Ghana’s largest and oldest museum, located on Barnes Road in Accra. Its collections span archaeology, ethnography, and contemporary art — covering Ghana’s story from prehistoric times to independence. Highlights include Ashanti ancestor stools, gold weights, traditional textiles, and works by major Ghanaian artists like El Anatsui. A must-visit first stop for understanding Ghanaian culture in context.

Built by the Danes in 1661 on the Accra seafront, Christiansborg Castle served as the seat of Ghana’s government for decades after independence. It was the official residence of Ghana’s presidents until 2013. Tours take visitors through the dungeons, the “Door of No Return,” and the royal chambers, offering a sobering look at the colonial era and transatlantic slave trade. One of Accra’s most historically layered landmarks.

The former home and final resting place of W.E.B. Du Bois — the American civil rights activist and father of Pan-Africanism who spent his final years in Ghana at President Nkrumah’s invitation. The center houses Du Bois’ personal library, a museum of his writings and photographs, and a peaceful mausoleum where he and his wife are buried. A deeply moving site for African-American visitors and anyone interested in the diaspora’s connection to Ghana.

One of the largest public squares in the world, Independence Square is the ceremonial heart of Accra. The iconic Black Star Gate — a massive arch topped with a black star — overlooks a vast parade ground stretching to the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1961, it hosts Ghana’s national Day parades and major state events. The Eternal Flame of African Liberation burns nearby, a symbol of Ghana’s leadership in African independence movements.

Accra’s oldest neighborhood, Jamestown is a vibrant, densely packed community with Dutch colonial architecture, a lively fish market, boxing gyms, and a historic lighthouse offering panoramic coastal views. The Ussher Fort nearby served as a British trading post and later a prison. Jamestown is also home to the annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival, one of West Africa’s most exciting creative events. Walking tours here offer authentic, unfiltered Accra life.

Accra’s most famous and lively beach, Labadi is the social heart of the city’s weekend scene. Golden sands, beach bars, live music, traditional drumming, horse riding, and a constant buzz of activity make it far more than just a swim spot. It’s where Accra comes alive — vendors, performers, and visitors from all over Ghana and the world gather here, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

A quieter, more secluded alternative to Labadi, Bojo Beach is set at the delta of the Densu River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. To reach the beach, visitors cross the river by boat — an experience in itself. The setting is beautiful and relatively peaceful, with a lagoon on one side and open ocean on the other. Ideal for those wanting a more relaxed beach day away from the weekend crowds.

About 25km west of Accra, Kokrobite is one of Ghana’s most popular beach destinations, known for its relaxed vibe, reggae bars, and the Academy of African Music and Arts (AAMA). It’s a favourite with expats, backpackers, and Accra residents looking for a weekend escape. The beach is ideal for swimming and surfing, and the local arts scene makes it culturally richer than most beach towns.

Just 50km northeast of Accra on the road to the Volta Region, Shai Hills is one of the most accessible wildlife reserves in Ghana. Rocky hills, open grasslands, and cave systems are home to baboons, antelopes, ostriches, and over 175 bird species. The park also contains historical caves once used by the Shai people. Guided walks, cave tours, and wildlife drives are all available, making it a great day trip from Accra.

Accra’s largest and most iconic market — a sprawling, chaotic, colourful maze of stalls selling everything from fresh produce and spices to kente fabric, electronics, and traditional medicines. Makola is the beating pulse of everyday Accra and one of the most immersive cultural experiences in the city. Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and be ready to engage with vendors.

Located within the Achimota Forest reserve, Accra Zoo is a green oasis within the city. Home to lions, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, and a variety of birds, it drew nearly 84,000 visitors in 2024. While modest by international standards, it offers a peaceful nature experience inside the capital and is part of Ghana’s wildlife conservation programme. Good for families and a quick half-day outing.

About 120km east of Accra, Ada Foah is where the mighty Volta River meets the Atlantic Ocean, creating a spectacular estuary with some of Ghana’s finest beaches. The area is famous for its sandbanks, kayaking, boat trips, and the unique experience of swimming where river meets sea. Aqua Safari resort has made Ada Foah a destination in its own right for adventure water sports and weekend getaways.

