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Bucket List: 15 Best Places to Visit in Accra, Ghana
Accra is Ghana’s capital and largest city, located in West Africa. The city is situated along the Gulf of Guinea, with a population of around 2.3 million. Accra is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and bustling markets. The city is also home to several historical sites, including the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which honors Ghana’s first president and independence leader. Accra is also a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, museums, and lively nightlife. Additionally, the city has a growing economy, with a focus on industries such as finance, oil and gas, and telecommunications.
Accra has something to offer visitors of all ages, with great shopping options, active nightlife, and richness in culture and history. Visitors can also notice the hints of British, Danish, and Dutch influence intertwined with West African culture. The best time to visit the capital of Ghana is from October to April. This way, visitors can avoid the spring and summer rains while enjoying the less humid and milder climate.
National Museum of Ghana
The National Museum of Ghana, also known as the Ghana Museum and Monuments Board, is located in Accra, Ghana. The museum was established in 1957 and is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghana and West Africa.
The museum features many exhibits, including traditional artifacts, sculptures, textiles, and historical documents. Some of the museum’s highlights include the Gold Coast Room, which showcases the history of the Ashanti Kingdom, and the Ethnographic Room, which displays traditional clothing, masks, and other cultural artifacts.
The National Museum of Ghana features cultural and historical artifacts deep-rooted in Ghanaian culture and history. Inside are tribal masks from different African tribes, textiles from other African countries, and other archaeological and ethnographic artifacts.
The museum also offers guided tours, educational programs, and research opportunities for visitors and scholars. Overall, the National Museum of Ghana is an important cultural institution that provides insight into the history and culture of Ghana and West Africa.
Location: 2 Barnes Road, Adabraka, Accra
Operating Hours: 9:30AM to 4:30PM, Daily
The National Theatre
The National Theatre of Ghana was opened to develop and promote the country’s performing arts culture. The theatre’s vision is to be the beacon of the performing arts in Ghana. It aims to make performing arts the anchor for Ghanaian culture’s preservation, promotion, and development.
Location: South Liberia Road, Accra
Operating Hours: 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Daily
Accra Central Mosque
Architectural buffs can appreciate and revel in the marvelous, elaborate, and sophisticated architecture of the Accra Central Mosque. With a hint of Turkish influence, this mosque is one of the biggest mosques in Accra. Visitors can stand outside the property and marvel at the mosque’s beauty. Followers of Islam can join and participate in the prayers done every Friday evening.
Location: Abose-Okai Road, Accra
Artists Alliance Gallery
The Artists Alliance Gallery is Accra’s largest art gallery, filled with contemporary and traditional Ghanaian art exhibited by famous Ghanaian artists. Inside the gallery is three floors of an artistic masterpiece created by local artisans. These handmade crafts can be bought at fixed and non-negotiable prices that support the artist’s ambitions.
Location: La 348, Accra
Operating Hours: 9AM to 5PM, Monday to Saturday; 12PM to 5PM, Sunday
Jamestown Lighthouse
Jamestown is one of Ghana’s oldest districts, often frequented by local and foreign visitors to see the historical buildings and colonial traces of the district’s past. The Jamestown Lighthouse is one of the few structures that tell the story of the district’s past as an old fishing community during its colonial days.
Location: 600 Bruce Road, Accra
W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Center
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois is an American activist who advocated for equal civil rights and raised the political representation of the African-American communities in the United States of America. Du Bois’ service for the minority community moved the first Ghanian president and the rest of the country. The W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Center was built to pay homage to Du Bois and display his life’s work to continue inspiring future generations looking to make a difference in their community. The memorial center is a tourist attraction looking to teach the new generation and its visitors about the works of an honorable man and how far dedication to helping others can take.
Location: 22 First Circular Road, Cantonment, Accra
Operating Hours: 9:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday to Friday; 10AM to 1PM, Saturday
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was built in honor of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The former president Kwame Nkrumah led his country to independence under British colonialism in 1957. Situated within the park are the mausoleum where the remains of Kwame Nkrumah lie and the museum that exhibits his personal effects.
Location: High Street, Accra
Operating Hours: 10AM to 6PM, Daily
Osu Castle
Built in the 17th century, Osu Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that displays historical artifacts that tell the story of Ghana’s past as a developing nation. It was first owned by numerous European countries until it became Ghana’s after it gained its independence. Perched on a cliff that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, the castle was first built to trade gold, ivory, and enslaved people.
