1kg of fresh crabs cooked at local restaurant behind the Fish Market. Total cost for 2 people: Rs 1200, including crabs, coconut curry, rice, vegetable and lentil curries. it's a tiny, one family-operation: father cooks, mother prepares plates and cleans. Only 5 plastic chairs and a small counter, not enough space to turn around. For adventurous travelers looking for a truly local restaurant outside the typical tourist restaurants or the made-only-for-foreigners "authentic cooking experiences", it's by far the best option for seafood in Galle. Buy your seafood fresh yourself, either at the market directly in front of this restaurant or at any other market. Bring your seafood to this restaurant around lunchtime, and the owner will cook it for you with spices and coconut curry. 1 kg of crabs costs around Rs 700 in the market, pay the restaurant Rs 500 more, so for Rs 1200 total, you have a huge feast for 2 people: 1kg of freshly cooked crabs in coconut curry with unlimited rice, dahl (lentils) and vegetable curries. Nowhere in Galle or the surrounding beach towns offers such a good deal, neither in price or in taste. Tuna, prawns, squid... you choose whatever you want, you can get it fresh and cooked in delicious coconut curry.
Anura's Restaurant (Inside the fort). serves a mixture of local foods, pizzas, sandwiches and other snacks.
6.0259180.217041Karunadasa Restaurant, 23 Light House St (in the Fort).
Mama's. Authentic Sri Lanken food. Mama and her daughter run two cooking classes daily (morning and noon) which includes sitting down to eat the food you learn to cook. It is often difficult to get a table at the roof top restaurant, but it might be easier to book the afternoon cooking class including dinner. The cooking class was a highlight of Galle.
Serindipity. A good option for dessert. It can be quite hard to get them to serve you food as they often close their kitchen for cooking classes during the day and also closes quite early at night (before 9 PM).
6.0261180.216592Cafe The Pedler's Inn, 92, Pedler Street (In the Fort), [email protected]. The milkshakes are a must for a hot day, and the sandwiches are pretty good, too! If staying for dinner be sure to finish it off with the home made chocolate brownies with ice cream.
Ice cream parlour signed by a large 'Dairy King' poster, Church street. The products are a mixture of home made and bought produce. The home made mango and the home made coconut is particularly good. The brownies are better at the "Fort Galle Hotel".
Lighthouse Hotel, See at 'Stay' chapter. For a treat, try the all-you-can eat buffet at this ultra posh palce for only about R1200/-. (You might not get any further than the hors d'oeuvres.)
6.0253680.216361Rampart Hotel, Rampart St (inside the fort on the south ramparts). does good local and "international" meals and serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It is quite expensive by local standards though at about SLR1600 (US$15) for a meal with a couple of drinks. (updated May 2025)
The Sydney Hotel, No. 10, Gamini Mawatha (near the bus station opposite the International Galle Cricket Stadium), ☏ +94 91 2226840. (updated Apr 2016)
Galle has quite a few small boutique hotels, budget hotels and hostels and more seem to be cropping up after the tsunami. Within the Galle Fort there is Amangalla (within the renovated Oriental Hotel) and the Galle Fort Hotel. On the outskirts of Galle there is the Sun House.
On the road into Galle from Colombo there is the Lighthouse Resort designed by Bawa, famous architect.
6.02587180.2156161Rampart View Guest House, 37 Rampart Street, ☏ +94 912223304, +94 779908016, [email protected]. The rooms have a shared balcony overlooking the ramparts at the southern end of Galle Fort with the Indian Ocean beyond, and it has a small roof garden. The rooms are clean, with air-con, and the owners are friendly and helpful. The breakfasts include lots of fresh fruit, bread, eggs and good rich tea.
6.02642180.2193142Thenu Rest, 12 Hospital St, ☏ +94 91 224-6608, +94 77-3584156. This guest house has four well equipped clean rooms with traditional four poster double beds with hanging net curtains. Two of the rooms have air conditioning and the other two have fans. All rooms are well equipped with electric hot water showers. The main guest bedroom has a large balcony overlooking the main street and two of the other rooms have internal balconies overlooking the terrace. The owners are very friendly and helpful. They also provide dinner and breakfast: either Continental or traditional Sri Lankan. (updated Oct 2021)
6.05154880.1795993Rosa Shashi Cabanas, No. 517 Colombo Road, Dadalla, Gintota (Next to Amari Hotel), ☏ +94 712506391. Great little huts on the beach run by local family. 2 huts only. Third hut was built by the father as of May 2018, partly using recycled material. From 2000 LKR. (updated May 2018)
Fort Inn Guest House, 31 Pedlar St, fort, ☏ +94 91 2248094. Four-room family-run guest house. Can provide breakfast, lunch and dinner by request. Free internet. Rooms have attached bathroom with hot shower, fan and two rooms with air conditioning. Roof top room with ocean view. From US$20.