Accra’s main hub for traditional arts and crafts, the Centre for National Culture hosts workshops, art galleries, craft stalls, and cultural performances. A great place to browse kente cloth, Adinkra fabric, wood carvings, and handmade jewellery from across Ghana and West Africa. Prices are negotiable and the atmosphere is vibrant. Also home to the National Theatre, one of Accra’s most distinctive modern buildings.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking Elmina Castle and the fishing harbour, Fort St. Jago offers the best panoramic views in the Central Region. Built by the Dutch in 1665 to protect Elmina Castle from rival European powers, the fort is now a historic site visitors can explore. The views of Elmina town, the lagoon, and the Atlantic coastline from the ramparts are stunning — one of Ghana’s best photographic vantage points.

The Central Region coastline offers some of Ghana’s most beautiful and undeveloped beaches. Brenu Beach, near Komenda, is a stunning palm-fringed stretch popular with locals and those in the know. Anomabo is a quieter fishing village beach with a historic fort nearby. Both offer a more serene coastal experience compared to Accra’s beaches, and are typically combined with castle visits on a Cape Coast itinerary.

A profoundly moving heritage site where enslaved Africans took their last bath in the Donkor Nsuo (Slave River) before being marched to the coast. The site includes a memorial grove with soil brought from African-American burial grounds, and the graves of two enslaved people — Crystal, returned from the USA, and Samuel Carson, returned from Jamaica — who were reburied here as a symbol of the return. An emotional and unmissable stop for diaspora visitors.

One of the lesser-visited forts along the Central Region coast, Fort Amsterdam near Anomabo was originally built by the British and later expanded by the Dutch. Set on a dramatic clifftop with ocean views, it’s a quieter alternative to the main castle sites. The fort offers a more intimate experience and is often visited as part of a coastal tour combining Elmina, Cape Coast, and the smaller forts dotted along the shoreline.

Widely considered the largest open-air market in West Africa, Kejetia Market is a sensory overload in the best possible way. Covering dozens of acres, it sells everything from fresh produce and yams to kente cloth, goldweights, traditional medicine, and live animals. The new Kejetia Market complex has modernized the trading space while preserving its bustling character. Kumasi is Ghana’s second city, and this market is its lifeblood — not to be missed.

A comprehensive cultural complex in Kumasi housing the Prempeh II Museum, souvenir shops, craft workshops, an open-air theatre, and regional tourist board offices. The museum gives an excellent overview of Ashanti cultural identity — its festivals, chieftaincy system, kente weaving traditions, and Adinkra symbols. Cultural performances can be arranged for visitors. Ideal as a first stop for anyone new to the Ashanti Region.

Located at Besease, 22km from Kumasi, this shrine and museum honours Yaa Asantewaa — the legendary queen mother of Ejisu who led the Ashanti resistance against British colonization in the historic War of the Golden Stool (1900). The restored traditional Ashanti shrine building is itself a UNESCO-listed architectural example. The museum tells her remarkable story and contextualizes her role as a pan-African feminist icon.

A hidden gem located 52km from Kumasi on the Volta Lake shoreline, Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary occupies 3,478 sq km of Guinea savannah woodland and gallery forest. The sanctuary is home to six primate species including black and white colobus monkeys, forest elephants, manatees, clawless otters, and a large variety of antelope species. Waterfalls within the sanctuary add to its appeal. Far less visited than Mole, making it ideal for those seeking solitude in nature.

A dozen artisanal villages in the vicinity of Kumasi specialize in traditional crafts — kente cloth weaving, Adinkra printing, brass casting, woodcarving, and pottery. Villages like Bonwire (kente weaving), Ntonso (Adinkra cloth), and Ahwiaa (woodcarving) welcome visitors to watch craftsmen at work, buy directly from makers, and in many cases try their hand at the craft. One of the most authentic cultural experiences in Ghana.

Ghana’s only natural lake, Lake Bosumtwi was formed by a meteorite impact over 1 million years ago and sits in a crater 8km wide. The lake is considered sacred by the Ashanti people who believe the souls of the dead come here to bid farewell to the god Twi. The lake’s surrounding villages offer boat trips, swimming, and cultural interactions. Fishing is only allowed using wooden planks (no boats), a tradition observed to this day. A hauntingly beautiful spot about 30km from Kumasi.

A twin waterfall (male and female) located at Boti in the Yilo Krobo District, about 90 minutes from Accra. The falls cascade into a natural swimming pool, making it ideal for a refreshing dip after the hike. Nearby, the Umbrella Rock — a giant balanced rock formation naturally sheltering up to 15 people — is one of Eastern Region’s most unusual geological features. Also accessible by car (10 minutes from the falls). A great half-day trip combining nature and a hike.

