Akwaaba! Welcome to Accra, Ghana’s vibrant capital city!
Accra is packed with so much to see and do, you’ll wonder why you didn’t visit sooner. This DIY City Tour is your go-to guide for the must-see cultural and historical spots that make Accra tick. I’ve picked out the highlights – ones you’ll find on most city tours – but without the "school field trip" vibe. No boring essays required afterward!
I’ve personally tried all the on-site tours included with admission, and let me tell you, they’re worth every minute. The guides are informative and engaging, and you'll walk away knowing more than you expected. Just don’t forget to carry small bills (think 10 and 20 cedi notes) to tip your guides – trust me, they’ll appreciate it!
The stops are listed in the order I recommend for the smoothest experience. You can click the little route (wavy 's') button on the map to see how it all fits together.
But hey, it’s your tour! Feel free to skip a stop or two if you’re short on time, or if something doesn’t quite catch your interest. And if you’re ambitious enough to hit every single spot in one day, good luck! You’ll need an early start. Otherwise, feel free to split it into two days and take your time. That’s the beauty of a DIY tour – no guide hustling you to the next thing!
Ready to Roll?
First things first: download the Bolt app. It’s like Uber,
but local, and it works in all the major cities across Ghana.
Pro Tip: Always opt to pay in cash when using
Bolt. Trust me on this – drivers are much more motivated to show up when they
know there’s cash waiting at the end of the ride!
Once you’ve got Bolt set up, order your ride to the first
stop of your choice. The best part is, most of these spots are clustered
together, so you can easily hop from one to the next. I’ll let you know if any
sights are walkable in the notes for each one.
If you prefer a full tour instead of DIY, I've listed a compatible experience at the end of this guide.
Ever heard of WEB DuBois? If not, you’re in for a treat.
I didn’t know much about him before this tour, but I left feeling inspired. The museum, set in DuBois’ former home and final resting place, highlights his immense contributions to African independence and civil rights.
One of the coolest parts? Learning about his work on the Encyclopedia Africana, an ambitious project aimed at documenting the history and culture of Africa.
The guided tour was fascinating, making his life and legacy come alive. If you're curious about civil rights history, this stop is a must on your Accra tour!
Independence Square is one of Accra’s most iconic spots.
The site includes both Black Star Gate and Independence Arch, and it’s where major military parades and official events take place. The rest of the time? It’s the perfect place to snap some epic selfies to show you’ve truly been to Ghana. Let’s be honest—if you haven’t been here, have you really been to Accra?
And if you're up for it, climb the 60 steps to the top of Black Star Gate for a cool view of the city. A 10 cedi tip to the folks downstairs keeps the place clean and safe, so don’t forget to show them some love!
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Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum(NAB VOYAGE)
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is a must-see for anyone interested in Ghana’s history.
Kwame Nkrumah wasn’t just any leader – he played a key role in Ghana’s independence and was a major advocate for Pan-Africanism. His vision has shaped Ghana and continues to inspire African leaders today.
The museum and memorial park offer a great glimpse into Ghana’s political past. Hopefully, all the fountains will be flowing when you visit (a couple small ones were dry during my stop), but the grounds are still beautiful. The tour is interesting, and it’s a solid stop if you want to dive deeper into the country’s independence story.
If you're going to Abajo or the National Cultural Center next (they're in the same location), there's no need to call a Bolt. It's a short, 5-miinute walk from the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial to the National Cultural Center. Just be sure to exit through the gate near the fountains and head to your right.
Feeling hungry yet? If you’ve followed the tour so far, it’s probably time for a break.
Abajo is a cozy spot right on the grounds of the National Cultural Center. Once you enter, just swing to your right, and you’ll find it. The prices are moderate, and the menu offers a nice mix of local dishes and western-friendly options – and trust me, they’re delicious.
Fuel up here so you’ve got the energy to explore everything the National Cultural Center has to offer!
The National Cultural Center is more than just a great spot for souvenirs.
Sure, you can pick up some cool keepsakes, but you might also stumble into a drumming lesson or catch a skilled artisan hard at work. There’s a lot happening here – from wood carving and kente weaving to painting, fashion, drum making, and more. If you’ve got any creative spark, you’ll love this place!
A heads-up: the vendors are super friendly but can get a bit persistent. If you’re ready to move on, just be polite but firm. No need to feel awkward about it!
If you came here first and plan to visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial, it's walking distance from here. Just head left when you exit the Cultural Center. This walk is a little longer than doing it the other way around.
And if you're getting hungry, don't forget that Abajo is right on the grounds of the Cultural Center, near the entrance.
I’ve got a bit of history with this place. Back in 2003, when I first visited Ghana, my (cheap) guesthouse was just a short walk away. On my first day, I wandered around and stumbled onto the museum. At the time, it wasn’t much – just a few exhibits that were dusty and faded.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a whole new experience! The museum is now modern, beautiful, and offers a great mix of Ghana’s culture and history. It’s not too big, so it makes for a nice, easy stop to round out your museum visits on this tour.
Welcome to the ultimate African market experience! Makola is the largest market in Accra, and you can find just about anything here – from cookware to vibrant fabrics to, yes, even live giant snails. If you know where to look, it's all there.
Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s an unforgettable experience. The sights, smells, and interactions with shopkeepers and shoppers are something you can’t capture on a screen. It’s a lot of fun to just dive in and explore.
When you’re ready to leave, don’t count on a Bolt driver to navigate the chaos. Just flag down a cab on the main road outside the market. You’ll probably pay a little more than what the Bolt app quotes, but use it as a good guide for bargaining.
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If You Prefer a Full Tour
This tour is very similar to what I've outlined, swapping the Jamestown Lighthouse for the National Museum. If you don't want to hassle with doing it yourself, this is a good option.
