In short
Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese and fortified by the Dutch in 1663. A World Heritage site, it is still lived in: a neighbourhood with its streets, houses and shops, not an archaeological site.
The ramparts are walked in an hour, at sunset, free of charge.
What it really costs
The fort is the most expensive part of town: its restored colonial houses have become boutique hotels. Unawatuna and the coastal villages a few kilometres away cost far less.
The coastal train from Colombo runs beside the ocean for two hours, for under a euro in second class.
What nobody tells you
The south coast has seasons opposite to the east: December to March is dry here, while Trincomalee and Arugam Bay are wet. Crossing the island changes monsoon.
The stilt fishermen now pose for photographs for a fee: the fishing practice has largely disappeared, the staging has remained.
The 2004 tsunami hit this coast hard. The fort's ramparts protected the old town, and that is one reason for its preservation.