Top Things to do in Cape Coast
Cape Coast was the hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in Ghana. It is also called the Gold Coast because of the vast quantities of gold that existed there. Many of the castles that dot Ghana’s coastlines were built by colonialists in the 1700s and 1800s as trading posts. Eventually, these castles became forts and prisons used to house and transport slaves to the Americas. These make up the top things to do in Cape Coast. Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle are two such castles. There is tremendous history in these castles, and you absolutely must take a tour.
How long should you stay?
You can either divide your time between Cape Coast or Elmina (1-2 nights each) or plan to stay in one city while visiting the other for a day trip. In November 2019, we did one night in Cape Coast and 2 nights in Elmina.
However, if you’re really short on time, you can visit the castles in 2 nights. Visit Cape Coast Castle on the day you arrive and Elmina Castle the next day. Then, you can go on to your next destination.
Getting to Cape Coast
A minibus ride between Accra and Cape Coast takes around 2.5 hours. You can take a “VIP” bus, STC bus, or a minibus.
The STC buses are government-run intercity buses. Check the timetable and don’t expect to leave on time. The site boasts that you can buy tickets online or on the app.
We took a minibus that dropped us along the side of the road before it continued along the coast. The Cape Coast drop-off will be by a large traffic circle with plenty of taxis around to take you into Cape Coast. In Accra, ask your hotel where the nearest option is for you to take a minibus to get to Cape Coast.
Things to do in Cape Coast
Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle is one of the largest castles built by the Europeans in Ghana. It is a UNESCO heritage site. The Portuguese originally built the castle as a trading post in 1555. Later, the Swedish took over the fort and used it for the sale of timber.
The castle was won by the British in 1664 and remained under British control until 1957. Throughout the 18th century, the castle served as a prison for slaves and a holding spot for their transport to the Americas. Take a tour of the castle and learn about the history of the castle from knowledgeable tour guides.
After the tour, you can browse a small market in the castle to purchase art and leather goods. We bought a wallet and a leather backpack.
Wesley Methodist Church
Take a walk around town and stop by Wesley Methodist Church.
Baobab House
Restaurant, shop, and guesthouse all rolled in one! You can get a good breakfast and also check out the local goods. Baobab House is a social enterprise that sells products made at the Baobab School for Trades and Traditional Arts. I got excellent coconut oil and baobab oil that I took back to the US with me. By purchasing from Baobab House, you support children’s school, food, and accommodation needs.
Fort Victoria
Take a walk around Cape Coast to visit Fort Victory. Built in 1821, the fort was a lookout for the British and has great views of the city.
Blackstar Bookshop
Visit Blackstar Bookshop to browse books and local crafts.
Here, you can also get a cool pic with the Ghanaian flag!
Day Trips from Cape Coast
Visit Elmina
Elmina is a bustling fishing town with dried fish lining the beaches. Watch the colorful fishing boats come in while eating a relaxing lunch after taking a tour of Elmina Castle. Read the Elmina travel guide for more.
Kakum National Park
If you want some greenery, head out on a day trip to Kakum National Park. This native, tropical rainforest is just an hour out of Cape Coast. You can take a tour across the canopy bridges suspended above the forest.
Visit Mankessim Posuban
An hour outside Cape Coast is the Mankessim Posuban. Posubans are unique to the central coastal region of Ghana. These colorful and unique shrines were made by Asafo (a tribe in Ghana) ‘military’ companies used to store weapons. Read this blog to learn more about visiting.
Where to eat in Cape Coast
Emperor Ital Joint— Don’t miss out on this excellent Ital restaurant. Ital cooking (from the Rastafari movement) involves cooking with no processed food, additives, oil, salt, or sugar.
Try the vegan skewers (and buy some of the spice to take back home with you as we did).
Baobab House—head to Baobab for great veg meals listed on the board outside.
Cape Coast Accommodation
Orange Beach Resort—Stay in this beachfront hostel with friendly peeps. When we arrived there was no electricity and the kitchen was closed (plus it was dark!) Thank goodness for granola bars and candles. We were pleasantly surprised in the morning with amazing beach views and good coffee!
Oasis Beach Resort—simple beachfront accommodation, next to Orange Beach Resort.
Done with the Cape Coast Travel Guide? Think about combo-ing your Ghana trip with a visit to Togo!