Maritime Archeology Museum
Maritime Archeology Museum
3.5
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3.5
263 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
95
Average
87
Poor
24
Terrible
12
CHD6265
Odiham, UK454 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Firstly I would be ok with the 16 fold cost hike for foreigners if this place was remotely interesting. Not only does it lack structure and flow it is utterly boring. The only thing that caught my attention and imagination were the safety risks - see pics.
I thought the Maritime Museum (next door and separate review) was dull but this took things to another level - particularly when considering this place was almost 4x the price
I thought the Maritime Museum (next door and separate review) was dull but this took things to another level - particularly when considering this place was almost 4x the price
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MWG12
Leonia, NJ253 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Contrary to some other views, I found the exhibits to be comprehensive and interesting. The artifacts were interesting although I believe some articles were replicas and could have been so labeled with decreasing the interest of the display. I came away with a better understanding of the trade routes that preceded European penetration, involving Chinese and Arab trade in the area. There was an excellent film about the recovery of artifacts from local shipwrecks and several exhibits contained such artifacts. It must be said that it would be a lot easier to appreciate the museum if there was air conditioning and the lack thereof induces the visitor to keep moving forward.
Written March 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hari N
Colombo, Sri Lanka105 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
One of the best maritime museums I have visited. You can learn a lot about the rich history of Sri Lanka’s marine travel and influence of foreign trading, whereas Sri Lanka / southern Harbour used as a imports Hub of international travel.
History speaks a lot on culture, traditions, trade, weapons etc.
A must visit place while in Galle...
History speaks a lot on culture, traditions, trade, weapons etc.
A must visit place while in Galle...
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raelene H
Melbourne, Australia1,499 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
We accidentally went into the Maritime Museum, thinking it was the same place - but 300 rupees each and about 15 minutes later we discovered we had gone into the wrong museum which is just around the corner. So make sure you visit the Maritime ARCHEOLOGY Museum - the A word makes all the difference. Really good, lots to see, well presented and centrally located.
Written April 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinoytraveller2
Luzon, Philippines15,100 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
It was rather too early when I visited Galle Old Town and most of the museums including the Maritime Archaelogy Musem were still closed. Anyhow, I managed to take some photos of the building and the artifacts at the museum grounds. I planned to look inside the museum when leaving the Old Town but it was raining then and had to ask the tuktuk driver to take me directly to the bus station, hence, a missed opportunity.
Written September 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
The National Maritime Archaeological Museum is housed in the old Dutch East India Company VOC Warehouse - the entrance to which is on the west end of the building (the other end from the old Dutch Gatehouse) off Church/Queen Streets. The museum is open between 9:00am and 5:00pm. The entrance fee is about $6.50 (adult foreigners). Your visit starts with a short video on shipwrecks/underwater archeology around Galle.
The upstairs galleries include a reconstruction (diaroma) of a 7,000 year old prehistoric open air site of one of the areas coastal inhabitants, as well as a collection of artifacts (mainly replicas) reflecting the diverse impact of trade on the island from Arabia, Africa, China as well as Europe. In the downstairs gallery (the Avondster gallery) there is a simulated underwater excavation of a 17th century Dutch ship which was wrecked in the Galle harbor.
The downstairs area has a small shop selling a limited range of books and souvenirs. The toilets are also outside near the shop.
It's not really that the place has a lot of things on exhibit and it's not the same standard as museums in Europe, America or Australia but its interesting nothertheless. Appartently it used to have life-size dioramas of the traditional methods of fishing and a "walk into the sea" diorama, together with a large number of artifcats taken from various shipwrecks off Galle however these were all lost with the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004.
If you have an hour or an hour and a half and you haven't anything else on your list to do then visit but there are other attractions in Galle that are more interesting.
The upstairs galleries include a reconstruction (diaroma) of a 7,000 year old prehistoric open air site of one of the areas coastal inhabitants, as well as a collection of artifacts (mainly replicas) reflecting the diverse impact of trade on the island from Arabia, Africa, China as well as Europe. In the downstairs gallery (the Avondster gallery) there is a simulated underwater excavation of a 17th century Dutch ship which was wrecked in the Galle harbor.
The downstairs area has a small shop selling a limited range of books and souvenirs. The toilets are also outside near the shop.
It's not really that the place has a lot of things on exhibit and it's not the same standard as museums in Europe, America or Australia but its interesting nothertheless. Appartently it used to have life-size dioramas of the traditional methods of fishing and a "walk into the sea" diorama, together with a large number of artifcats taken from various shipwrecks off Galle however these were all lost with the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004.
If you have an hour or an hour and a half and you haven't anything else on your list to do then visit but there are other attractions in Galle that are more interesting.
Written January 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John B
Cheltenham, UK41 contributions
Dec 2019
Sparse but well set out and with English descriptions as well as Sri Lankan. Lots on Galle and it’s maritime past and some interesting sailing vessels
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel with AK
Colombo, Sri Lanka353 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
A worthwhile visit to know the marine and nautical history of Sri Lanka / Ceylon. A ticket has to be purchased to enter and it’s very cheap. Average time that can consume is around 30 mins depending on individual interests
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane R
Melbourne, Australia86 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Unable to find opening times on official website. We went there twice during our stay on Sunday and Monday. On a different website have subsequently found they are closed Sundays Mondays and Public Holidays.
Written April 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel G
Singapore, Singapore8,676 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Went to visit this museum this afternoon.
Ripped off at the entrance. Rip off admission fee for foreigners which is accepted in Sri Lanka. Gave 2000 rupees and the attendant said I only gave him 1000. Tried to disguise his actions by taking a bundle of R1000 notes out from a draw to hide the fact I'd given him two. Beware. I left in disgust.
Ripped off at the entrance. Rip off admission fee for foreigners which is accepted in Sri Lanka. Gave 2000 rupees and the attendant said I only gave him 1000. Tried to disguise his actions by taking a bundle of R1000 notes out from a draw to hide the fact I'd given him two. Beware. I left in disgust.
Written July 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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