On any trip to Ghana, especially for those who are first-timers and haven’t been here before, there are a lot of questions you would want answers to. Things about the general country and things to do and see. The first thing that comes to mind is what is there to see? What places can we visit whilst we’re here? You don’t want to be that person who stands at the airport without so much as a clue of where you can go and what you can do.
Regardless of the reason why you’re visiting Ghana, one of the first things you should do is to plan to see some top attractions and places in Accra. Tourists usually want to explore the cities they are in, taking in the rich history and culture this captivating destination has to offer. Ghana offers great tourist spots that you should see when on a trip here.
Traveling to Ghana can be more simple and cheap if you have a perfect travel plan. If you are traveling to Ghana you a budget, then check the Ultimate Travel Guide to Ghana to save more money for your next trip.
Now let see some of the top places to see in Accra.
NB: We are not in normal times. It is best to know more about the destination you visiting before you can make any travel plan. Find out if it is safe to travel to Ghana
Places To See In Accra
1. Black Star Gate
For the sake of your social media feed, the Black Star Gate is the first place to see when you visit Ghana for the first time. It is the sign to show your followers you are in Ghana. I’m sure you have seen a picture of it somewhere on the internet.
As touristy as it is, no visit to Accra is complete without seeing the Black Star Gate. No matter what time you are here and how long you are spending here, you have to see the site and take pictures with it to show some friends and family.
You can ask the tour guide to take you to the top. Make sure you tip the guide. There are few free things to see and do around the gate in Accra.
2. James Town Lighthouse
You should definitely visit the James Town Lighthouse. James Town is the host street for Ghana’s biggest art festival, the Chalewate festival. I’m sure you are going to love the art street since it is the same street as the Lighthouse. You can’t get enough of this street art anywhere in Ghana.
Seeing the Lighthouse is one of the free things to do in Accra. If you are traveling on a budget it is best to see Ghana during August, so you can experience the art festival.
3. Artists Alliance Gallery
Art Alliance Gallery is a place of beauty and inspiration. It hosts thousands of visitors every year. It is one of the best places to see in Accra and feel the true African art.
It exhibits art by African artists in Ghana and by artists from around the world. The gallery also offers arts programs, including workshops for adults and youth. Exhibitions change regularly.
The space’s architecture reflects elements of Ghana’s traditional architecture and is a stunning example of modern Ghanaian architecture.
It is free to walk around the museum or be your own tour guide. If you wish someone to guide you, it is possible. And that is their special visit offer. Where a tour guide will show you around and you will have to pay. If you are lucky that day, the owner will show you around and tell you the history behind every art you see.
4. Legon Garden
Legon Gardens is a botanical garden located in Accra, Ghana, and is one of the country’s most visited attractions these days.
If you are looking to experience some adventure in the Capital, then Legon garden is the best place to visit in Accra.
Apart from giving you a taste of the planned city, the garden is also the home to various species of plants, birds, butterflies, and insects.
Apart from the Garden giving us pleasure, is also making its mark as one of the only botanical gardens in Accra. The garden attracts over 1 million visitors from all around the country.
5. Osu Castle
Osu castle is in the capital, Accra, and one of the most important heritage sites in the country, being the seat of colonial government administration, and the seat of the President of Ghana.
The castle has served important functions, a trading entrepôt during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the seat of colonial government administration; and was the office of the President of Ghana.
In recent times, the Osu castle is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Osu Castle is also known as Fort Christiansburg and it is located in Osu on the coast of the Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Guinea. It is the first substantial fort built by Denmark-Norway in 1660.
The castle holds an important place in the history of Ghana and is the site of the oldest European settlement in modern-day Ghana.
6. Osu Oxford Street
Osu Oxford Street is arguably one of Accra’s busiest streets, and with the growing number of businesses along its stretch, it is only a matter of time before it becomes as famous as Oxford Street in London, UK.
Osu Oxford Street derives its name from the famous Oxford Street in London, UK, because of its busy nocturnal activities. It is one of the places in Accra tourists meet tourists and socialize. So if you are looking to meet other tourists here in Ghana, Oxford Street is the best place to visit.
7. Makola Market
There are a variety of products in the market, from fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, rice, beans, clothes, shoes, fabrics, paints, agricultural equipment, building materials, iron sheets, charcoal, detergents, soaps, stationery, imported and locally produced foodstuff and beverages.
Jewelry made from locally handcrafted beads can also be found for sale in the market. You should be very careful or you better go with a friend or someone familiar with the place.
8. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum (also known as Ghana’s Mausoleum) is a mausoleum in Accra, Ghana, dedicated to the life of Kwame Nkrumah, the first emperor of Ghana.
The mausoleum is a cruciform structure, laid out in the exact shape of a crucifix cruciform, with a dome over the cruciform. It is named in honor of Kwame Nkrumah, who in the 19’s worked to transform Ghana into a modern, independent nation.
It is one of the must-see places in Ghana to learn more about our independent history.
9. W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Park
I haven’t visited the place, according to my research, it is worth visiting attraction in Accra. W.E.D Du Bois memorial park center is a memorial place, a research facility, and a tourist attraction in the Cantonment area in Accra.
The facility was named in dedication to W.E.D Du Bois, a Pan- Africanist who became a citizen of Ghana in the early 1960s. The facility was open to the public in 1985.
10. Labadi Beach
Beaches are the most visited places for every tourist. Most tourists love spending time are the beach and also socializing.
Labadi beach is the most famous beach is in Ghana and nothing can beat that. If you forget the stress and chaos of city life, Labadi Beach takes you back to a simpler time. Local and foreign tourists always enjoy the atmosphere at Labadi beach with great music, entertainment shows, and many other activities.
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