The Akosombo Dam on the Volta River created Lake Volta — one of the world’s largest man-made lakes by surface area. The dam itself is an impressive feat of engineering and can be viewed on guided tours. Lake Volta offers boat trips, cultural visits to riverside communities, spectacular sunsets, and opportunities to see how local fishing communities live. The lake stretches northwards across multiple regions, making it a journey as much as a destination.

Held annually during Easter at the Odweanoma Mountain in Kwahu, this is Ghana’s flagship tourism event and one of the most spectacular adventure festivals in Africa. Experienced paragliding pilots fly visitors in tandem from the mountain summit, offering breathtaking views over the Kwahu plateau. The festival has grown enormously and now includes hiking, music, and cultural events. If your trip coincides with Easter, this is unmissable.

The Krobo people of Eastern Ghana are renowned worldwide for their intricate handmade glass beads, passed down as heirlooms and worn at festivals. In villages around Krobo-Odumase and Somanya, visitors can watch bead-makers at work, learn the cultural significance of different bead types, and purchase directly. The Dipo initiation ceremony of Krobo women involves spectacular bead-adorned costumes. A unique and often overlooked cultural experience in Ghana.

Celebrated annually in September and October by the Akwapim towns of Akropong, Aburi, and Larteh, the Odwira festival marks both a spiritual cleansing and the harvest season. Initiated in 1826 to commemorate victory over the Ashanti army, it involves colourful processions, traditional drumming, libations to ancestors, and feasting. Open to respectful visitors, Odwira is one of the most authentic cultural festivals in Ghana’s calendar.

The highest waterfall in West Africa, Wli Falls plunges from a height of approximately 143 metres into a natural pool surrounded by tropical forest near the border with Togo. The lower falls are a 45-minute walk through forest teeming with fruit bats, tropical birds, and butterflies. The upper falls require a more challenging 3-hour hike but reward with even more dramatic scenery. The cool spray and the sight of thousands of bats roosting in the cliffs above the falls is unforgettable.

Standing at 885 metres, Mount Afadjato is the highest peak in Ghana. Located in the Agumatsa Range near the villages of Gbledi and Liati Wote on the border with Togo, the mountain offers a rewarding 2–3 hour hike through forest and grassland. The summit delivers sweeping panoramic views over Ghana and into Togo on clear days. Often combined in a single trip with Wli Falls and Tagbo Falls for an outstanding Volta Region adventure day.

A stunning waterfall located near Liati Wote village, Tagbo Falls is often visited in combination with Mount Afadjato. A 45-minute walk through dense tropical forest leads to the falls, which cascade into a clear natural pool ideal for swimming. The forest trail is rich in birdlife and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. Tagbo Falls is quieter and more secluded than Wli Falls, making it a favourite with those seeking solitude in nature.

Ho, the Volta Region’s capital, is a pleasant, laid-back city that serves as the gateway to the region’s many natural attractions. It hosts several local museums and cultural centres documenting Ewe culture and history, the Volta River Authority, and a vibrant local market. Ho is a comfortable base for exploring the region’s waterfalls and mountains, and the surrounding countryside along the Volta River is scenic and relatively undiscovered.

A community-run conservation project in the village of Tafi Atome, where the sacred mona monkeys that live in the village forest are protected by local tradition and taboo. Visitors can walk through the forest with a guide and get remarkably close to these primates, which are accustomed to human presence. The project supports the local community directly and is a model of community-based conservation in Ghana. Charming, intimate, and genuinely memorable.

Amedzofe is one of Ghana’s highest-altitude towns, set in misty hills in the Volta Region with a colonial-era German mission church and spectacular views. A short hike up Mt. Gemi takes you to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region. Nearby Ote Falls offers a further 45-minute hike through tropical forest to a secluded waterfall. Amedzofe is the kind of hidden gem that rewards visitors who venture beyond the main tourist trail.

One of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches, Busua offers golden sand, consistent surf, and a relaxed village atmosphere that sets it apart from the crowded beaches near Accra. It’s Ghana’s prime surfing destination, with a local surf school for beginners. Beach bars, fresh seafood, and the sight of local fishermen launching their boats at dawn make it an authentic and stunning coastal experience. Fort Batenstein sits just along the coast at Butre, a short canoe ride away.

