Accra
The vibrant, welcoming capital of Ghana - a lively coastal city of markets, music and history, home to memorials to independence hero Kwame Nkrumah, bustling markets and a burgeoning arts scene.
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Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a vibrant, warm and welcoming coastal city, the gateway to one of West Africa's most stable and friendly countries. A lively metropolis of bustling markets, pounding highlife and Afrobeats music, and a fast-growing arts and food scene, it holds the moving Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park honouring the leader of Ghana's pioneering independence, the huge Makola Market, the historic Jamestown district with its lighthouse and boxing gyms, and beaches, all pulsing with West African energy.
What you actually see
- The Nkrumah Memorial - the park honouring the independence hero.
- Makola Market - the huge, bustling central market.
- Jamestown - the historic district, lighthouse and street life.
- The arts and nightlife - the galleries, music and food scene.
When to go
November to March, the drier season, for the most comfortable weather; the city is lively year-round, and its festivals, markets and nightlife pulse with energy. It is the gateway to Ghana and an easy, friendly introduction to West Africa.
Honest expectations
It is a hot, humid, sprawling and sometimes chaotic African city, with heavy traffic, so its appeal is the warm hospitality, the music, markets and energy rather than polished sights. Normal city precautions apply. Ghana is famously one of the friendliest and most stable countries in the region, making Accra a welcoming, if hectic, introduction to West Africa and a base for the historic coast.
Nearby
The Cape Coast castles, the Kakum forest and the beaches of the coast are within reach.
What to pack for Accra
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
