Three days is enough to get a real feel for Accra: its colonial-era old town, the energy of its markets, its beaches and its food — with time left for one easy trip into the hills. This plan keeps travel time between stops short, because Accra traffic is the one thing that will eat your day if you let it.
Before you go: 4 things to sort out
- Entry: most visitors need a visa arranged before travel, and Ghana requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival. Check the current rules for your passport before booking.
- Arrival: you'll land at Kotoka International Airport (ACC), only a short drive from Airport Residential, Cantonments and Osu.
- Money: the currency is the Ghana cedi (GHS). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants; carry some cash for markets, taxis and street food.
- Getting around: ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt operate in Accra and are the simplest option for visitors. Leave extra time at rush hour.
Where to stay in Accra
Osu — best for a first visit. Restaurants, bars and Oxford Street's buzz are on your doorstep, and you're close to both the beach and the old town. Good if you want to walk out the door and be somewhere.
Airport Residential and Cantonments — best for short stays, business trips and late arrivals. Quieter, leafy and minutes from the airport, with many of the city's international hotels.
Labadi (La) — best for beach time. Stay near the coast if mornings by the sea matter more to you than nightlife.
East Legon — best for longer stays and visiting family. Residential, with apartments and guesthouses that suit groups and families.
Compare hotels in AccraDay 1: Old Accra, independence history and Osu
- Morning: start in Jamestown, one of the city's oldest districts. Climb the Jamestown Lighthouse for views over the fishing harbour, then walk the streets around it — a local guide adds a lot of context here.
- Midday: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, dedicated to Ghana's first president, then Independence (Black Star) Square nearby.
- Afternoon: rest at your hotel during the hottest hours.
- Evening: dinner in Osu. Order jollof rice, red-red (bean stew with fried plantain) or grilled tilapia with banku, and try kelewele (spiced fried plantain) from a street vendor.
Day 2: Markets, art and the beach
- Morning: Makola Market — huge, busy and the best way to see everyday Accra. Go early, keep valuables close, and ask before photographing people.
- Late morning: the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre in Cantonments, the former home and resting place of the African-American scholar who settled in Ghana.
- Afternoon: browse Ghanaian art, carvings and textiles at the galleries and craft shops along the coast road towards Labadi.
- Evening: sunset at Labadi Beach. Tip for tomorrow: start the day with waakye (rice and beans), a classic Accra breakfast.
Day 3: A day trip — choose one
Aburi Botanical Gardens is the easy option: about an hour into the cooler Akuapem hills, with shaded paths and craft stalls on the road up. Cape Coast and Elmina castles are the essential option for history — the former slave-trading forts are UNESCO World Heritage sites and a powerful visit — but it's a long day, roughly three hours each way, so leave early or book a guided tour with transport included.
Things to Do in Accra
When to go
November to March is the dry season and the busiest time to visit — December especially, when many people fly home for the holidays and fares climb. If your dates are flexible, February, May and October are among the cheaper months to fly to Accra according to our Ghana guide.
Book your trip
Compare fares on the main diaspora routes into Accra, then lock in a room before the dry-season rush.
Flights London → Accra Flights New York → Accra Flights Washington → Accra Flights Atlanta → Accra Compare hotels in Accra