What to know before you go.
Researched by Sarisara, with sources.
The National Museum of Galle sits on Church Street, inside the walls of Galle Fort, in what is recorded as the oldest Dutch building still standing in the fort. It was built in 1656 as a store for the Dutch garrison, and later served as a billiards room for the New Oriental Hotel next door — the building known today as the Amangalla hotel. The Department of National Museums restored the building and opened it as a museum on 31 March 1986.
Inside, three small galleries tell the story of Galle through the people who passed through it. The first gallery shows local cottage crafts still practised in the south of Sri Lanka, including turtle-shell jewellery making, Beeralu lace weaving, and traditional wooden mask carving. The second gallery holds Dutch colonial furniture and weaponry from the garrison period. A third gallery, opened in 2013, looks further back in time, to trade between China and Sri Lanka — including the journeys of the Buddhist monk Faxian and the Chinese admiral Zheng He, both of whom are linked to historical visits to the island.
Because the museum is small — a single-storey colonnaded building — a visit does not take long, which makes it an easy stop to add onto a longer walk around Galle Fort itself, rather than a destination on its own.
Entrance tickets are not included in Sarisara prices. Please pay them in cash at the gate.
Last checked: 21 Oct 2026. Prices are set by the temple and can change.
This is the Department of National Museums' own official price, the same standard price used for the Colombo National Museum. It is not included in your Sarisara price. Some independent travel sites quote different figures (for example LKR 300, or up to LKR 550) — this page uses the department's own official figure. Confirm the exact amount and currency accepted at the gate before you go.
There is no enforced dress code. Dress comfortably, as you would for any small indoor museum.
Not dressed right? There is no dress rule checked at the door. You will not be refused entry for your clothing.
Opening hours (9:00 AM-5:00 PM) are reported consistently, but which days it is closed is not confirmed by two independent sources — see not_confirmed.
Department of National Museums, Sri Lanka Official website
Church Street, Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka
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