Osu Castle (Christiansborg Castle)
2 Barnes Road, Accra, Ghana
While it may appear to be a fairly ordinary building from the outside, Osu Castle (Christiansborg Castle) is home to a dark and extraordinary past. Thousands of African captives were held in this 17th-century Danish trading post before being forcibly shipped across the Atlantic as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Later, the castle served as a British colonial seat of government and the office of the president of Ghana.
The basics
A guided tour of Osu Castle immerses you in a complex tale of international quests for power and wealth. In about an hour, your guide will take you through the castle’s main rooms, down to the dungeon, and out to the Door of No Return—the last doorway captives walked through before boarding ships bound across the Atlantic.
Osu Castle is often included on Accra sightseeing tours. When combined with other Accra sights, like Independence Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, it helps tell a powerful story of Ghana’s strength and resilience. You can also take a multi-day tour to all of Ghana’s castles to learn about the history and impact of the slave trade.
Things to know before you go
You can currently only visit Osu Castle with a guide. Walk-up visitors will be assigned a guide upon arrival.
The castle is still an active government building, so you may have to go through a light security screening. Ask your guide in advance if you have any questions.
Due to its historic construction, the castle is not wheelchair accessible.
The tour typically takes less than an hour, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy nearby attractions.
How to get there
Osu Castle is located off 28th February Road and is easy to access from anywhere in Accra. Hail a taxi or use a rideshare app, or walk to your nearest trotro stop to catch a ride in a shared van. Most tours include round-trip transportation from your hotel.
When to get there
Osu Castle is typically open from 9am until 4:30pm daily. Be sure to check in advance for special closures due to holidays or other events, which may be listed on the Ghana Tourism Authority website or social media pages. Most of the historic building doesn’t have air conditioning, so plan your trip earlier in the day to avoid mid-afternoon heat.
Trace the history of the slave trade
Osu Castle is one of three remaining trading posts from the transatlantic slave trade. The other two are the Cape Coast Castle, about a 3-hour drive from Accra, and Elmina Castle, about a 3.5-hour drive. They’re protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with 25 other forts and trading posts from a similar era. Many Ghana visitors go to all three castles to honor ancestors who survived the Middle Passage.
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