Accra, Ghana11 min read
Best Places to Visit in Accra
Ten places worth your time, the neighbourhoods that make sense to stay in, and how many days Accra actually needs.
Last checked 26 October 2026
The short answer
For a first visit, base yourself in Osu or Cantonments, spend two days on central Accra — Jamestown, the Nkrumah Memorial Park, Black Star Square and Makola Market — and give Labadi Beach a slow afternoon. Add a full day for Cape Coast and Elmina. Three to four nights is the right length.
- Best months
- Feb–Mar, May, Oct
- Daily budget
- £55–£95
- Ideal length
- 3–4 nights
- Airport transfer
- 30–45 min to Osu
Jump to section
First, understand the shape of the city
Accra is not a single centre. It is a set of districts strung along the coast and inland, connected by roads that can turn a five-kilometre hop into a forty-minute drive. Where you stay decides what your trip feels like, so pick the area before the hotel.
- 01
Osu
The most useful base for a first visit. Restaurants, bars, Oxford Street, and a short ride to Jamestown and Labadi. Busy, walkable in patches, and honest about being a commercial district.
- Best for first-timers
- Walkable evenings
- Mid-range to upscale
- 02
Cantonments and Airport Residential
Quieter, greener, close to the airport and the business district. Better for families and work trips, weaker for nightlife unless you drive everywhere.
- Quiet
- Good for families
- Car needed
- 03
Labadi and La
Beach-side and relaxed, with easy access to Labadi Beach and the Artists Alliance Gallery. Fewer restaurants within walking distance.
- Beach access
- Relaxed
- Taxi for dinner
- 04
Jamestown
The historic core and the most photogenic part of Accra. Atmospheric for a day, thin on comfortable hotels for a first trip.
- Historic
- Photogenic
- Daytime focus
The 10 best places to visit in Accra
Entry fees below are indicative for non-Ghanaian visitors and change often — confirm locally and carry small cedi notes. Opening hours also shift around public holidays.
- 01
Jamestown and the old harbour
Accra's oldest district, built around the 17th-century fort and the fishing harbour. Walk the lanes below the lighthouse, watch the boats come in, and climb the lighthouse for the best view of the coast. Go early morning or late afternoon; midday heat is punishing and shade is scarce.
- 2–3 hours
- Small entry fee
- Best light: 7–9am, 4–6pm
- 02
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The mausoleum and museum dedicated to Ghana's first president, set in landscaped gardens that are genuinely pleasant to walk. The museum gives you the political context for everything else you will see in the city.
- 1.5–2 hours
- Small entry fee
- Central, near Arts Centre
- 03
Black Star Square and Independence Arch
The vast ceremonial square built for independence in 1957. It is a ten-minute stop rather than an afternoon, but it is the image most people carry home. Pair it with the nearby Memorial Park in one trip.
- 20–30 minutes
- Free
- Exposed — bring water
- 04
Makola Market
The city's commercial engine: fabric, produce, household goods and noise in equal measure. Not a curated market — a working one. Go with a local guide or a driver who can wait, keep your phone out of sight, and ask before photographing stalls.
- 1–2 hours
- Free to enter
- Weekday mornings
- 05
Osu and Oxford Street
Not a sight so much as the evening default: restaurants, bars, street food and a mix of Ghanaian and international cooking. Good for a first-night orientation and for eating well without a long drive.
- Evening
- Food and nightlife
- Walkable core
- 06
Labadi Beach
The best-known beach in the city, livelier at weekends with music, food stalls and horse rides. The sand is not the draw — the atmosphere is. Expect an entry fee and a firm grip on your belongings.
- Half a day
- Entry fee
- Weekends busiest
- 07
W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre
The final home and library of the Pan-African writer and activist, in a quiet residential compound. Small, thoughtful, and a useful counterweight to the colonial-era sights.
- 1 hour
- Small entry fee
- Quiet
- 08
Artists Alliance Gallery
One of the best collections of contemporary Ghanaian art and craft, spread over three floors near Labadi. Serious work rather than airport souvenirs, and a good place to buy something you will actually keep.
- 1 hour
- Free entry
- Near Labadi
- 09
Aburi Botanical Gardens
A cool, hilly garden about an hour north of the city, founded in the colonial era and full of mature trees and walking paths. The drive up through the hills is half the point, and the temperature drop is welcome.
- Half-day trip
- Small entry fee
- 1 hour from Accra
- 10
Cape Coast Castle and Elmina
The most important day trip from Accra, and the one that stays with you. Two centuries of transatlantic slave-trade history, told through guided tours of the dungeons and the Door of No Return. Cape Coast and Elmina are 20 minutes apart; do both in one long day.
- Full day
- Entry fee at both
- 2.5–3 hours each way
How many days do you need in Accra?
Three nights is the minimum that feels like a visit rather than a stopover. Four gives you a slower beach afternoon and a proper dinner in Osu. Five is worth it if you add Cape Coast and Elmina, because that day consumes the daylight hours.
| Time | What it buys you |
|---|---|
| Time1 day | What it buys youJamestown, Memorial Park, Black Star Square — a rushed orientation |
| Time2 days | What it buys youThe above plus Makola and an evening in Osu |
| Time3 days | What it buys youAdds Labadi Beach or Aburi, at a human pace |
| Time4 days | What it buys youComfortable, with Cape Coast as a full-day trip |
| Time5+ days | What it buys youAccra plus the coast, or onward to Kumasi |
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Day trips worth the drive
Accra rewards leaving it. Three trips are worth planning around, and all can be done with a driver rather than a tour group if you prefer to move at your own pace.