One of the most extraordinary communities in West Africa, Nzulezu is a village built entirely on stilts over Lake Tadane. Accessible only by dugout canoe (a 30–45 minute paddle through mangroves), the village of around 600 people has lived over the water for centuries, according to legend guided by a snail from their original homeland in present-day Mali. Schools, a church, and homes are all built on wooden platforms above the lake. A deeply unique and humbling experience.

The southernmost point of Ghana and one of the points closest to the centre of the Earth (nearest the intersection of the Equator and the Prime Meridian), Cape Three Points is a dramatic headland of forested cliffs, pristine beaches, and clear tropical waters. A working lighthouse marks the cape. The surrounding area is wild and relatively undeveloped, with a small eco-resort community. Ideal for those seeking remote beaches and untouched coastline.

One of the best-preserved and most dramatically situated forts in Ghana, Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove was built by the British in 1692 and overlooks a crescent bay with a fishing harbour. Unlike the larger castles of Cape Coast and Elmina, Dixcove Fort has a more intimate and atmospheric feel. The surrounding fishing village is charming and authentic. Often combined with a visit to Busua Beach and Butre Fort for a full Western Region coastal itinerary.

Ghana’s only true lowland rainforest reserve, Ankasa protects some of the last pristine primary forest in West Africa. It is home to forest elephants, bongos, Diana monkeys, black-and-white colobus, pygmy hippos, and over 600 plant species. Birdwatching here is exceptional — the reserve holds species found nowhere else in Ghana. Guided hiking trails wind through dense forest. Remote and underdeveloped, Ankasa is a serious nature destination for committed wildlife enthusiasts.

Takoradi, Ghana’s third city and the Western Region’s capital, is a busy port city with a laid-back coastal energy. It’s the hub for exploring the region, with a number of beaches along its coastline including Paradise Beach. The city’s market, harbour, and colonial-era buildings offer genuine character. Takoradi is also the gateway for visiting Busua, Nzulezu, and Cape Three Points, making it a natural overnight base for Western Region exploration.

Ghana’s largest and most important national park, covering nearly 5,000 sq km of Guinea savannah. Mole is the best place in Ghana to see elephants, baboons, warthogs, waterbuck, roan antelope, and over 300 bird species. Guided walking safaris take you right up to elephants at the watering hole — a thrillingly intimate wildlife experience unique to Mole. Jeep safaris are also available. The Mole Motel offers basic accommodation with a swimming pool and a terrace overlooking the waterhole.

Built in the 13th century, Larabanga Mosque is the oldest mosque in Ghana and one of the oldest in West Africa. It is a remarkable example of Sudano-Sahelian mud brick architecture, featuring protruding wooden beams used to anchor the mud rendering during annual repairs — a building tradition maintained by the community for over 700 years. Located just 6km from Mole National Park, it is typically visited as part of a Mole itinerary. A hauntingly beautiful and ancient structure.

Salaga was the largest slave market in West Africa north of the Sahara, a key junction on the trans-Saharan trade routes where enslaved people from across the region were bought and sold before being marched south to the coast. The slave wells — where captives were washed before sale — still survive. A powerful and sobering historical site that tells a different chapter of the slave trade from the coastal castles. Often combined with a Mole National Park itinerary.

Tamale, the Northern Region’s capital and Ghana’s third-largest city, is the gateway to the north and offers a completely different cultural experience from southern Ghana. Predominantly Muslim, Tamale has a distinct character — the sound of the call to prayer, smudge-painted mud compound houses, smoked catfish markets, and the extraordinary Damba Festival (celebrating the Prophet’s birth). The city is also the starting point for visits to Mole, Larabanga, and Salaga.

Located near Paga on the Burkina Faso border, Pikworo was a holding camp where enslaved people were kept before being marched south to the coast. The site preserves the stone grinding bowls used by captives, communal meeting rocks, and the graves of those who died in captivity. A local guide brings the site to life with powerful storytelling. Historically linked to the Assin Manso slave river site in the Central Region, Pikworo tells the northern end of the same tragic journey.

Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region, is a traditional Dagaaba and Wala town with a strong Islamic heritage. The Wa Naa’s Palace — traditional residence of the paramount chief — is a beautifully maintained example of Sudanese mud-brick architecture. The town’s mosque and traditional compound houses provide fascinating architecture. Wa is also the base for visiting the Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary and the Nandom Gothic Cathedral.

One of the most unusual wildlife encounters in all of Africa. At Paga, near the Burkina Faso border, the people of Paga believe that each person in the community shares a soul with one of the sacred crocodiles in the pond. The crocodiles are completely tame and can be touched and photographed — visitors can sit on them for photos. When a crocodile dies, it is believed a person in the town dies too. The crocodiles are lured out with live chickens. An absolutely unforgettable, surreal experience.

