How to get to Elmina Castle

About Elmina Castle

The Portuguese built Elmina in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina, the first European trading post on the Gulf of Guinea — which makes it the oldest European building still standing in sub-Saharan Africa. It was set up to trade for gold, but over the following centuries it became a major holding point in the transatlantic slave trade. The Dutch captured it in 1637 and held it until 1872, when it passed to the British. Together with Cape Coast Castle and the other forts along this shore, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there

Elmina is about 13 km west of Cape Coast and roughly 160 km from Accra along the coast road (N1). The castle stands at the mouth of the Benya lagoon, beside Elmina's busy fishing harbour.

Shared taxis run often between Cape Coast and Elmina.

For live, turn-by-turn directions from wherever you are — by car, trotro, motorbike, bicycle or on foot — open Elmina Castle on the Lincoln Navigation map. It also shows the weather there and any road hazards reported along the way.

Before you go

• Visits are by guided tour; allow about an hour.
• Fort St. Jago, on the hill opposite the castle, gives the best view over the castle and the harbour.
• Pair it with Cape Coast Castle and Kakum for a full Central Region trip.