A holiday in Sri Lanka is never complete without a visit to Galle Fort. We love this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city for its character, quaint hotels and pebbled streets. We also love the food scene that has emerged in this charming city and the elegant boutiques that make shopping hard to resist. Galle is one of those cities in Sri Lanka where you can easily spend a relaxed, carefree couple of days.
Located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Galle is an easy drive of under 3 hours from Colombo along a modern expressway. It’s one of our favourite places to go in Sri Lanka and arguably one of the must-see destinations in a private tour of Sri Lanka. We like to include a visit to Galle at the end of a Sri Lanka itinerary for our travellers as we believe by then travellers appreciate the range of cafes and restaurants available in Galle (and a break from Sri Lankan food as several great places are serving Western fare in Galle), enjoy shopping for a few souvenirs and mementoes to take home and in general appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and charm of this city. Some of the suggested itineraries that feature a stay in Galle which you will find on our website include A Taste of Sri Lanka, Quintessential Sri Lanka and Secret Sri Lanka. Our expertise lies in creating bespoke itineraries for Sri Lanka travel, so we can easily craft a private tour of Sri Lanka, especially for you, which includes a stay in Galle.
There are several stunning boutique and luxury hotels inside Galle Fort itself, or if you are looking for a beach stay in Sri Lanka you can easily stay outside of the city along the coast and make day trips into Galle for shopping or dining. Along the south coast of Sri Lanka we also offer several incredible options for private villa stays in Sri Lanka – with villa options for groups of 2 people to as many as 20. A private villa in Sri Lanka is a wonderful option for groups travelling together – such as large families, or several couples, or multi-generational family trips. Some of the best hotels in Galle include: Amangalla, a refined and elegant luxury stay ideally located in Galle Fort. We also love Taru Villas with their restored villa properties inside the city and the boutique stay Mango House.
Rampart St by Taru Villas.
Galle Fort, Sri Lanka
Galle Fort also boasts a number of interesting sites to visit and we also recommend our guided Galle Fort walking tour which will reveal to you some of the stories and local characters of this well-loved city. In the evenings, join the locals for a stroll along the rampart walls of Galle and enjoy the picturesque sunset over the ocean.
So back to the top places to shop in Galle – here are some of the places we love to visit and shop in Galle. You can easily spend several hours exploring Galle, visiting the boutiques and stopping for refreshments and meals along the way, plus a half-day sightseeing. Stay a few days, and explore the city at leisure as Galle’s almost car-free cobbled streets are pleasant to stroll on foot.
What are the top 10 places to shop in Galle?
# 1 Barefoot
Barefoot on Pedlars Street opens 9.00 a.m. through to 8 p.m. daily. There are many wonderful items to choose from inside the store including handloom sarongs, blouses, hats, vanity cases and toys. There are clothes for men, women and children all with contemporary designs, unique and handmade. These are ideal for warm summer days or to wear to the beach. There is also a great collection of brightly coloured linen. We really love the colourful table mats and throw pillows, just ideal to make Aussie summer even more special. Inside the store you can also find some homewares, books, tea and jewellery. One of our favourite places to shop in Sri Lanka.
#2 Mimimango
Down Light House Street is Jo Eden’s Mimimango, the place to get relaxed clothing for days at the beach. Since opening in 2004, it has earned a reputation for unique styles and hand stitch finishes. It is worthwhile buy as you can keep it for all your summer outings at the beach. The shop carries a range of clothing including kaftans, sarongs, dresses and scarves.
# 3 The Three by TPV
Another of our favourite stops is Layn Baan Street. Thomas, Patric and Vadim hand pick the items in their boutique. Here you will discover quaint jewellery hip bracelets and unique ornaments that will give a touch of the exotic to your living room at home. You certainly need a bit of time to carefully go through these little treasures.
# 4 Luv SL
Luv SL is the place to go for great souvenirs. Luv SL has everything from tee shirts to kid’s clothing to toys and accessories, all with a Sri Lankan touch. Most items are reasonably priced and light in weight. They make great gifts for loved ones at home as well as souvenirs for you to cherish during your great Sri Lankan vacation. Luv SL is on Pedlars Street and cannot be missed out.
# 5 Embark
Embark to us is a special brand that you would want to invest in. The brand is one of Sri Lanka’s pioneering entrepreneur Otara’s pet brands dedicated to her love for animals, especially dogs. Therefore, part of your purchases goes to the welfare of dogs in the country, so very rewarding. Embark has all kinds of cool clothing, shoes, pets accessories, bags etc. Great for kids and teens.
# 6 Raux Brothers
Raux Brothers is a delight for the eye. Although you may not be able to carry everything back home with you, it is definitely a place to drop into and devour beautiful pieces of art, homeware, linen etc. You will find the store on Pedlar Street.
# 7 Ibrahim Jewellers
Walk down Church Street and you will find the smiling faces at Ibrahim Jewellers. Southern Sri Lanka is famous for jewellery, especially set on sterling silver with Ceylon semi-precious stones. So, drop into this amazing shop with intricate jewellery to contemporary pieces that are hard to resist.
# 8 Stick No Bills – Ceylon
We love the store Stick No Bills. Discover posters and postcards featuring vintage and contemporary Sri Lankan images and designs. The posters look great once framed on a wall and the postcards are a great way to let your family and friends know that you are having a fabulous trip in Sri Lanka. Even if it’s your last stop on your holidays, it’s never too late to send a post card to someone! Stick No bills is on Church Street in Galle Fort.
# 9 Colombo Jewellery Store
We just love the beautifully crafted jewellery at Colombo Jewellery Store. Situated in the Dutch Hospital precinct, you will discover a unique jewellery collection here – but be warned these are expensive investments and definitely a place to splurge on an extra special memento from your Sri Lanka tour! But why not – you deserve it!
# 10 Spice Shop
Last but not the least is Spice Shop on Layn Baan Street. Let your nose be your guide and bring home some of the tastes of Sri Lanka to spice up your cooking when you return home. Pick all you want, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the recommendations from the spice merchants inside the shop as well.
These are some of our tips for the best places to shop in Galle. Before you go, you might also like to read some of our other Sri Lanka travel blogs. To help plan your holiday in Sri Lanka visit our Sri Lanka FAQs page where you can discover tips about the best time to travel in Sri Lanka and information on Sri Lanka’s weather.
To speak to one of our expert Sri Lanka tour planners, contact mail@srilankaunbound.com.au today.