Khalid's guest house, 102 Pedlar St, Fort Galle (Galle Fort), ☏ +94 77 317 7676, [email protected]. Longest running family guest house in a historical Dutch fort. Good traditional meals. All rooms with attached bath and hot water and some rooms with balcony sea view. Good value. The establishment sets a night curfew to its guests and maintains a no pork and alcohol rule in its premise. US$20.
Mamas, 76 Lleyn Baan st, Galle Fort. They have only two en suite rooms, but the best roof terrace in the fort. Fresh breakfast from local food served by a willing local family, fluent English-speaking ex tour guide Jerome runs his own business. Good value. From US$40.
Templeberg Villa, Barbaragoda Road, off Akuressa Road (Templeberg Villa is 500 m up the Barbaragoda Road entrance), ☏ +94 71 2582968, [email protected]. Templeberg Villa is a Boutique Estate with 5 rooms, including a standalone 2 bedroom Family Bungalow. Built in the 1800s and in private ownership until 2012, the property has been refurbished and updated and turned into a guest house. Situated next to a temple and on top of a hill, the house is on 5 acres of coconut plantation. You can enjoy birds in the sprawling terraced gardens. The villa's stone walls are over 200 years old. Breakfast included in the rate, free wifi, laundry service and complete with private cook and 10 staff. US$100.
6.095180.13534Aditya Resort, 719/1, Galle Rd, Devenigoda, Rathgama (13 km NW - Rajgama Railway Station 600 m away), ☏ +94 91 2267708. Best rates on official website start at US$208.
Coral Rock by Amaya, 340 Galle Rd, Hikkaduwa (19 km NW), ☏ +94 91 2277021. Superior and deluxe rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, plasma-screen TV and in-room safe. Facilities and services are swimming pool, garden and restaurant. Several key destinations can also be spotted near this boutique hotel. From US$110.
The Fortress Resort & Spa, Koggala, Habaraduwa, ☏ +94 91 438 9400, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Consists of 49 guest rooms and 4 suites with facilities such as an infinity pool and spa. Starting from US$170.
6.042380.19486The Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel (2.5 km NW from Galle town to Colombo side).
6.044580.1951687Tamarind Hill, No: 288, Galle Rd, Dadella (400 m from Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel), ☏ +94 91 222 6568, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. This sprawling manor, built in the 1800s by a prominent family in the Galle district was first occupied by a British Admiral and later by a High Court judge of the colonial era. Tamarind Hill was refurbished preserving the intricate details and style of a by-gone era - all the extensions and alterations to the property have been beautifully blended with the original main house, in keeping with the architecture and restoring it to its grand origins. Situated on a three acre hill with huge courtyards, sun-dappled verandahs and tropical gardens, Tamarind Hill has 10 rooms and two suites.
Unawatuna 5 km to the southeast on Route A2. A beautiful beach for swimming. Many places to eat. Buses run every 10–15 minutes in both directions, cost Rs 20, take 10–15 minutes. Can be very crowded and play loud music. Tuk-tuks ask for Rs 400–500, can usually be bargained down to Rs 250–300.
Matara, end of railway line from Colombo, approximately 50 km south following the coastline.
Mirissa, the tourist-friendly beachside town is easily reached by train, bus or tuk-tuk
Madu River, 40 km north following the coast across the Balapitiya area, Take a boat tour. This extraordinary estuary with a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along its impressive breadth, most of which are covered with mangroves and uninhabited, and is also a haven for crocodiles.
Kanneliya Forest Reserve — (Galle district). The waterfall “Naranga Ella” is one of the highlights. There is a safe place for bathing in Nannikitha also close to the entry to the Forest Reserve. There is a nature trial to Kabbale Kanda Mountain.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage — is home to the biggest captive herd of elephants in the world. Don't miss bathing times where the elephants are led to a nearby river.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve — (districts of Ratnapura, Matara and Galle) is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka. A World Heritage Site since 1989.
Yala National Park — (141 km away) is open to the public, and is mostly made up of parkland and scrub jungle but also contains beaches, lagoons, freshwater lakes, rivers, enormous rocky outcrops and dense jungle.
Ratnapura — Udawalawe National Park where you can spot large herds of Asian elephants, deer and buffalo. It is dry lowland forest, thorny scrub jungle and grassland; several areas of the park have been planted with teak. One of its main attractions is the majestic Udawalawa Reservoir.
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