Few hotels can rival the stately Galle Fort Hotel for connecting you to a bygone age. Here you can explore Sri Lanka’s vibrant history in the ultimate luxury setting.
Your holiday always includes
- Premium lounge passes at UK airports
- VIP meet & greet service at departure
- Private transfers to and from your hotel
- Personal concierge service throughout
- 24/7 assistance when travelling
- The first-hand knowledge of our team
Full accommodation information
Hotel information
Located within Galle Fort, a World Heritage-listed 17th century colonial-era fortress and one of the most culturally and historically important buildings in Sri Lanka, this exclusive 14-bedroom hotel has a history stretching back more than 300 fascinating years, having previously played host to a Dutch mansion and a warehouse.
A stay at the beautiful boutique Galle Fort Hotel embeds you straight into the annals of Sri Lankan history and provides you with a regal atmosphere of luxury rarely found anywhere in the world.
Galle Fort is a landmark that brings many visitors to Sri Lanka, so the chance to stay within the historic complex itself is not to be missed. First built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, it was taken over and modified by the Dutch in 1640, resulting in a distinctive architecture that blends together numerous colonial European influences.
In 2007 it was awarded the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards of Distinction for heritage conservation after the historic residential compound was fully transformed into a stylish luxury boutique hotel that evocatively captured the spirit of the colonial World Heritage town of Galle.
The restoration was undertaken using local expertise and craftsmanship and a sensitivity to the historic fabric of the hotel. The transformation retained the building’s modest scale and original street façade, while the elegant interior design and modern additions have added new layers of meaning.
As you enter the building you are greeted by an awe-inspiring ceremonial archway and soaring vaulted ceiling that was uncovered during the building’s extensive UNESCO-award winning redevelopment back in 2003, alongside several other stunning original architectural features that make Galle Fort Hotel so impressive and special.
The hotel is liberally adorned with period antiques and artefacts which give the regal halls and atmospheric rooms a fascinating museum-like quality. The staff are not only knowledgeable and respectful of their magnificent place of work, but are unfailingly friendly and always on hand to cater to your every need, from providing extra pillows to directions to local sights and shops.
The hotel’s location puts you at the centre of the action with shops, cafés, restaurants and museums just a couple of minutes’ walk away.
Room Options
There are only 11 rooms and suites available at Galle Fort Hotel, enhancing the feeling of luxurious exclusivity even further. Every spacious room provides a sense of timeless grandeur and comes with period furnishings including grand carved four-poster beds. As each room faces into the courtyard you will feel like you have found your own private hideaway, far from the outside world.
Garden Room
Sleeps: 2 Adults
Garden Rooms open directly onto the garden and pool and host a modern king-size four-poster bed, elegant gallery bathroom with a shower, Grohe taps and Italian fittings, a private parterre garden with a wall fountain, and a poolside veranda that provides a comfortable daybed.
Loft Suite
Sleeps: 2 Adults
A split-level loft suite provides plenty of space as well as an elegant sitting room furnished with long cushioned settees and a round antique dining table, alongside a romantic loft bedroom that allows you to overlook the garden and pool from your antique four-poster bed.
The Admiral Cheng Ho Suite
Sleeps: 4 Adults
With plenty of space and a unique Chinese theme, this oversized double-storey suite features an outdoor bathroom with 36-foot columns and a huge, elevated waterfall shower, a double bed upstairs, an antique Chinese opium bed downstairs and a Chippendale-style staircase leading to a screen made from rare, antique columns.
Porcelain Suite
Sleeps: 2 Adults
Boasting plenty of space and monumental Dutch windows that open onto a spectacular columned walkway that frames the courtyard, swimming pool and garden, a Porcelain Suite features antique Sri Lankan cabinets and a four-poster bed, making this one of the most spectacular and romantic suites on offer at the hotel.
Library Suite
Sleeps: 4 Adults
The beautiful Library Suite features a chest and almirah made from the rarest 'tiger' satinwood and 'king' ebony. Its cosy sitting area opens up as a balcony onto the archway of the main building, and with lots of space is perfect for small families, or for two people wanting plenty of space to lounge.
Grand Apartment 1 & 2
Sleeps: 4 Adults
This regal apartment occupies the entire top floor of the old wing and has two king-size bedrooms, each with their own en suites, original shuttered windows, twelve-inch teak floorboards, and fifteen-foot lime-washed ceilings that are part of an original design by the Comte de Mauny. With its private, full-length veranda, this is the largest suite in Sri Lanka, and it is possible to rent just one of the apartment’s suites and share the living room and veranda.Activities & Entertainment
The hotel’s enviable location mid-way down Church Street in the bustling heart of historic Galle gives guests plenty of options for activities. The shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and multiple fascinating museums of Galle are all only a few minutes’ walk away. Galle’s world-famous international Test Cricket ground is also a mere five-minute stroll from the hotel if you were to catch a match during your stay. Further afield, cycling or hiking tours of the surrounding areas including Koggala Lake and several golden beaches can be arranged. Within the hotel itself, the regal inner courtyard offers a tranquil area that is exclusive to guests and plays host to a small garden and a 10-metre swimming pool – one of the largest in the fort.
Sri Lanka travel information
When to visit Sri Lanka
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best time
Good time
Ok time
- Time zone: +5.5 GMT
- Flight time: 10-13 hours
- Recommended airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Etihad Airlines
- Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
- Tipping guideline: Discretionary
- Health considerations: There is a risk of dengue. There is no risk of yellow fever in Sri Lanka, however, yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (administrative), Colombo (commercial)
- Population: 21,930,455
- National languages: Sinhalese, Tamil, English
- Electricity and plugs: Type D, M, G, 230V
- Mobile phone coverage: Good
- UK passport visa requirements: You need an ETA for Sri Lanka if you have a British passport - apply online
Want to know more?
Call our Travel Specialists for a chat with our Sri-lanka experts. They'll share their first-hand insights so you can find your perfect holiday.
Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm
New Years Eve: 9am - 3pm
25th Dec, 26th Dec & 1 Jan: CLOSED
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Nikhil
Travel Specialist
Sri Lanka travel guides
Want some more help planning your holiday to Sri Lanka? Read our expert guides to find out everything you need to know about where to stay, dine and explore on your Inspiring Travel escape.
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Contact our Travel Specialists for a bespoke quote or some first-hand knowledge.
Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm
New Years Eve: 9am - 3pm
25th Dec, 26th Dec & 1 Jan: CLOSED
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
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