Galle Fort — how long do I actually need there and what is genuinely worth doing inside the walls?

I live near Galle Fort and visit regularly. Here is an honest time estimate and what's actually worth your time.

How long: A proper half day (4–5 hours) covers everything comfortably. A full day allows you to linger at cafes, browse independent shops, and do the ramparts circuit unhurriedly. Staying overnight adds a completely different experience — the fort at 6 AM before day-trippers arrive is extraordinary.

Specifically worth doing:

1. The ramparts walk (full circuit): 1.4km of intact 17th-century Dutch fortification walls. The section from the lighthouse to the flag rock has the best sea views. About 45–60 minutes for the full circuit. Best at sunrise or late afternoon when the light is golden. Yes, genuinely worth it — not just a walk.

2. Galle Dutch Reformed Church (Groote Kerk, 1755): Definitely enter. The floor is made of tombstones from the Dutch colonial period — you are literally standing on 300-year-old graves. The inscriptions are legible. LKR 300 entry. 20 minutes well spent.

3. The lighthouse: The oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka (1939 rebuild on the original 1848 structure). Access to the base is free.

4. All Saints' Anglican Church: Beautiful late-colonial interior, quiet.

5. Independent boutique shopping: Stick to the streets around Leyn Baan and Church Street for the genuine independent shops (textiles, antiques, handmade jewellery). Avoid the touristy souvenir strip near the main gate.

For food: The Pedlar's Inn courtyard area and Church Street have the best local-ish cafes. Avoid the big tourist restaurants facing the ramparts — overpriced and mediocre. Morning: Mama's Galle Fort Roof Cafe for hoppers (ask for directions from the fort gate).

Best time of day: Dawn for the ramparts (peaceful, golden light), late afternoon for cafes and browsing.