If you are visiting West Africa, make sure to add a week in amazing Accra. Here you will find cultural diversity, historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and warm hospitality. Here’s an itinerary to help you plan a wonderful week.
One Week Itinerary
For one week in Accra, here’s the itinerary I recommend:
Sunday
Before you depart home, send an email to your hotel to see if they offer complimentary airport transfers. The Accra airport is in the city limits, so many hotels offer this service. Plan to depart from the U.S. on Saturday for a Sunday arrival. Most flights originating in the U.S. will arrive in the evening. This is great because you can catch your free hotel shuttle, or take a taxi, Bolt, or Uber to your hotel. Then you can have a quick dinner at your hotel’s restaurant and go to bed.
Monday
Let’s start our day at the National Museum of Ghana to get an overview of Ghana’s history. There’s a café on site for lunch, so you can linger as long as you wish. Make sure to take a hour-long guided tour for a better understanding of the artifacts and their historical context.
Then let’s take an Uber or Bolt to Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum & Memorial Park. Plan to spend about two hours exploring the museum and gardens and paying your respects at the grave of Ghana’s first president.
Our final stop of the day is Independence Square for a photo op and to explore the various monuments and statues celebrating Ghana’s liberation from British colonial rule. You can get there easily with Uber or Bolt.
Head back to your hotel to clean up for a nice dinner at Sky Bar. This restaurant is located in the tallest building in Accra and offers terrific views of the city.
Tuesday
Today we’ll take our first day trip from Accra. You have a choice today. You can take a tour that focuses only on slave castles located on the Cape Coast. Or you can take a tour of the slave castles combined with visiting Kakum National Park.
I think most travelers will enjoying combining the castles with Kakum National Park. You will still learn the history and impact of the slave trade on Africa. And you will also enjoy seeing the lush vegetation of the rainforest and walking on the swinging bridges in the national park.
Regardless of what you choose, you are in for a long day. The Cape Coast is about a three hour drive from Accra, and these tours will take you away from the city for 10-15 hours.
Wednesday
Today we’ll take an authentic Ghanaian cooking class! The class starts with a tour of Makola Market where your host will purchase ingredients needed for your meal and introduce you to the various vendors. Then you will go to your host’s home to learn how to cook the meal. The four hour experience ends by enjoying a delicious West African lunch!
After lunch, make your way to the Arts Centre to purchase traditional Ghanaian crafts, textiles, and other souvenirs. This bustling market can be a bit overwhelming with it’s tight pathways and warren of booths and pleas from sellers to buy their wares. But don’t let it intimidate you. Take a quick pass through the market to see what they have for sale, then go back to booths with items that interest you. Prepare to bargain! Ask for a price, then offer half of what they say. Then be willing to pay about 75% of the quoted price.
Today’s final activity is the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture. This is where American civil rights leaders W.E.B. Du Bois lived for his final two years of life. The house serves as a museum and houses memorabilia and Du Bois’ personal library. You can also visit the tomb where Du Bois and his wife Shirley Graham Du Bois are interred. This visit will last about an hour.
Return to your hotel. You may still be full from lunch, but if not, ask hotel staff to recommend a restaurant nearby. Accra has a variety of international cuisine. You are sure to find something you like.
Thursday
Prepare for another early morning! Today we combine two of the best day trips from Accra into a full day of activity. This tour combines Akosombo Dam on Lake Volta with Shai Hills Resource Reserve. Akosombo Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric dams in West Africa located on the largest manmade lake in the world. You will take a boat tour of the lake and learn about how the dam supplies Ghana with electricity.
Then you will continue on to Shai Hills Resource Reserve. This area was home to the Shai people until British colonists evicted them from the site. You can learn about the cultural heritage and history of the Shai while viewing archaeological sites, shrines, and traditional villages.
Wildlife is also abundant. You can take a guided safari drive or hike to see baboons, antelopes, monkeys, ostrich, zebra, and various bird species. And if you enjoy rock climbing and caving, you will love Shai Hills. There’s plenty of opportunities for adventure in the reserve’s rocking outcrops and caves.
Friday
Our week in Accra is coming to a close and we have one major area of the city yet to visit. Jamestown is one of the oldest districts in Accra and is situated along the coast. Start your visit at the colonial era Jamestown Lighthouse. While not officially open to the public, some locals have keys and will give you a tour for a few Cedis. This will allow you to ascend 100 steps to a panoramic view of the coastline and city. You can also visit the remains of James Fort built in the17th century. See the remnants of its walls and cannons, and learn about it’s history as a center of trade and colonial administration.
