What to do in one day in Galle, Sri Lanka
Galle in Sri Lanka is a fort city on the Southwest coast of Sri Lanka– through it’s prior colonialism the city has a unique mix of architecture from Dutch, Portuguese and British influence. Galle is definitely worth a visit. You wonder how to spend the perfect day in Galle, Sri Lanka? If you're short on time but still don't want to miss out on the unique Galle vibe, here is a one day itinerary on how to spend a perfect day in Galle.
what to do in galle
Charming streets of Galle
General info
Galle is located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and is a former colonized city first occoupied by the Portuguese, Dutch and then later by the English. These used Galle as their administrative headquarters. The old town of Galle is surrounded by fort walls formerly intended to protect the fort city Galle from any intruders. Before the colonialization Galle was a harbor of great importance for international trade. Galle has actually been named an UNESCO world heritage site and attracts many visitors due to its history and its great charme.
Is Galle worth visiting?
While this is always a relative question, depending on your preferences, generally Galle is definitely a place worth a visit. It is a UNESCO world heritage site due to its historical and cultural significance and gives you a bit of a different vibe from other Sri Lankan cities. If you like to enjoy a bit more of a relaxed time and enjoy strolling through little shops and art galleries whilst staying close to the sea, you will like Galle.
How much time to spend in Galle?
Again depends but generally I would say 1-2 days is enough. This blogpost focuses on one day as Galle is quite doable in one day only. However, if you are a family or like to take things slower, it might be better to stay two days also to catch up the city's vibe a bit better and take your time exploring. Furthermore, Galle's location is perfect for day trips to Unawatuna, Ahangama or Hikkaduwa to enjoy beautiful beaches like Dalawella Beach with the famous rope swing. But also within a few minutes driving from Galle there are plenty of beaches (also take note of the Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre Mahamodara).
Where to stay in Galle
Depending on your budget there is anything from heritage, colonial style boutique hotel, luxury resort to local homestays in Galle. As I'm a budget traveller and always a fan of connecting more to a culture I find homestays the best accomodation option. Galle also has a few different homestays, I stayed at the Megabe Villa right next to a beautiful lake – very kind owners, quiet surroundings and just a short tuktuk drive away from Galle Fort.
How to get to Galle
There is no denying that the train is Sri Lanka's cheapest and most comfortable way to get around. However, the train network is not as established as the bus network yet. However, Galle can be easily reached by train if you're coming from higher North (Colombo) or more East (Hiritekiya, Ahangama etc.) ressources like rome2rio, 12GO, Google Maps (if you click on a nearby railway station on Google Maps it will showcase all the times of departures) or the official train website (not all trains will be visible though) will help you plan your journey. The easiest however, as train schedules are always prone to changes and websites might not be up to date, is to go to the train station beforehand to get the information about the current train schedule. You find that mostly there are rather more than less trains that are actually riding. Same goes for bus schedules – checking out your nearest bus stop for information is a fool proof way.
most famous landmark in galle, galle lighthouse
Galle lighthouse
How to spend one day in Galle
First things first: Coco coffee for the win
Galle is famous for its high temperatures and the strong sun. What better way to start off the day with a delicious coconut iced coffee? While this was particularly a thing when I was visiting Vietnam, cafés like KiXi do a wonderful job. Also check out their waffle menu giving you some extra fuel to start your exploring later on.
Do some sightseeing
While there are not a ton of sights to check out in Galle, as the best thing to do is just to wander the streets, a list of things to see while you're in Galle can include the following:
Dutch Hospital
As suggested by the name this place used to be a hospital and now hosts a variety of restaurants, bars and shops. The building is one of the oldest one of Galle and is therefore under protection.
Dutch reformed church
This church dates back to 1755 and is one of the oldest ones of its kind of Sri Lanka.
All Saints Church
Another building to check out when you're interested in architecture and/or history is the All Saints Church. It classifies as a Gothic architecture which can be seen in the large stained glass windows, arches and ornaments that serve as decoration.
Sri Sudharmalaya Buddhist Temple
An interesting fact is that despite the majority of the population being buddhist, Galle only has one Buddhist place of worship. The influences of European colonial architecture can be seen even in the architecture of the temple.
Meeran Jumma Mosque
The mosque is also known as the Galle Fort mosque and is a short walk away from the lighthouse. The mosque was built to honor the patron saint of the sailors Meeran Saheb.
Lighthouse
Galle's famous landmark you see on any postcard is the lightouse. I recommend to check it out when you walk along the Fort walls as your walk will end there anyways. The lighthouse was built by the British in 1848 and has been the first lighthouse of the country therefore having historical significance.
Check out the cute little boutiques
Once you're fuelled and your belly is filled, the exploring can start. My favorite way of getting to know a place and a sense of it is by wandering the streets. Since the old town of Galle is pretty small it is very walkable since everything is within walking distance.
