Accra Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Accra tours and things to do in Ghana’s vibrant capital and beyond: take a moving day trip to the Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles and the Kakum canopy walkway, explore Accra’s markets, Independence Square and the Kwame Nkrumah memorial, escape to the Aburi gardens and Boti Falls, cruise the Volta and spot wildlife at Shai Hills, and dive into Ghanaian food, drumming and culture. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect West African adventure.
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Explore Accra by interest
Whatever brings you to Accra — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Accra
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Cape Coast Castle
Slave-fort history.
Elmina Castle
UNESCO slave fort.
Independence Square
Accra landmark.
Ghanaian Cuisine
Cook & taste.
Aburi Gardens
Cool green hills.
Shai Hills
Safari & caves.
Drumming & Dance
Feel the rhythm.
Labadi Beach
Accra’s shore.
Accra in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Accra city
- 2Day 2: Cape Coast
- 3Day 3: Aburi & falls
- 4Food & culture
Ghana for history
- 1Cape Coast Castle
- 2Elmina Castle
- 3Door of No Return
- 4Kakum canopy
Accra for culture & food
- 1Cooking class
- 2Market tour
- 3Drumming & dance
- 4Kente & crafts
~3 hrs awayCape Coast
Slave castles.
~1 hr awayAburi Gardens
Cool green hills.
~2.5 hrs awayBoti Falls
Twin waterfall.
~1.5 hrs awayShai Hills
Safari & caves.
~2 hrs awayAkosombo
Volta Lake cruise.
~2 hrs awayAda
Estuary & jet ski.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Accra visitor asks before booking.
Dry season (Nov–Mar)
The best time to visit, with sunny skies and lower humidity — ideal for city tours, the coast and day trips.
Rainy season (Apr–Jul)
The main wet season brings heavier showers and lush greenery; tours still run, with rain often passing quickly.
Short dry spell (Aug)
A brief drier period in August offers a window of better weather mid-year.
Harmattan (Dec–Feb)
The dry, dusty Harmattan wind brings hazy skies and cooler nights, a distinctive West African season.
Festive season
December is lively with the “Detty December” events and diaspora celebrations — book ahead.
Year-round warmth
Accra stays hot and humid all year, so light clothing and sun protection are essential.
One day
The city, Jamestown and a beach.
Three days
Add Cape Coast and the Aburi hills.
A week
Add the Volta region and more of Ghana.
History lovers
Add deeper time on the Cape Coast.
Foodies
Add cooking classes and market tours.
Nature lovers
Add safaris, falls and the Volta.
Tours & transfers
Tours with hotel pickup are the easiest way to reach Cape Coast, Aburi and the Volta without arranging transport.
Private driver
Hiring a car with a driver for the day is popular and practical, given the distances and traffic.
Ride apps
Ride-hailing apps work well in Accra and are an affordable way to get around the city.
Allow for traffic
Accra’s traffic is heavy — leave plenty of time for trips, especially to the airport and coast.
Central base
Staying central near Osu or the beaches keeps dining and tour pickups convenient.
Getting there
Kotoka International Airport is close to the city, around 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Ghanaian cedi
Ghana uses the cedi (GHS); carry cash for markets and smaller venues, as cards aren’t always accepted.
Cape Coast is moving
The slave castles are deeply emotional sites — approach them with respect and allow time to reflect.
Sun & humidity
It’s hot and humid year-round — bring sun protection, light clothing and plenty of water.
Book day trips ahead
Cape Coast and Volta day tours are long and popular — reserve ahead, especially in December.
Yellow fever certificate
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Ghana — check requirements before you travel.
Try the local food
Don’t miss jollof rice, banku and fresh tilapia on a food tour or cooking class.
Cape Coast tours
Long full-day slave-castle tours fill up — book ahead.
City tours
Guided Accra city tours are popular — reserve early.
Cooking classes
Small-group cooking experiences sell out — book ahead.
Volta day trips
Akosombo and Shai Hills tours have limited places — reserve early.
Aburi & falls
Garden and waterfall trips fill up at weekends — book ahead.
December season
The festive “Detty December” period is very busy — plan early.
Cape Coast tour
Around $90–140 for a full-day slave-castle and Kakum tour.
City tour
About $30–60 for a guided Accra city tour.
Cooking class
Roughly $40–70 for a hands-on Ghanaian cooking class.
Volta day trip
Around $60–100 for an Akosombo or Shai Hills day tour.
Aburi & falls
About $45–80 for a gardens and waterfall day trip.
How to save
Join group tours and combine nearby sights into one day.
Accra through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Sun, tours, coast.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best time; Harmattan haze.
- Best for
- Lush, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Heaviest rains.
- Best for
- Drier window.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Good mid-year.
- Best for
- Events, diaspora.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Detty December.