Location: Castle Drive, Accra
Operating Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday
Ussher Fort
Visiting the Ussher Fort Museum will be an eye-opening experience for visitors with little to no knowledge of Ghana’s history with the slave trade. Those curious about this particular era in Ghanaian history can walk along the walls and hallowed grounds of the fort where prison cells are partially restored to educate the public on what life was like for its prisoners. The museum was a joint development by Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, the European Union, and UNESCO, and was opened in 2007.
Location: 33 Prof. Atta Mills High Street, Accra
Operating Hours: 9AM to 4:30PM, Monday to Saturday
Legon Botanical Gardens
The Legon Botanical Gardens is an adventure park that caters to people of all ages to enjoy and have fun. Visitors can try canoeing in the Vaughan Dam, embark on a canopy walk and be competitive on the park’s high rope course.
High concentrations of different species of birds can be found in the adventure park. These include Yellow-billed kites, African Grey Hornbill, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Barn Swallow, and African Grey Parrot among many others. The Legon Botanical Gardens is a great place for families and friends to enjoy while being surrounded by the flourishing flora and fauna of Accra.
Location: Agbogba Junction, Off Atomic-Haatso Main Road, Accra
Operating Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday; 8AM to 6PM, Weekends
Shai Hills Resource Reserve
Located in the vast plains in northwest Accra in Doryumu, Shai Hills Resource Reserve is a protected area under the Wildlife Division – Forestry management. It was declared Forest Reserve in 1962 and is home to the Shai people before they were ejected by the British in 1892. Rich wildlife flourishes within the reserve, including baboons, zebras, and hundreds of different species of birds. Visitors can see the ancestral caves where the Shai people used to live.
Location: Doryumu, Greater Accra Region
Operating Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Daily
Labadi Beach
Officially known as La Pleasure Beach to the locals, Labadi Beach is a popular beach destination in Ghana. Every summer, the beach is packed with local and foreign visitors to enjoy the beach, partake in beach activities and visit the vibrant bars on the beach. The weekends are often crowded when rave parties occur at nightfall.
Location: La Road, Accra
’57 Chocolate
‘57 Chocolate is a famous chocolate shop well-known to both local and foreign visitors. The name of the shop ‘57 Chocolate is short for the year 1957, the same year that the country of Ghana gained its independence from British colonialism. The shop was founded and is owned by two sisters with a passion for chocolate making. It is one of the many shops and businesses across Accra that is founded and owned by women. Visitors can arrange a chocolate-tasting session and bring home a box of chocolate goodies.
Website: 57chocolategh.com
Shop ‘till you drop in one of Ghana’s Markets
Traveling would not be complete without buying souvenirs. Learn how to bargain like a local in the different markets in Accra. Makola Market is one of the popular markets for tourists in Accra. With a wide array of goods, from medicinal plants to local textiles to food ingredients, Makola Market is worth a walking detour. Other shops worth noting in Accra are Wild Gecko Handicrafts with their locally produced Ghanaian goods ranging from personal accessories to handbags, Global Mamas which sells clothes for men, women, and children and is run by the NGO Women in Progress, KIKI Clothing which creates distinctive clothing for women, and Christie Brown with their high-design clothing and accessories that incorporate African prints.
Makola Market
Location: Osc 384 Makola Shopping Mall, Kojo Thompson Road, Accra
Wild Gecko Handicrafts
Location: Gulf Street, Accra
Global Mamas
Location: Adjoate Street, Accra
KIKI Clothing
Location: Accra Mall, Spintex Road, Accra
Christie Brown
Location: Viva Court, 809 H P Nyemitei Street, Accra
Experience a Ghanaian Nightlife
Accra’s active, vibrant, and non-stop nightlife is a must-see experience. +233 Jazz Bar & Grill is a popular venue that brings together local musicians and delivers live music for its audience. Labadi Beach is another great option for lively nights and hard parties. Accra also has bars with a more relaxed atmosphere like Republic Bar & Grill with their alcohol and fried food, and AM:PM in their down-to-earth bistro and sports bar.
+233 Jazz Bar & Grill
Location: Dr Isert Street, Accra
Labadi Beach
Location: La Road, Accra
Republic Bar & Grill
Location: Asafoatse Tempong Street, Accra
AM:PM
Location: 16 N Airport Road, Accra
Our Top Hotel Picks for Accra
Accra Travel and Tour Packages
Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of cheap Accra hotels and resorts via Agoda and Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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