Part of Galle's charme comes from the little galeries and artsy shops that sell handcrafted souvenirs. Unfortunately many of the shops you will find mentioned in other blogposts no longer exist and had to close their doors after Sri Lanka was closed for tourism for almost two years. Nevertheless, there are still a few shops and galleries that survived. Here is a list with places you should make sure to check out:
Stick no bills
Stick no bills can also be found in Mallorca, Spain and has gained quite some exposure through the featuring by various media outlets like Lonely Planet or Condé Nast. Stick no bills sells vintage travel poster art taking you back in time with their unique and cool designs. Even if you don't shop anything it is still worth a look as the different art posters are displayed like in a gallery.
Lanka Living Gallery
The gallery owner and artist Thomas Clausen set up this little gem in Galle fulfilling a dream of his. After having fallen in love with Sri Lanka a few decades ago he tries to capture the hidden beauty of this country by expressing it through his works of art. Visit Lanka Living Gallery and enjoy a stroll inside the beautiful indoor patio and building and go for a cup of tea in his charming café.
Barefoot
Come and check out their iconic coloful fabrics, linen clothing and weavings as well as their jewellery and other handcrafted unique souvenirs. The building itself, where the store is situated, is an archaelogical site – having been build back in 1681. The founder Barbara Sansoni was born and raised in Sri Lanka and has a love for color and art – which led her to set up Barefoot – being a hommage to nature.
Shoba – Life to Hands
Shoba meaning the "beauty that is created by love, peace and happiness" is a cute little and funky shop selling hand-made crafts by local women. They also have a cute hidden backyard café and offer craft classes.
KARMA collection
KARMA collection, similar as the other boutiques mentioned, also offers a selection of homeware, fashion and art.
KK Collection
From homeware collections including things like coconut bowls, candle holders and baskets to fashion collections: This boutique can be worthwile to stop by as the venue itself already is worth it in itself
Made in Ceylon
Cute little shops offering a creative variety of hand-made gifts and souvenirs.
Grab a bite at the Dumplings Café
Even though Sri Lankan food is amazing it can be nice to have a bit of a change every now and then. The Dumplings Café offers yummy Chinese steamed buns and dumplings (900 LKR) perfect for a quick snack after that first tiredness hits after wandering the streets for a while.
Go for some gelato at Isle of Gelato
Before you head on I strongly recommend to have an icecream stop at the Isle of Gelato – probably one of the yummiest ice cream shops you will find around. They also have vegan options (sorbettos). And anyways, what better way to fight the heat than with an ice-cold treat?
Walk along the fort wallsto the lighthouse
After some delicious treats what better way to kickstart your digestion than by going for a walk? A classic thing to do when in Galle is to walk along the fort walls. The walk starts at the Galle Fort Clock tower and goes all the way to the famous Galle landmark – the lighthouse. Along the way you will come across old bunkers and canons and for anyone who wants to know more about the history, there are descriptions along the path.
Watch the sunset on the Fort wall
Another common thing to do in Galle is to gather for sunset at the fort walls and watch the sunset. The place is full of live as locals are taking their swim in the ocean, lovers are strolling along the pier and tourists alike are gathering to see the end of the day.
Have dinner at Coconut Sambol
Coconut Sambol is a place that is easy to overlook and walk past since it is a tiny place leaving room just for a couple of guests at the time. Coconut Sambal offers a small buffet where one can serve him- or herself according to how hungry they are. The big plus about Sri Lankan food is that vegetarians and vegans will always find something to eat – all the options on the buffet were vegan except for one dish. Also make sure to try the delicious homemade Ginger Beer. Super refreshing and exactly what you need after a hot day of walking around in the burning heat.
If you have more time
Do a spa day
If you have more than one day of time in Galle: Galle has a high density of different spas. Take advantage of that and treat yourself to a massage or a body scrub.
Do a cooking class
If you love Sri Lankan food as much as I do it might be well worth to join a Sri Lankan cooking class to be able to replicate those delicous foods at home – roti, kothu, dhal and curries – what's not to love about them? And what better way to immerse yourself into a new culture than through their food?
Sri Lanka Cooking Class and Cookery Demonstrations in Galle
Lucky Fort Restaurant And Cooking Class And Boat Rides
Take a daytrip to Unawatuna
Unawatuna is only a fifteen minute cardrive away from Galle. If you need a bit of a break and are looking for a relaxed day at the beach, Unawatuna might be your best bet. Make sure to check out the famous Unawatuna beaches of Dalawella and Wijaya and take a ride on the rope swing.
Conclusion
So here is your one day itinerary and guide on what to do in Galle. I hope you enjoyed it and can take some inspiration for your trip to Galle from it. Galle is well worth a visit in my opinion and the city can be easily done within 1-2 days time.
