Place to visit
Cape Coast Castle, Ghana: what it is and when to go
Cape Coast Castle is a former fortified colonial trading post in Ghana (Cape Coast). Interests: History. The best time to visit is November to January. There are about 12 h 18 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. It has articles in 20 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Ghana out of the 86 on this site. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Former fortified colonial trading post in Ghana · History
- Where
- Ghana
- Best time
- November to January.
- Nearest airport
- TKD Sekondi-Takoradi, 64 km as the crow flies
- Protection
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 5.10369, -1.24097
What it is and where
Cape Coast Castle is a former fortified colonial trading post in Ghana (Cape Coast). It has articles in 20 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Ghana out of the 86 on this site.
It is in Cape Coast, where this site lists 11 more places to see, 1.2 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 5.10369, -1.24097; the nearest main airport is Takoradi Airport (TKD, Sekondi-Takoradi), 64 km as the crow flies. How to get around Ghana (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
- Protection
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
It is one of the History places in Ghana. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Cape Coast Castle is November to January.
- JanBest time11:44
- FebPossible11:50
- MarPossible11:58
- AprPossible12:07
- MayBetter not12:14
- JunBetter not12:18
- JulBetter not12:16
- AugPossible12:10
- SepPossible12:02
- OctPossible11:53
- NovBest time11:46
- DecBest time11:42
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 18 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
When to go to Ghana in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Ghana
To enter Ghana there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport with six months' validity, return ticket and accommodation”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Ghana checklist. Currency: Ghanaian cedi (GHS); plugs: Type D and G · 230 V · 50 Hz (there are power cuts, known as *dumsor*); emergencies: 191 police · 192 fire brigade · 193 ambulance · 112.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- Fort William LighthouseLighthouse in Ghana612 m
- Elmina Java MuseumMuseum in Elmina, Central Region of Ghana12 km
- Elmina CastleFortified colonial trading post in Ghana12 km
- Bethel Methodist ChurchChurch in Elmina, Ghana12 km
- Fort CoenraadsburgDutch-built fort in Ghana12 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Ghana guide.
More in Ghana: History
- Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions: UNESCO World Heritage site in Ghana
- Fort Prinzenstein: fortified colonial trade post in Ghana
- Fort São Sebastião de Xama: former fortified colonial trading post in Ghana
- Fort Amsterdam, Ghana: fortidied colonial trading post in Kormantin, Ghana
- Fort Saint Anthony: former colonial fortified trading post in Ghana
- Fort Batenstein: Dutch fort and trading post on the Gold Coast
Every Ghana place under History, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cape Coast Castle?
It is a former fortified colonial trading post in Ghana. It has articles in 20 Wikipedias: it is one of the ten best-known places in Ghana out of the 86 on this site.
When is the best time to visit Cape Coast Castle?
November to January. There are about 12 h 18 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Cape Coast Castle?
The nearest main airport is Takoradi Airport (TKD), 64 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Ghana is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Ghana map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Fort William Lighthouse, Elmina Java Museum, Elmina Castle. The rest is in the Ghana guide.
Keep reading
- Cape Coast11 places to see in and around Cape Coast, Ghana: Cape Coast Castle, Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions, Fort Amsterdam, Ghana. Best t
- History21 places for history in Ghana, from Cape Coast Castle to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: November to January. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- GhanaBefore travelling to Ghana: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. Entry requires paperwork, and there is an important change: visa on arrival has gone, an…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Cape Coast Castle on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.