Accra travel guide
Ghana
Ghana's coastal capital mixes colonial forts, lively markets and a growing arts and music scene. It is a warm, sociable city where conversations start easily and English, the official language, is widely spoken.
Essentials
- Language
- English (official); Twi and Ga are widely spoken
- Currency
- Ghanaian cedi (GHS)
- Plugs
- Types D and G, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Around 10% in sit-down restaurants where service is not included; rounding up for drivers and porters is common.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $35-55, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $90-150, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Accra
- Osu: Oxford Street's restaurants, bars and shops, and the old Osu Castle on the shore.
- Jamestown: the historic fishing quarter with its lighthouse, best explored with a local guide.
- Labone: a leafy, residential base with cafés and quieter streets.
Getting around Accra
Ride-hailing apps work well across the city, and trotro minibuses run fixed routes for very little. Allow plenty of time, as traffic can be slow at peak hours.
Best time to visit Accra
November to March, the dry season, though harmattan dust can haze the sky from December.
Top things to do in Accra
- Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the resting place of Ghana's first president
- Walk Jamestown with a local guide and climb the lighthouse for views over the fishing harbour
- Brave the crowds of Makola Market, the city's sprawling trading hub
- Shop for kente cloth, beads and carvings at the Centre for National Culture
- Spend a weekend afternoon on Labadi Beach, with music and food stalls
What to eat in Accra
- Jollof rice: rice cooked in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, a point of national pride
- Kelewele: ripe plantain cubes fried with ginger and chilli
- Banku and tilapia: fermented corn and cassava dough with grilled fish and hot pepper sauce
- Red red: black-eyed bean stew in palm oil, served with fried plantain
Day trips from Accra
- Cape Coast and Elmina: the castles central to the Atlantic slave trade, about three hours west by road
- Kakum National Park: a canopy walkway high in the rainforest, near Cape Coast and easily combined with it
- Aburi Botanical Gardens: cooler hills and old trees, about an hour north of the city
Local etiquette
Use your right hand to give, receive, eat and wave, as using the left is considered impolite. Greet people before asking a question; launching straight in can seem rude.
Staying connected
MTN and other networks sell SIM cards registered against your passport, and mobile data is reliable across the city.
Staying safe
Pickpockets work the crowded markets and lorry stations, so carry little and keep your phone close. The Atlantic has strong currents, so swim only at busier beaches and where locals do.
A local tip
For breakfast, have waakye, rice and beans with shito pepper sauce, from a busy roadside stand.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Accra on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Accra for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Accra, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Accra
- What currency is used in Accra?
- Accra uses the Ghanaian cedi (GHS).
- What is the emergency number in Accra?
- In Accra, call 112 for police, fire and ambulance.
- When is the best time to visit Accra?
- November to March, the dry season, though harmattan dust can haze the sky from December.
- How much does a day in Accra cost?
- Roughly $35-55 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-150 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Accra?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Accra without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.