• Homepage
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Bali
      • Nusa Penida
      • Sri Lanka
      • Vietnam
    • Africa
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
  • About

Danes on the Road

Galle Waterfront
Sri Lanka
Asia Sri Lanka

Explore The Incredible Galle Fort

October 3, 2022

In the 17th century, the Dutch built their headquarters, Galle Fort, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The beautiful buildings still stand today. In addition to that Galle Fort is part of Unesco’s World Heritage. All the buildings are therefore well-kept and the Dutch and French architecture gets to adorn the cozy streets of Galle Fort. 

Galle Fort is something you can’t miss when traveling around Sri Lanka. The Fort is filled with history and is a great way for you to go exploring. If you like shopping you have plenty of opportunities for that as well. And lastly, Galle Fort is the perfect place to charge up on your energy. Read below to find inspiration for your stay in Galle Fort. 

The only way inside the fort is through the main gate. From here you can walk around the fort doing some shopping, explore the historical monuments, and the exciting history of the fort. It’s possible to explore Galle Fort in a couple of hours. But we would recommend you stay in the fort for at least one day – morning to evening. If you have the time you should stay for a few days and enjoy the peacefulness of Galle Fort. But if your time is limited it is possible to take a day-trip to Galle Fort. To avoid crowded streets you should start exploring in the morning. But you can’t miss the sunset views from the wall of the fort. It’s a must-see when in Galle Fort.

Galle Lighthouse

Visit the beautiful buildings

You don’t need to be interested in culture or history to enjoy the building of Galle Fort. It can be quite refreshing to see the architecture, which reminds you of home. 

Galle Fort is one big monument filled with exciting museums and beautiful churches. Some of our favorites were the lighthouse and the Dutch Church. On your walks around the fort, you can’t miss these amazing sights. 

When walking around the cozy streets of Galle Fort you almost forget you are in Sri Lanka. The European architecture makes it feel like a south European city rather than a city in Asia. 

The Clock tower

The clock tower in Galle Fort is from 1833. You can walk around the statues, enjoy the view over the ocean and the local cricket stadium. Maybe some of the locals are even playing a friendly game. 

Galle Clock Tower
Path to Galle Clock Tower

The Dutch Church

The Dutch Church was originally built in 1640. But the church you see in Galle Fort today is “only” from 1755. The church is still in use – especially on Sundays. Inside the church, you will find gravestones in the walls. The story is that they originate from a Dutch cemetery, which was closed. The organ in the church is also the original, which is from 1760. The church is therefore a good visit for history lovers. 

The Dutch Church in Galle
The Dutch Church Bell in Galle

The Maritime Archeology Museum

The Maritime Archeology Museum is a very exciting visit. Here you will get an insight into Sri Lankan history. The ocean has had a big influence on the city and fort, which you get to know better. At the same time, you learn about the tsunamis which have raged Sri Lanka and the consequences of these. 

You can also see old fisherman boats, learn about the life of a fisherman, as well as their fishing technique. As a last plus for your visit, you will have the opportunity to see a skeleton from a whale.

The Maritime Archeology Museum in Galle

The All Saints Church

The All Saints Church was built in 1871 during the British colonization of Sri Lanka. The church was built in Victorian style so it could survive in the warm climate. Because of the beautiful architecture, it’s a big sight around tourists. 

The All Saints Church in Galle

The Old Dutch Hospital 

The Old Dutch Hospital was built in the 17th century and has since then undergone bug changes. Today the hospital is a shopping mall with 21 local and global shops. Even though the shops are very modern, the architecture of the Old Dutch Hospital has been kept. So, it’s possible to do shopping surrounded by old architecture.

The Old Dutch Hospital in Galle

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse of Galle Fort is also known as Pointe De Galle Light. It was built in 1848 but burned down. The “new” Lighthouse you see today was built in 1939. This piece of architecture is incredibly beautiful with the ocean in the background. Therefore, you can be sure to get some Instagram worthy pictures.

Path to Galle Lighthouse
Galle Lighthouse

Small shops in Galle Fort

Galle Fort is home to cool souvenirs. Here you can find something for everyone. The streets are filled with shops with arts and crafts that you don’t find in any other place in the country. So, remember to save some money on your trip so you can spend it here. 

Most of the shops are owned by foreigners. The prices can therefore be a bit higher than in other parts of the country. But at most times it’s worth the money. 

Our favorite shops were:

  1. Stick No Bills – Here you find beautiful and cool postcards and posters with graphical motives. 
  2. Embark – Here you can buy almost everything. And all the money goes to an organization that helps stray dogs in Sri Lanka. A very good purpose if you ask us. 
  3. Barefoot – A shop filled with interior design. Everything from knick-knack, fabrics, clothes and so much more. 
  4. Orchid House – The place to buy jewelry, Sri Lankan sarongs as well as arts and crafts. 
Galle Streets
Small street in Galle Fort

Magical sunsets on the wall of the fort

The wall of the fort is a gathering point for tourists as well as locals. It’s the perfect place to watch the magical sunsets from. The light is incredible and the atmosphere in the fort is very peaceful. It’s a perfect way to end a day in Galle Fort. 

Galle sunset
0 Comments
Share

You May Also Like

5 Must-See Places in Hué

October 3, 2022

Guide: The Perfect Day Trip to Nusa Penida

October 3, 2022

Folk Pool and Gardens: A Perfect Instagram Spot

October 3, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Previous Post
Getting a Visa for Sri Lanka
Next Post
Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock: Complete Guide

Thanks for joining us

Hi there and thanks for visiting our blog. We hope you will enjoy our travel guides from a steadily growing number of destinations around the world. They are all written to inspire and help you plan your next travels.

Current Location

Current Location

DENMARK

Ideas for your next trip

  • Sunset view from Whale Tail Lookout Point in Plettenberg Bay in South Africa

    9 Amazing Things To Do in Plettenberg Bay

    March 14, 2024
  • Guinea turaco in Birds of Eden

    Visit the Animals in Plettenberg Bay

    March 14, 2024
  • Close up of a tiger in Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary

    Visit the Incredible Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary

    March 12, 2024
  • Lemurs in Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay

    A Visit to the Wonderful Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay

    March 12, 2024

Work with us

Reach out to us to discuss the possibility of featuring your brand in our detailed, inspirational and genuine travel content reaching enthusiastic travellers around the world.

Get in Touch

  • Work With Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 Danes on the Road. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}