- Cape Coast and Elmina — the essential trip. Leave by 7am, tour both castles, stop for lunch on the coast, and expect to be back after dark.
- Aburi and the eastern hills — botanical gardens, craft stalls and cooler air. Half a day, and easy to combine with a slow lunch.
- Ada Foah — where the Volta River meets the sea, about two hours east. Best as an overnight if you want the estuary at sunrise; a long day trip otherwise.
Getting around Accra
Ride-hailing is the default for visitors. Bolt, Uber and Yango all operate, prices are low by UK standards, and you avoid negotiating. The catch is that everyone uses them at the same time — at 5pm in Osu, a five-minute wait becomes fifteen.
- Agree the pickup point precisely; drivers often call to confirm a landmark.
- Keep cash for the occasional driver who prefers it, but pay in-app where possible.
- Tro-tros (shared minibuses) are cheap and frequent on main routes, but the routes are not obvious to visitors. Use them with someone who knows them.
- Traffic peaks roughly 6.30–9.30am and 4.30–7.30pm. Do not schedule a tight airport run inside those windows.
From Kotoka International Airport to Osu is typically 30 to 45 minutes outside peak traffic. Allow 75 minutes for a departure during rush hour, and three hours at the airport for a long-haul flight.
What a day in Accra costs
Accra is not a budget destination by West African standards, but it is inexpensive compared with London. The figures below assume one traveller, sharing nothing, and exclude flights.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| CategoryAccommodation | Budget£25–£45 | Mid-range£70–£130 |
| CategoryFood | Budget£10–£18 | Mid-range£25–£45 |
| CategoryTransport | Budget£6–£12 | Mid-range£15–£25 |
| CategorySights and entries | Budget£5–£10 | Mid-range£10–£20 |
| CategoryDaily total | Budget£46–£85 | Mid-range£120–£220 |
Cape Coast and Elmina add a driver day (roughly £60–£90), entry fees at both castles and lunch. Budget £90–£130 for the day, and carry cedis for the smaller stops.
When to go
Accra is hot all year. The question is rain and dust, not temperature. The main rainy season runs from April to June, with a shorter wet spell in September and October. The dry season from November to March is the most popular window, but December to February brings the harmattan — a dusty wind from the Sahara that hazes the sky and dries your throat.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| PeriodNov–Feb | What to expectDry, hazy, hot. Peak season for visitors; harmattan dust possible. |
| PeriodMar–May | What to expectHeating up, humid, rains arrive late April. Good value. |
| PeriodJun–Aug | What to expectWet and green, short heavy downpours. Fewer crowds. |
| PeriodSep–Oct | What to expectSecond rainy season, then clearing. Good light, lower prices. |
For a combination of dry weather and clear skies, late October and November are the sweet spot. February and March are hotter but reliable for beach days.
Is Accra safe for visitors?
Accra is generally calm for visitors, and the main risks are petty rather than violent: phone snatching in traffic, bag theft in markets and opportunistic theft at beaches. The usual city rules apply, with a bit more attention.
- Do not walk with your phone visible near busy roads or markets.
- Use ride-hailing after dark rather than hailing on the street.
- Keep a modest amount of cash separate from the rest.
- Swim only at beaches where others are swimming; currents can be strong.
- Check gov.uk travel advice before you go, and register your trip if you want updates.
What to eat
Ghanaian food is one of the reasons to come. Jollof rice is the national argument — smoky, tomato-based, and better than most versions you have had elsewhere. Waakye (rice and beans) is breakfast or lunch, kelewele is spiced fried plantain, and banku with grilled tilapia is the dinner to order at least once.
- Jollof and fried chicken — the safe entry point, and genuinely good.
- Waakye with shito and egg — a Accra lunch institution.
- Banku and tilapia — order it at a proper sit-down restaurant, not a stall.
- Red red — bean stew with plantain, the vegetarian option that is not an afterthought.
- Bofrot — sweet fried dough, best warm from a street vendor in the morning.
Questions people ask
How many days should I spend in Accra?
Three to four nights is right for most first-time visitors. That covers central Accra, Jamestown, the markets, a beach afternoon and a full-day trip to Cape Coast and Elmina without rushing.
What is the best area to stay in Accra?
Osu is the most practical base for a first visit: restaurants and bars within walking distance and short rides to the main sights. Cantonments and Airport Residential suit families and business travellers who prefer quiet.
Is Cape Coast Castle worth a day trip from Accra?
Yes. It is the most historically important site within reach of the city, and pairing it with Elmina makes a full, worthwhile day. Expect roughly three hours of driving each way and start early.
Do I need a visa to visit Accra from the UK?
Yes. British citizens need a visa before travelling to Ghana, a passport valid for six months beyond arrival and a yellow fever certificate. See our Ghana travel requirements guide for the full sequence.
Is Accra expensive?
It is cheaper than London but not a budget destination. A comfortable mid-range day — hotel, meals, transport and a couple of entries — runs roughly £120–£220. Budget travellers who eat local and use ride-hailing can stay closer to £50–£85.
When is the best time to visit Accra?
Late October to November and February to March offer the best balance of dry weather and clear skies. December to February is popular but can be hazy with harmattan dust, and the main rains arrive in April.
Can I drink tap water in Accra?
No. Stick to bottled or filtered water, including for brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach. Ice in reputable restaurants is generally fine; ice from street stalls is more of a gamble.
Checked by
AirSaffar Travel Desk
UK flight specialists since 2015
Updated 26 October 2026. Entry rules, prices and opening times change — confirm the essentials before you travel.
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