Ghana · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Ghana
These are the places worth your time in Ghana, from Accra's galleries, markets and chop bars to the castles of Cape Coast, the Asante crafts around Kumasi, the elephants of Mole and the waterfalls of the Volta Region. Classics sit beside lesser-known corners, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Accra
Things to Do
- Jamestown Lighthouse (Jamestown)
Climb the old lighthouse for sweeping views over the fishing harbour, colourful canoes and the oldest corner of Accra. - Independence Square (Osu)
The vast parade ground and Black Star Gate built to mark Ghana's independence in 1957.
Arts and Culture
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum (High Street)
The resting place of Ghana's first president, with a small museum telling the story of independence. - W.E.B. Du Bois Centre (Cantonments)
The former home and resting place of the great Pan-African scholar, quiet and moving. - Nubuke Foundation (East Legon)
A calm arts space showing contemporary Ghanaian artists, with a shop and garden. - Gallery 1957 (Ministries)
A leading contemporary art gallery that helped put Accra on the global art map. - Artists Alliance Gallery (Labadi)
Three floors of paintings, sculpture and furniture by Ghanaian artists in a building by the beach road. - National Theatre of Ghana (Victoriaborg)
A striking modern theatre hosting concerts, drama and dance. - Alliance Française Accra (Airport Residential)
Concerts, film nights and exhibitions in a garden setting.
Shopping and Markets
- Makola Market (Central Accra)
Accra's sprawling, thrilling central market for fabric, beads, spices and everything in between. - Centre for National Culture (Ministries)
The big craft market by the sea for kente, drums, masks and carvings, with friendly bargaining expected. - Accra Mall (Tetteh Quarshie)
An easy air-conditioned stop for a SIM card, groceries, a cinema and a break from the heat. - Oxford Street (Osu)
Osu's busy main strip of shops, fast food, banks and street sellers, lively day and night. - Global Mamas (Osu)
Fair trade batik clothing and gifts made by women's cooperatives. - Woodin (Osu)
Bright wax print fabrics to take to a tailor and turn into your own outfit.
Nature and Outdoors
- Labadi Beach (La)
The city's liveliest beach, with music, horse rides and food stalls, busiest at weekends. - Legon Botanical Gardens (Legon)
Shady lawns, a canopy walk and a ropes course, good for families escaping the city heat. - Shai Hills Resource Reserve (Doryumu)
Baboons, antelopes and caves just an hour from the city, with hiking among granite hills. - Kokrobite Beach (Kokrobite)
A laid-back beach west of the city with drumming, dancing and a creative crowd. - Bojo Beach (Bortianor)
A calm, clean beach reached by a short canoe crossing over a lagoon.
Events
- Chale Wote Street Art Festival (Jamestown)
A wild, joyful August festival of murals, performance and music on the streets of Jamestown. - Homowo Festival (Jamestown)
The Ga harvest festival that mocks hunger, with processions and sprinkled kpokpoi across Ga towns.
Restaurants
- Buka Restaurant (Osu)
A long-standing favourite for West African dishes like jollof, groundnut soup and grilled tilapia. - Asanka Local (Osu)
A lively spot for Ghanaian staples such as fufu, banku and tilapia, often with live music. - Kozo (Airport Residential)
A stylish Asian fusion restaurant and rooftop lounge for a special night out. - La Chaumière (Liberation Road)
A classic French restaurant that has served Accra's diplomats and families for decades. - Chez Clarisse (Osu)
A relaxed Ivorian maquis for attiéké, grilled fish and alloco. - Burger and Relish (Osu)
Good burgers and a garden setting, a crowd-pleaser for families and groups. - Papaye (Osu)
A local institution for quick grilled chicken, fried rice and fried plantain.
Bars and Nightlife
- Skybar 25 (Airport City)
Cocktails on the twenty-fifth floor with a sweeping view over the city lights. - Republic Bar and Grill (Osu)
A small, buzzing bar famous for its sobolo and local gin cocktails and its street-side crowd. - Honeysuckle Pub (Osu)
A busy, friendly pub for football on screen, drinks and grilled food. - +233 Jazz Bar and Grill (North Ridge)
Live jazz and highlife in a relaxed garden bar, a long-running Accra favourite.
Cafés
- Jamestown Café (Jamestown)
A creative café and venue in a restored building, home to art, music and good coffee. - Café Kwae (Airport City)
Ghanaian-grown coffee and light food in a calm modern café. - Vida e Caffè (Airport City)
A reliable chain café for coffee, pastries and Wi-Fi.
Stays
- Big Milly's Backyard (Kokrobite)
A legendary, relaxed beach guesthouse with live music at weekends. - Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City (Ministries)
A polished luxury hotel with a big pool, spa and art collection. - Labadi Beach Hotel (La)
A classic seaside hotel with gardens and pools next to the beach. - Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel (Ridge)
A central, well-run hotel with a large pool, popular with business travellers and families. - Villa Monticello (Airport Residential)
A boutique hotel full of art and character in a quiet leafy area.