Built in 1906, the Navrongo Cathedral is the last remaining mud-walled cathedral in Ghana and one of the oldest churches in the country. Its interior walls are painted with traditional local art — a striking fusion of Catholic iconography with Ghanaian motifs depicting the life of Jesus. The building has been carefully conserved by the Catholic Church. A remarkable piece of architectural heritage that attracts historians, architecture enthusiasts, and pilgrims alike.

The Tongo community is known for its deep traditional practices, extraordinary rock formations, and the sacred Tenzug Shrine — believed to grant good fortune to those who visit with respectful intentions. The “whispering rocks” are a fascinating geological formation unique to the area. The Tongo Hills offer dramatic landscape photography and a window into northern Ghana’s traditional spiritual life that remains largely unchanged.

Bolgatanga (Bolga), the Upper East regional capital, has one of the most distinctive craft markets in northern Ghana. The area is famous for its straw woven baskets — known internationally as “Bolga Baskets” — along with leather goods, metal jewellery, and traditional clothing. The market has been a meeting point for traders from Mali and Burkina Faso for centuries via the ancient trans-Saharan trade routes, and that multicultural exchange still flavours the town.

Often called “Ghana’s Great Wall,” Nalerigu features a mud-brick defensive wall built by the local community to protect against slave raiders — a remarkable example of pre-colonial African defensive architecture. The wall runs for several kilometres and while partially eroded, remains an impressive and largely unsung historical monument. For visitors interested in going beyond the well-known sites, Nalerigu offers a powerful and largely unvisited piece of Ghanaian history.

A community-run wildlife sanctuary along a 40km stretch of the Black Volta River on the border with Burkina Faso, Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary is home to one of Ghana’s largest hippo populations. Canoe trips at dawn or dusk offer outstanding views of hippos, with over 200 bird species also recorded in the sanctuary. Chameleons, hedgehogs, monitor lizards, pythons, and bats add to the wildlife experience. Two community-run lodges offer overnight stays within the Lobi community territory.

Built in 1936, the Nandom Cathedral is believed to be the largest stone building in West Africa, capable of accommodating 3,500 worshippers at a time. Its Gothic architecture rising from the flat savannah of the Upper West Region is a startling sight. The cathedral was built by missionaries using local labour and stone, and remains an active place of worship. A fascinating example of colonial-era religious architecture in one of Ghana’s most remote regions.

Located 17km southwest of Tumu, the Gbelle Game Reserve is a savannah wildlife reserve home to hippos along the Kulpawn River, roan antelopes, warthogs, ducks, and a protected bird sanctuary. Set in open savannah with rocky hills, the reserve offers a more remote and undeveloped wildlife experience than Mole, attracting visitors who want to venture truly off the beaten path in northern Ghana.

Bono Manso (also known as Brong Manso) in the Bono Region is considered the ancestral homeland of the Akan people — from whom the Ashanti, Fante, and many other Ghanaian groups descend. The sacred site marks the origin point of one of West Africa’s most significant civilizations. For Ghanaians and diaspora visitors tracing their roots, Bono Manso carries deep spiritual and cultural significance, representing the beginning of the Akan story.

Located near the geographic centre of Ghana at Kintampo, these impressive waterfalls cascade over rocky escarpments surrounded by forest. The falls are set in the Kintampo Forest Reserve, which also features caves and diverse wildlife. Kintampo is considered the midpoint of Ghana — lying almost exactly between the coast and the northern border — making it a natural stopping point on a north-south road trip through the country.

Techiman hosts one of the largest and most important periodic markets in Ghana, drawing traders from across the country and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. Held every six days (aligned with the traditional Akan calendar), the market is a commercial and cultural hub where yams, medicinal herbs, traditional cloth, and forest products are traded. Techiman has been a major trading centre since the era of the Bono Kingdom, centuries before European contact.

Sunyani, the Bono regional capital, is a calm, well-organized city often praised as one of Ghana’s cleanest towns. The surrounding Ahafo Region is characterized by dense forest, cocoa farms, and gold mining. The Ahafo area was recently carved out as a new region, and its traditional culture — closely related to the Ashanti — is rich and welcoming. The nearby Tano Sacred Grove is a protected traditional forest with ancient trees and sacred pools tied to the Tano River deity.