After your history lesson, take some time to wander down Brazil Road to see marvelous street art. Then take an Uber of Lyft to Osu Castle. This was originally built to be a trading post by Danish occupiers in the 17th century. The castle stored goods and enslaved humans to be transported on arriving ships. Under British rule, it served as the seat of colonial administration. Today it serves as the offices for the President of Ghana. Unfortunately, the interior is not open to the public. But it’s worth a visit to admire the exterior architecture, as well as pay homage the many human beings who transported from their homelands to the New World.
Head to Labadi Beach to spend the rest of the day. Find a seaside café for lunch, then relax and unwind on the golden sand and admire the gorgeous ocean views. You can visit a oceanside bar for some great cocktails, enjoy some water sports, and watch the local fishermen bring in their daily catch.
Go back to your hotel to clean up and get dressed for a night out on the town. The nightlife in Accra is legendary. Some of the most popular places are Republic Bar & Grill, Carbon Night Club, Afrikiko, Rockstone’s Office, Plot7, +233, and Firefly Lounge & Bar.
Saturday
The final day in our week in Accra is spent on another day tour. This time we are headed to Aburi Botanical Garden & Boti Falls. The botanical gardens are located about 45 minutes away from Accra. When you arrive at the gardens, take a leisurely stroll to admire the tropical plants, flowers, and trees. Or opt for a guided tour. Make sure to explore the various themed areas like Palm Avenue, Bamboo Grove, and Orchid House.
Then you will proceed to Boti Falls. Once you arrive, take a scenic hike to the Upper Boti Falls. The round trip hike will take you about 1-1.5 hours and gives you breathtaking views of the lush rainforest. Then take the time for a photo opp with Umbrella Rock, a unique rock formation resembling an umbrella. Finally, take the path to descend to Lower Boti Falls. After this busy day, you will be ready for a refreshing swim that is available in the pool at the base of the falls.
When you arrive back at your hotel, decide if you are up for another dose of nightlife or if you prefer a more quiet night before you start your long journey home.
Sunday
If you are flying back to the U.S., it’s likely that your flight doesn’t leave until late evening. So sleep in as long as you can and then get packed up. Ask your hotel if you can get a late checkout. Some will allow this for free or for a minimal fee. Then go back out to the city to explore any sites you missed or do some more souvenir shopping. Then make your way to the airport about three hours prior to your international flight.
Travel Logistics
Accommodations
One challenging thing about spending a week in Accra is finding suitable and affordable accommodations. There are a lot of options on the lower end of the price spectrum. But most Western travelers will feel more comfortable spending a bit more for their accommodations in Accra. Here are some suggestions:
- Accra City Hotel – $150-200 per night, 4 star
- Fiesta Royale Hotel – $200-250 per night, 4 star
- Accra Marriott – $250-300 per night or 27,500 Marriot Bonvoy points per night, 5 star
- Movenpick Ambassador Hotel – $300-350 per night, 5 star
I stayed in the Fiesta Royale Hotel on my recent trip. The hotel was clean, had terrific A/C, and offered a free airport shuttle. I didn’t like the location – it is located next to a busy highway with no shops or restaurants within walking distance. But the Accra Mall with a supermarket, a food court, and stores with just about anything you will need is only a few minutes away by taxi or rideshare. The hotel does have a restaurant but the food was mediocre.
I would stay at the Fiesta Royale again. But if you have a little extra in the budget, spring for the Marriott or the Movenpick. Both receive better reviews from people I know who have stayed there. The Accra City Hotel is very similar to the Fiesta Royale Hotel and is acceptable if you are on a tighter budget.
Transportation
Within Accra
This itinerary assumes that you are comfortable navigating around Accra on your own. And you should be comfortable. Accra is very safe and welcoming to tourists! Unfortunately, Accra is not walkable. There are few sidewalks, and the ones that are there are usually in a state of disrepair. No matter how little the distance, you will need to take a taxi or ride-share.
Fortunately, both Bolt or Uber are available and easy to summon. However, you need select the option to pay in cash. The drivers will rarely pick you up in you select the credit card option. Just make sure you always have a little cash with you. And don’t worry about the pricing – I spent a week in Accra taking a ton of Ubers and Bolts and still spent less than $30 total! Most rides are less than $5 and many are just $1-2.
Outside of Accra
Generally, I don’t recommend renting a car and driving Accra. Traffic is crazy, roads aren’t well-maintained, and traffic laws are generally ignored. It’s safer to book a car and driver or take a public tour.
What African countries are on your bucket list?
Has Ghana made the cut? Tell us below! And check out our other posts on Africa. You can also contact us and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest so you never miss a post!