Places to Visit in Aburi
Nature and Outdoors
- Aburi Botanical Gardens (Aburi)
Cool hill air, old trees and peaceful paths on the Akuapem ridge above Accra.
Places to Visit in Koforidua
Nature and Outdoors
- Boti Falls (Boti)
Twin waterfalls in the forest, with an umbrella rock and palm tree nearby.
Shopping and Markets
- Koforidua Bead Market (Koforidua)
A weekly market for Krobo glass beads and the craft behind them.
Places to Visit in Cape Coast
Arts and Culture
- Cape Coast Castle (Victoria Road)
A powerful UNESCO-listed fort and the Door of No Return, best seen with a guided tour. - Elmina Castle (Elmina)
The oldest European building south of the Sahara and a profound place of remembrance. - Assin Manso Slave River Site (Assin Manso)
The river where captives took their last bath, now a memorial and place of reflection. - Elmina Java Museum (Elmina)
The surprising story of West African soldiers who served in the Dutch East Indies. - Fort William Anomabo (Anomabo)
A restored fort with a hard history and fine sea views.
Things to Do
- Fort St Jago (Elmina)
A hilltop fort with the best view over Elmina Castle and the fishing harbour. - Elmina Fishing Harbour (Elmina)
Painted canoes and a busy fish market at the foot of the castle, best early. - Fort William Lighthouse (Cape Coast)
A small hilltop fort and lighthouse with views over town and castle.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kakum National Park (Abrafo)
A rainforest canopy walkway strung high between giant trees. - Brenu Beach (Brenu Akyinim)
A long, quiet palm-lined beach just west of Elmina.
Stays
- Hans Cottage Botel (Kakum Road)
A lakeside hotel where crocodiles laze below the restaurant. - Coconut Grove Beach Resort (Elmina)
A long-standing beach resort with pools and space for families. - Elmina Beach Resort (Elmina)
A big, comfortable resort on the sea close to the castles. - Ko-Sa Beach Resort (Ampenyi)
A peaceful beach lodge with a natural rock pool for swimming.
Bars and Nightlife
- Oasis Beach Resort (Cape Coast)
A beachfront bar and guesthouse with drumming nights, steps from the castle.
Events
- PANAFEST and Emancipation Day (Cape Coast)
A biennial Pan-African festival with remembrance events that draws the diaspora. - Fetu Afahye (Cape Coast)
A colourful September festival with chiefs in palanquins and a grand procession. - Bakatue Festival (Elmina)
Elmina's July festival that opens the fishing season with a lagoon regatta.
Shopping and Markets
- Kotokuraba Market (Cape Coast)
The town's central market for produce, fabric and everyday life.
Places to Visit in Kumasi
Arts and Culture
- Manhyia Palace Museum (Manhyia)
The former palace of the Asantehene, telling the story of the Asante kings. - Prempeh II Jubilee Museum (Centre for National Culture)
A small museum of Asante regalia with a well-told tour. - Centre for National Culture (Bantama Road)
Craft workshops, kente and a museum on calm grounds. - Kumasi Fort and Military Museum (Stewart Avenue)
The fort at the centre of the 1900 Yaa Asantewaa war. - Okomfo Anokye Sword Site (Bantama)
The sword said to have been planted by the priest who founded Asante. - Besease Traditional Shrine (Ejisu)
A UNESCO-listed Asante shrine decorated with sculpted reliefs.
Shopping and Markets
- Kejetia Market (Kejetia)
One of the largest markets in West Africa, now in a modern complex, full of life. - Bonwire Kente Weaving Centre (Bonwire)
Watch weavers make kente on narrow looms and buy direct. - Ntonso Adinkra Village (Ntonso)
Learn the meaning of adinkra symbols and stamp your own cloth. - Ahwiaa Woodcarving Village (Ahwiaa)
A roadside village of carvers making stools, drums and masks.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Bosomtwe (Abono)
A sacred crater lake ringed by forest hills, made for slow days. - Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary (Kubease)
Quiet forest trails full of butterflies. - Rattray Park (Kumasi)
Kumasi's green city park with paths, fountains and play areas.
Stays
- Lake Point Guesthouse (Lake Bosomtwe)
A peaceful guesthouse on the shore with great home cooking. - Royal Lamerta Hotel (Kumasi)
A reliable, comfortable hotel with a good pool. - Golden Bean Hotel (Ahodwo)
A modern hotel with a rooftop restaurant and pool.
Events
- Akwasidae Festival (Manhyia)
Asante court festival every six weeks with drums and gold.
Places to Visit in Mole National Park
Nature and Outdoors
- Mole National Park (Larabanga)
Ghana's largest park, with walking safaris to see elephants up close.
Stays
- Mole Motel (Mole National Park)
A simple hilltop hotel with a pool overlooking a waterhole. - Zaina Lodge (Mole National Park)
A luxury safari lodge with tents and a waterhole view.
