Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This 16th-century trading lodge now contains the Museum of West African History.
Duration: < 1 hour
Tours & experiences
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Top ways to experience Cape Coast Castle
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35 within 3 miles
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6 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- David BDelray Beach, Florida1,105 contributionsMajor Slave CastleThis is a castle site first developed by the Swedes with a log fort and finally passed down to the British who built the fort into its final form. It has slave dungeons and a gate of no return. There is an admission cost, bathrooms and exhibits.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 December 2023
- SchhelKigali, Rwanda191 contributionsSoberingThey organize 45 min guided tours on the hour. I recommend joining one to hear the history of the castle and better understand what happened there. Sobering experience. Beside the tragic history, the castle is nice to see and has great views of the nearby fishing harbour, especially from the top levels of the harbour. Great for taking in the atmosphereVisited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 23 March 2024
- Benjamin E3 contributionsAmazing day tripA fun filled tour. Our guide malik arranged everything nicely. We were thrilled with the educational concept of the site,the start to the finish of the trip was an exceptional. M&T Ghana Travel and tour are the best.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 3 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
626 reviews
Excellent
395
Very good
187
Average
35
Poor
8
Terrible
1
MelRo Potter
Columbus, OH2 contributions
Tour with Anthony Bouadi
Oct 2019 • Solo
I had one of the best experiences in Ghana whilst at the castle. My tour guide Anthony did a wonderful job guiding myself and other attendees through the tour- a tour that was gut wrenching at times. He took time to explain and answer every question we had, and provided a lot of healing words, as well as brought great clarity/ knowledge about our history. I highly recommend for all tour needs in the Central Region of Ghana.
Written 7 January 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.
Bolatito
London, UK41 contributions
Must see
Dec 2019 • Friends
This was possibly one of the most humbling and emotional tours of my life. The learning experience was incredible and the tour guide had this immense storytelling ability that seemed to transcend us back in time.
Hearing about the conditions the slaves went through and walking on the paths they did from the main entrance, through the male/female dungeons, and finally through the door of no return was heart wrenching.
This part of history, as distressing and tormenting as it is still is should not be forgotten, in the hope it doesn’t happen again.
Life altering experience.
Hearing about the conditions the slaves went through and walking on the paths they did from the main entrance, through the male/female dungeons, and finally through the door of no return was heart wrenching.
This part of history, as distressing and tormenting as it is still is should not be forgotten, in the hope it doesn’t happen again.
Life altering experience.
Written 3 January 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.
Schhel
Kigali, Rwanda191 contributions
Sobering
Mar 2024 • Solo
They organize 45 min guided tours on the hour. I recommend joining one to hear the history of the castle and better understand what happened there. Sobering experience.
Beside the tragic history, the castle is nice to see and has great views of the nearby fishing harbour, especially from the top levels of the harbour. Great for taking in the atmosphere
Beside the tragic history, the castle is nice to see and has great views of the nearby fishing harbour, especially from the top levels of the harbour. Great for taking in the atmosphere
Written 23 March 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.
MidlandsTraveller
Leicester, UK684 contributions
Definitely a must/see, high emotional impact, but poor tour.
Nov 2022 • Couples
Lots of original features and a grim story that contrasts with a beautiful location.
Downside was the tour guide who gave the tour a strong overlay of her own religious views. Happy for someone to tell me they are a born again christian, but giving me god’s view of the slave trade is not very informative.
The tour had a strong element of being designed to produce an emotional impact. It is certainly an emotionally impactful place, but I also felt that a rather crude over-emphasis on emotional impact during the tour detracted from the overall experience.
Downside was the tour guide who gave the tour a strong overlay of her own religious views. Happy for someone to tell me they are a born again christian, but giving me god’s view of the slave trade is not very informative.
The tour had a strong element of being designed to produce an emotional impact. It is certainly an emotionally impactful place, but I also felt that a rather crude over-emphasis on emotional impact during the tour detracted from the overall experience.
Written 27 November 2022
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.
O. Ashley
21 contributions
Ghana's Cape Coast Castle
Mar 2023
Such a grounding and somber experience but one that everyone who visits Ghana should experience. The tour I took was nice as the guide took us through the castle while providing background on what transpired there centuries ago. The only downside was when the guide called the tour off before taking us upstairs to see the interior of the castle.
Also, beware of the gentlemen trying to sell their wares to tourists outside the castle. They can be a bit much if you're not expecting it.
Also, beware of the gentlemen trying to sell their wares to tourists outside the castle. They can be a bit much if you're not expecting it.
