Galle Fort
★ 4.7🇱🇰 GalleSuggested visit Half a dayBest season December to March, when the south coast weather is best
World HeritageHistoric siteCoast
A coastal fort begun by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch, still lived in and inscribed as World Heritage.
Overview
On Sri Lanka's southern coast, Galle Fort was begun by the Portuguese in the 16th century and massively expanded by the Dutch after they took it in the 17th. The ramparts run about three kilometres around a promontory, enclosing the Dutch Reformed Church, a mosque and colonial villas; the streets are still inhabited and full of cafés and boutiques. It joined the World Heritage List in 1988.
History
A small fort followed the Portuguese arrival in 1505, the Dutch took and enlarged it from 1640 into its present form, and it passed to the British in 1796 before being inscribed in 1988.
Highlights
- •The three-kilometre ramparts
- •The Dutch Reformed Church
- •The lighthouse and bell tower
- •The colonial lanes inside the fort
Practical tips
- •Sunset along the ramparts is the best time
- •People live here — keep the noise down
Practical information
- Best time
- December-March
- Tickets
- The fort is free; the lighthouse has a small fee
- Opening hours
- Fort open all day
- Local food
- Sri Lankan crab curry, string hoppers, Ceylon tea
- Getting around
- About 2.5 hours by train from Colombo, with a superb coastal ride.
- Visa
- A visa is required; an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is available.
Traveller reviews
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