Arts and Culture
- Larabanga Mosque (Larabanga)
A Sudanese-style mud mosque, one of the oldest in West Africa. - Larabanga Mystic Stone (Larabanga)
A stone that local lore says always returns to its spot.
Things to Do
- Mognori Eco Village (Mognori)
Canoe safaris and village visits on the edge of the park.
Places to Visit in Tamale
Shopping and Markets
- Tamale Central Market (Tamale)
Shea butter, smocks and leather goods in the northern capital.
Arts and Culture
- Tamale Centre for National Culture (Tamale)
Northern crafts, smocks and leatherwork.
Events
- Bugum Fire Festival (Tamale)
Torchlight processions through the northern towns.
Places to Visit in Bolgatanga
Nature and Outdoors
- Paga Crocodile Pond (Paga)
Sacred crocodiles that locals say are safe to approach with a guide.
Arts and Culture
- Sirigu Women's Organisation for Pottery and Art (Sirigu)
Painted homes and pottery by a women's cooperative.
Shopping and Markets
- Bolgatanga Market (Bolgatanga)
The home of Bolga baskets, woven straw and leather.
Places to Visit in Volta Region
Nature and Outdoors
- Wli Waterfalls (Wli)
Ghana's highest waterfall, reached on a forest walk. - Mount Afadja (Liati Wote)
A climb up one of Ghana's highest peaks, with views over Togo. - Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary (Tafi Atome)
Mona monkeys in a sacred forest, protected by the village. - Tagbo Falls (Liati Wote)
A gentle forest walk to a beautiful waterfall. - Amedzofe (Avatime Hills)
A cool mountain village with a waterfall and hill views.
Stays
- Royal Senchi Hotel (Akosombo)
A riverside resort with a pool and terrace. - Volta Hotel (Akosombo)
A hilltop hotel over the dam. - Wli Water Heights Hotel (Wli)
A simple base near the falls.
Things to Do
- Adomi Bridge (Atimpoku)
A graceful suspension bridge over the Volta, now with a bridge climb.
Shopping and Markets
- Tafi Abuipe Kente Village (Tafi Abuipe)
Ewe weavers making kente.
Events
- Hogbetsotso Festival (Anloga)
The Anlo Ewe festival of migration, held in November. - Agotime Kente Festival (Kpetoe)
A kente festival in the weaving town.
Arts and Culture
- Fort Prinzenstein (Keta)
A ruined Danish fort on the Keta sandbar.
Places to Visit in Ada Foah
Stays
- Aqua Safari Resort (Ada Foah)
A resort on the Volta estuary.
Places to Visit in Busua
Nature and Outdoors
- Busua Beach (Busua)
A wide, golden beach with gentle surf. - Cape Three Points Lighthouse (Cape Three Points)
The southernmost point of Ghana. - Akwidaa Beach (Akwidaa)
A long, quiet beach backed by mangroves.
Stays
- Busua Inn (Busua)
A small beachfront inn. - Busua Beach Resort (Busua)
A big resort with lawns on the sand. - Escape3Points Ecolodge (Cape Three Points)
An eco lodge on a wild beach. - Lou Moon Lodge (Axim)
A lovely lodge on a rocky cove. - Ezile Bay Village (Akwidaa)
Simple huts on a wild bay.
Arts and Culture
- Fort Metal Cross (Dixcove)
A British fort over a fishing harbour. - Fort Batenstein (Butre)
A ruined Dutch fort over a lovely bay. - Fort Apollonia (Beyin)
A white British fort, now a small museum.
Things to Do
- Nzulezo Stilt Village (Beyin)
A village on stilts over a lake, reached by canoe.
Shopping and Markets
- Market Circle (Takoradi)
Takoradi's busy market.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- National Museum of Ghana (Barnes Road, Accra)
The national collection of archaeology, regalia and art, worth checking for current opening before you go. - AfroFuture Festival (Accra, Accra)
A big December music and culture festival that draws the diaspora home for the holiday season. - Coco Lounge (Airport Residential, Accra)
A smart restaurant and lounge serving modern dishes with a good cocktail list. - Sandbox Beach Club (Labadi, Accra)
A stylish beach club with sunset drinks, music and food on the sand. - Wild Gecko Handicrafts (Dzorwulu, Accra)
A fair trade shop of colourful crafts, recycled glass and homewares. - Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival (Atibie, Kwahu)
Tandem paragliding over the Kwahu ridge during the big Easter homecoming. - Anomabo Beach Resort (Anomabo, Cape Coast)
Simple chalets on a quiet beach in a historic fishing town. - Baobab House (Cape Coast, Cape Coast)
A small café near the castle with vegetarian food and juices. - Vic Baboo's Café (Adum, Kumasi)
A long-standing traveller favourite for Indian and Ghanaian dishes. - Yaa Asantewaa Museum (Ejisu, Kumasi)
A small museum dedicated to the queen mother who led the 1900 war.