Written 7 April 2023
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.
romadaro
Washington DC, DC1,592 contributions
The Black Holocaust
Apr 2023
The untold story of the Black Holocaust lives within the walls of the two castles here, as well as Osu Castle in Accra, and I am glad that the world is finally coming to Ghana to hear them. You actually feel some of the pain and anguish as you hear the story which is told by a group of well educated guides in detail who invite questions and challenges to the message. They are simply insuring that our history will never be rewritten and I truly appreciate them.
Written 7 April 2023
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.
S T
9 contributions
One of Humanity's Worst
Feb 2023 • Solo
The debate whether this was a castle or prison is settled once you walk 'the room of no return'. There's literally a slide (image 2); one can only imagine how they shoved them into this room, then narrowed down so they couldn't turn around or fight back (like they do with cattle; image 1) but pushed into one direction, which is where they were loaded onto the ships. To call this a prison, even seems too much of an epitaph for this all but slaughterhouse.
Building a church inside, then proceed to do all God forbade, if only hypocricy at its worst was the worst of this.
Building a church inside, then proceed to do all God forbade, if only hypocricy at its worst was the worst of this.
Written 17 February 2023
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
5 contributions
Excellent tour.
Apr 2021 • Friends
Really interesting and emotional visit. Had a great tour guide, Kofi Eso. He explained the history and significance of the castle with great clarity and closed the tour with a very moving message about the future. Would definitely recommend a visit.
Written 11 April 2021
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.
Rani S
Tel Aviv District, Israel259 contributions
Educational and we'll maintained
Jan 2020 • Friends
Very well maintained castle. Both outside and underground chambers.
It is recommended to take a guided tour provided at the entrance.
Takes about 45 mn.
But the overall stay should take arround 2-3 hours depending how deep you want to explore, the fort.
There are many chambers, pathways, and towers with connecting walls.
Lots of history.
Highly recommended and educational.
It is recommended to take a guided tour provided at the entrance.
Takes about 45 mn.
But the overall stay should take arround 2-3 hours depending how deep you want to explore, the fort.
There are many chambers, pathways, and towers with connecting walls.
Lots of history.
Highly recommended and educational.
Written 22 January 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.
Anne S
Leeds, UK577 contributions
Fascinating History
Dec 2022
This was the second castle we visited on the tour from our cruise ship and this one felt different from the other one (Elmina Castle) as it was initially built for defensive purposes. Again, the guides brought the sad history of the place to life. Well worth a visit.
Written 31 January 2023
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.
I highly recommend @Enquiry Eco Tour to anyone who's interested in touring Ghana.One of the best travel agency..whatsup +233(0)558798297
•Hotel Booking•Car Rental•Tour Packages•Camping etc.... Highly recommend
Written 30 June 2024
Flyer44304544212
Concord, North Carolina
Hello. What company did you use for the tour? Thanks.
Written 2 August 2022
I was in Ghana volunteering with IVHQ. They arranged our tour.
Written 29 October 2023
Please can someone tell me the best way to travel to cape coast, arriving in Accra by 9am
Written 12 December 2019
The safest way to go is to pick a bus. I will recommend an STC Bus or a VIP Bus. They do have terminals in Accra where you can board them.
You can also hire a private car to take you there if want privacy and convenience.
Written 20 December 2019
Is cape coast a day trip or should you spend the night there?
Written 20 September 2019
A day is good enough. You will need apprx. 2 hours to see the Cape Castle. You can then travel around 15 kms to reach Elmina Castle. Here you can see Elmina Castle & Fort St. Jago
Written 23 December 2019
hello. I am considering this castle to visit. when mentioning the fee, is it something you can purchase upon arrival or needs to be done in advance? does the fee include a general tour or is that something separate? note, I am aware of outside, 3rd party tour guided fees/excursions. thanks in advance for responding for I appreciate your time and information.
Written 8 July 2019
You can purchase the tickets upon arrival. The ticket does include a general tour , it was very informative. Don’t wasn’t your money on outside excursions, they are overpriced.
Written 8 July 2019
If I choose not to book a tour, and just pay the entrance fees on my own, are there tour guides available? What is the approximate cost?
Written 18 April 2018
Hi Sheena, yes I agree with Andrea, booking is not necessary, tour is included in the admission ticket price and this is not expensive. I think there are tours every half hour and they are good. The guides know their stuff
Written 18 April 2018
alewis03
New York City, New York
Why should any African American or person of color pay to visit Cape Coast Castel?
Written 11 March 2018
I’m a person of color, I visited, and I enjoyed it very much. We can’t just ignore the past, we need to learn about the horrible times of slavery
Written 28 September 2019
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