Tour Cape Coast Castle$4–5
A former slave-trading fortress on the Atlantic coast, with guided tours through the dungeons and the 'Door of No Return' that confront the transatlantic slave trade directly.
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West Africa
Things to do in Ghana
Slave-trade fortresses that confront history directly, a warm and famously welcoming culture, and a coastline of surf towns and fishing villages increasingly on the radar for West Africa first-timers.
Explore Ghana on the map →Budget$
Best for8-10 days
CapitalAccra
VisaE-visa required for most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, applied for online before arrival.
CurrencyGhanaian cedi (GHS)
LanguagesEnglish (official); Twi, Ga, Ewe, and other local languages widely spoken
InternetGood in Accra and major cities, more limited rurally
Typical lodging$15–$40/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type D/G plug)
Time zoneUTC+0 to UTC+1
Emergency number112
Dialing code+233
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Food
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not expected; small tips are appreciated.
Ghana's 'Year of Return' initiative in 2019 formally invited the African diaspora to reconnect with their ancestral homeland, and the country has since become a leading destination for Black heritage travel, anchored by the sobering Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles. It was also the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule, in 1957, a milestone still central to national pride.
When to go
Major dry seasonNovember–March
The most popular window, with the Harmattan wind bringing dusty haze but reliably dry conditions for coastal and northern travel.
Major wet seasonApril–July
The heaviest rains of the year, especially in the south, though brief and often predictable afternoon downpours.
Minor dry seasonAugust–September
A shorter dry window between the two wet seasons, cooler and less humid in the south.
Minor wet seasonOctober
A second, lighter rainy stretch before the main dry season returns in November.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
11Visit Elmina Castle, the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa$4–5
Built by the Portuguese in 1482, later used extensively in the slave trade, now a UNESCO World Heritage site with sobering guided tours.
Explore Accra's Jamestown neighborhood
A historic fishing district with colorful lighthouse views, boxing gyms, and street art documenting Ghana's independence movement.
Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
A mausoleum and museum honoring Ghana's first president and the leader of its independence movement, the first in sub-Saharan Africa in 1957.
Explore Kumasi's Manhyia Palace and Ashanti culture
The seat of the Ashanti king, one of West Africa's most historically significant kingdoms, with a museum on royal regalia and history.
Visit the coffin workshops of Teshie
Accra's famous 'fantasy coffins,' handcrafted in shapes representing the deceased's life or profession, a unique Ghanaian artistic tradition.
Explore the Larabanga Mosque in northern Ghana
A centuries-old mud-and-stick mosque in Sudano-Sahelian style, one of the oldest in West Africa, near Mole National Park.
Attend a traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance performance
Rhythmic drumming traditions vary by region and remain central to festivals, funerals, and celebrations, with performances arranged for visitors in Accra and Kumasi.
Shop at Accra's Makola Market
A sprawling, chaotic central market selling everything from fabric to fresh produce, best navigated with a local guide on a first visit.
Visit the stilt village of Nzulezu
An entire community built on stilts over Lake Tadane, reachable by canoe through a protected wetland reserve.
Participate in Year of Return heritage tourism sites
Beyond the castles, sites like the PANAFEST festival and diaspora citizenship programs offer deeper engagement for travelers researching ancestral connections.
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Adventure & outdoors
2Walk the Kakum National Park canopy walkway
A series of rope bridges suspended up to 40 metres above the rainforest floor, one of the few canopy walks of its kind in Africa.
Surf at Busua Beach
A relaxed beach town on the western coast with reliable beginner-friendly waves and a small but growing surf school scene.
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Food & drink
3Eat jollof rice and banku with tilapia
Ghana's version of West Africa's signature rice dish, alongside fermented corn-and-cassava banku served with grilled fish and pepper sauce.
Tour a cocoa farm in the Ashanti or Western Region
Ghana is one of the world's largest cocoa producers, and small farm visits explain the process from pod to bean ahead of export.
Try kelewele, Ghana's spiced fried plantain street snack
Ripe plantain cubes fried with ginger, chili, and spices, sold from street carts as an evening snack across Accra and beyond.
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Beaches
2Relax on the beaches of Ada Foah
Where the Volta River meets the Atlantic, offering calmer estuary swimming alongside ocean beach access and boat trips to a nearby sandbar island.
Relax at Kokrobite Beach near Accra
A popular weekend escape from the capital, with reggae bars, drumming schools, and a laid-back backpacker energy along the sand.
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Nature & scenery
2Visit Wli Waterfalls in the Volta Region
Ghana's tallest waterfall, reached by a forested trail past fruit bat colonies roosting in the cliffs above the falls.
Spot elephants in Mole National Park
Ghana's largest wildlife reserve, with walking safaris (a rarity in African wildlife parks) bringing visitors close to elephants and antelope on foot.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Ghana?
Most nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, need an e-visa applied for online before arrival, build in a few days' processing time before your trip.
▾Is Ghana a good first stop for West Africa?
Yes, widely considered one of the more accessible entry points to the region: English-speaking, politically stable, with well-developed tourism infrastructure around Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi.
▾What should I know before visiting the slave castles?
Cape Coast and Elmina Castles are emotionally heavy but essential historical sites, especially significant for diaspora travelers; guided tours provide important context, and it's worth allowing time afterward to process the experience.
▾What vaccinations are recommended for Ghana?
Yellow fever vaccination is typically required for entry, and malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended: consult a travel clinic well before departure for full, current guidance specific to your itinerary.
▾Is Ghanaian food very different from other West African cuisines?
It shares staples like jollof rice and fufu with neighboring countries but has its own distinct versions and specialties, including waakye and red-red, worth trying specifically in Ghana rather than assuming they're identical elsewhere.
▾How much does it cost to visit Cape Coast Castle?
Foreign adult entry runs roughly GHS 60-80 (about $4-5), covering a guided tour through the former slave-trading fort, a modest fee for one of West Africa's most historically significant sites. Ghanaian citizens and residents pay a separately reduced local rate.