Feehi’s Place is fun and artsy. There’s a wide variety of room types. Some are comfort-budget and some wander up into mid-range. The mid-range is nice if you can swing a room with a balcony.
The more basic rooms will get the job done though, and the location is ideal – near Danquah Circle at the fun end of Oxford Street in the Osu neighborhood of Accra. There’s cheap and tasty food at the street market across the street, or more international fare all up and down Oxford Street.
I like this place, it’s very comfortable, and very affordable. If you want to get out of the room there’s cushy seating for everyone in the main area. Breakfast is basic, but satisfying. I recommend buying some local honey for your toast in the morning.
The thing that keeps this place affordable is the location. Adenta is a bit out of center. However, if you do stay here and want a good local market experience without tackling Makola, the Madina Market is really great. People are very friendly and it’s not quite as big or chaotic as Makola.
I’ve stayed here twice, for extended periods, and been quite happy. The only drawback is that the last time I was here, the traffic was so bad that the savings on the hotel rate got eaten up by Bolt fares. As far as savings, it was a wash. Though it is easy to take a tro-tro to Aburi Botanical Gardens from here.
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Mid-Range
Accra Fine Suites - Holi Flats Airport Residential
I haven't stayed here, but it has good reviews and looks really nice without being outrageously expensive. It looks like it has all the luxuries I would expect from a hotel of this class. If you like a little more comfort when you travel, this place is worth checking out.
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High End
SOLEA - Super central, comfortable and modern apartment
I haven't stayed here, but it has good reviews and looks really nice without being outrageously expensive. It looks like it has all the luxuries I would expect from a hotel of this class. If you like a little more comfort when you travel, this place is worth checking out.
This place is on booking.com, but not on google Maps yet, so no pics of the actual place yet (the cover photo is generic). Looks really nice on the booking.com listing though.
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10 Travel Tips for Ghana
1. Ghanaians are very friendly and while sometimes they’re trying to sell you something, they’re more often just being genuinely nice. Accept it for what it is.
2. It’s pretty hot. Bring a few bandanas to mop the sweat off your face and always keep one with you. You’ll adjust after a couple of days but you’ll still need the bandanas.
3. Cash is king. When you get your money from the ATM, which are easy to find, go inside the bank and buy 1000 cedis worth of 10-cedi notes. This will make your trip MUCH easier as you travel around and deal with drivers, small businesses and street vendors.
4, If you’re out of shape like me, a hiking stick for Kakum National Park isn’t a bad idea. It doesn’t need to be expensive, just make sure it collapses enough to fit in your luggage.
5. Always use your right hand for eating, shaking hands, and passing any items or money. Not everyone is a stickler, but miss doing this with the wrong person and you’ll get the stink-eye because of the insult you delivered.
6. Make sure to bring and use mosquito repellent. Apply it starting around 4pm and then as needed, whenever you’re outside. A natural blend works fine and then you don’t have to expose yourself to all those harsh chemicals.
7. Bring a flashlight and at least one power bank. Power outages aren’t horrible here, but they’re frequent enough that you want to be prepared. Keep your electronics charged.
8. Don’t be afraid. I mean, don’t flash your wealth and make yourself a target, but don’t be paranoid either. Ghana is safer than most US cities. Just use normal street smarts.
9. The water sold in plastic bags, aka sachets, is fine to drink. It seems that every country where these are sold has some urban legend about people filling bags from their home sink and selling them, but I have never seen that happen. Once you have the sachet, just bite to tear the corner to create a little hole. You can’t re-seal it, but once it’s partly empty you can usually put it down for a bit – or just drink the whole thing in one go.
10. When you haggle, be mindful and don’t always insist on getting an arm-twistingly low price. Five cedis means a lot more to them than it does to you. Haggle for a fair price, but don’t be rude about it.
Bonus Tip: Internet speed is not great here. Don't rely on getting all your photos up to cloud storage every night. Have an alternate way to back-up your photos and videos, either an external hard drive, if you're bringing your laptop, or a photo stick, or two.
Hi, I’m Trina, and I was bitten by the travel bug more than 30 years ago! I started exploring the world independently way back, and since 2017, I’ve been a full-time traveler, diving deep into the rich cultures of Southeast Asia (7 countries) and Africa (11 countries).
Currently based in Tamale, Ghana, I’m all about experiencing destinations in a real, down-to-earth way—no luxury fluff, just genuine adventures.
And starting in January 2025, I’ll be traveling overland from Ghana to Namibia in what I have creatively dubbed, Africa Tour 2025.
My travel style? Comfort-budget. I stay in local spots that are as inexpensive as I can get and still be comfortable. I eat where the locals do and hop on public transport when it makes sense. However, I do slide up to mid-range now and again for an extra bit of comfort and for clients who prefer a softer stay.
Whether you’re looking for vibrant markets, hidden gems, or cultural hotspots, I’ve been there, done that, and am more than happy to pass along what I’ve learned—honestly and without the hype.
I’m a big believer in being upfront. My guides and consultations come from real experiences, and I never recommend anything I wouldn’t do myself. You’ll find my approach both informative and practical because I want you to have an incredible, stress-free trip.
Whether you’re tackling the lively streets of Accra or searching for unique experiences across Africa, I’ve got the insights to help you navigate it all.
And let’s not forget the creative side! I have a huge passion for arts and crafts, especially anything performance-related like drumming, so you’ll often find those cultural highlights in my recommendations.
My goal is simple: to help you have the best adventure possible, with all of the fun and none of the hassle.
If you’re looking for honest, practical advice from someone who’s been there and done that, I’d love to help you plan your next unforgettable journey!
