Galle

Where to stay

Most budget travelers base themselves inside Galle Fort, where guesthouses along Leyn Baan Street and Church Street put you steps from the ramparts and the Dutch Hospital area. If prices inside the walls are too steep, the streets just outside the Fort gate near the main bus stand are 30-40% cheaper and still walkable to everything.

Getting around

• Take the train from Colombo Fort Railway Station instead of the bus. The coastal Colombo-Matara line runs right along the ocean south of Aluthgama, costs a fraction of an AC bus, and you can board without a reservation on slower services.
• Unawatuna beach is 5km from Galle Fort and has its own cluster of guesthouses. A tuk-tuk runs about LKR 300-400 each way, and staying there instead of in the Fort can cut your nightly rate by half.
• Eat at the produce and fish market near the Galle bus stand rather than the cafes along Church Street inside the Fort. The same rice and curry lunch costs three to four times more once you cross the Fort gate.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest May through September when the southwest monsoon keeps tourist numbers down (rain is heavy but comes in short bursts). December through March is peak season and rooms inside the Fort sell out weeks ahead, especially around Christmas and New Year.