#Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Historical Sites
landmark
Historical Architectures
Address:
Galle 80000 Sri Lanka
Phone:
+94 76 508 1842
Sri Lanka | Galle Old Town Travel Guide (Highly Recommended)
| Galle Old Town Travel Guide (Highly Recommended). The old town of Galle is so beautiful and fun.
1⃣ Snorkeling by the beach (Beginner) 🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you're eager to try snorkeling but too scared to get into the water, this place is much more suitable than the Philippines. There is a small area of the sea enclosed by reefs near the beach of Galle Old Town, with clear water that blocks the big waves from the Indian Ocean. Just put on your swimsuit, goggles, and snorkel, and swimming every day is simply amazing. After swimming about 5-10 meters into the sea, you can see tropical fish swimming around.
Note: It's almost impossible to buy snorkeling goggles + breathing tube in Galle Old Town, so buy them in advance and bring your own.
2⃣ Beachside sunrise and sunset photography 🌟🌟🌟
The light is great from about 5:30 in the morning until 9 a.m.
👉 Find a raised mound (lawn) with the sky as the background, playful and cute.
👉 Sit on the fort wall, facing the sea for photos.
👉 The platform for the sea-jumping youth (you can see a small sign), it's especially great for watching the sunset there.
👉 There's a very small staircase, go down and wait for the sunset to photograph silhouettes playing in the water.
3⃣ Beachside stand fishing 🌟🌟
Take a taxi from Galle Old Town to Koggala, arrive around 4:30 p.m. to negotiate the price for stand fishing, photograph the fishermen at sunset, or pose yourself for a unique photo. Pay special attention:
👉 Taxi: Use the pick me app outside the old town (one-way 1200 local currency), cheaper than finding a tuk-tuk inside the old town (3000 local currency for a round trip).
💰 Stand fishing price: Always bargain and pay at the end, paying first may result in reduced time and fewer fishermen, which is very annoying.
Reference 6 fishermen posing + 3 people fishing on their own = 3000 local currency.
We insisted on paying first, and as a result, only 2 fishermen came, and we only had 10 minutes for photos, which was very untrustworthy.
3⃣ Visit the gem shops in the old town, the various styles and loose stones are quite attractive, but if you can't distinguish and judge, it's better to be cautious about purchasing. Find a nice-looking store or cafe to take some photos, and it's great.
EthanHenderson16
Galle Ancient City, Sri Lanka
Galle, Southern Province
On December 21, 2023, in Sri Lanka
The afternoon itinerary is to drive to the Galle Ancient City for a visit.
The Galle Ancient City and Castle were built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. This ancient city, located at the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka and built on rocks, was once a military fortress and still retains its artillery. Looking far away, the vast Indian Ocean is in sight, and the quiet ancient city has small streets crisscrossing. Portuguese and Dutch colonial-style buildings can be seen everywhere, revealing the old colonial atmosphere everywhere.
The mottled city wall is not only a witness to the changes in Galle during the colonial period, but also protected the entire ancient city in the 2004 South Asian tsunami; the tall clock tower has been in use for more than 400 years and is still quite accurate; at the other end of the ancient city, a white lighthouse stands by the sea, providing guidance for passing ships.
It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1988.
Galle Ancient City Galle Castle Clock Tower
AdventurousVoyager
Trip to Sri Lanka - Galle Fort
November 25, Merissa - Galle Fort,
It is said that Merissa is an excellent place to watch whales at sea, but like watching the aurora, it is a matter of luck. Perhaps we were unlucky, chasing whales all morning without even seeing a sea turtle.
After lunch, we set off for Galle Fort, checking into the Orchard House Galle guesthouse inside the fort around 3 pm. The location of the guesthouse is excellent, close to the city gate and the lighthouse.
Galle Fort is an ancient city where people still live today and is one of the world's cultural heritage sites. Sri Lanka was once a Dutch colony, and the Dutch built Galle Fort to rule Sri Lanka. The solid and sturdy old city walls are the iconic landscape of Galle Fort.
I am always irresistible to the old city. After putting down my luggage, I went out for a stroll. The fort is not large, and the most comfortable thing is to take a walk around the city wall of the fort. Because the fort and the old city are connected, you can wander aimlessly along the roads that lead in all directions in the old city. The not-so-wide streets are occasionally passed by bicycles and cars, giving the illusion of being in a European country. The old city, full of strong European style, is full of exquisite shops everywhere. Perhaps a coffee shop or a painting studio will stop you. The terrain of the entire old city is not flat, and the roads generally have some slopes. The buildings on both sides look new from a distance, but up close, you can see the mottled traces of time.
Walking along the old city, you can soon see the iconic building of Galle - the seaside lighthouse. The pure white lighthouse, the quiet and magnificent beauty, a casual shot is a postcard. Turning past the lighthouse is a large white mosque. There are several streets nearby where tourists shuttle back and forth. There are also the National Museum and the Maritime Museum. If you have time, you can visit them. Galle Clock Tower is another iconic building in the fort, located west of the main gate of Galle, built in 1883. This clock tower, which has a history of more than 400 years, is still in use today. It is said to still keep accurate time, which is also one of the must-visit places for tourists.
Galle Fort is even more charming at sunset. Many local young people, couples, and students gather here to play, chat, and make noise. I happened to meet a few handsome local guys, drumming, singing, and dancing. With the afterglow of the Indian Ocean sunset, the scene was too beautiful. This should be the most beautiful moment of the day in Galle Fort.
Galle Old City
Skyr0ck3t_@rt1f1c3r
A beautiful small city on the Indian Ocean - Galle Old Town
Galle Fort, one of the only remaining ancient cities in Sri Lanka, has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage, a port ancient city from the Dutch colonial period, a bit European, a bit Cuban...
It is the Galle Fort on the Indian Ocean that blends European and South Asian styles. It exudes a romantic atmosphere. The view from the city wall is excellent, the old city scenery is unobstructed, and you can see the panoramic view of the port. This is a relatively niche check-in place, and the photos are very good Galle Old Town
seraphina_4255
The ancient city of Galle - an ancient city with a variety of styles
Galle Fort is not only a historic city, but also a city full of charm. It has beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, Dutch colonial houses, ancient castles, churches... If you come to Sri Lanka, this is a must-see scenic spot.
Walking on the streets of the ancient city, many old buildings have been transformed into hotels and various shops, and the whole ancient city has become a colorful world, with a modern atmosphere amidst the strong ancient charm.
The ancient city of Galle is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a boundless view of the deep blue and crystal clear sea water, gentle sea breeze, soft waves, and sandy beaches, forming a beautiful picture of the sea. Many tourists from all over the world, as well as sweet couples, have left their most beautiful and brilliant smiles here.
Travel tips:
Accommodation recommendation: During the off-season, it is recommended to search for a good room online and negotiate the price offline. This is our experience! It will be cheaper than online.
Visiting time: You can finish exploring on foot in one morning. It's very comfortable here, so it's suitable to stay for a few days if you're on vacation. It's also not far from Colombo.
Shooting tip: The colors here are vibrant, so it's recommended to wear warm-toned clothes for better photos. Colorful clothes also work well for shooting.
Opening hours: all day
Ticket: Free