When friends or family visit Accra, you want to show them the city at its best, a mix of history, culture, the sea and everyday life. Here are ten places that give a visitor a real sense of Accra, and why each is worth the trip.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The memorial and museum of Ghana’s first president, in the city centre. It gives visitors the history in one easy visit, and the gardens make a calm start to a day out.
Independence Square
The grand parade ground on the seafront, with the Black Star Gate and Independence Arch. It is a powerful symbol of the country and a fine spot for photographs by the sea.
Jamestown
The oldest quarter, with its lighthouse, fishing harbour and street art. A walk here, ideally with a local guide, shows a side of Accra full of history and life.
Labadi Beach
The city’s liveliest beach, with drumming, horse rides and food at the weekend. It is where to take visitors who want the sea and the buzz together.
Makola Market
The beating heart of the city’s trade. Not everyone’s idea of sightseeing, but nothing shows a visitor how Accra really works like an hour walking through Makola.
Osu
For food and nightlife, Osu and its strip are where to take visitors in the evening, with a wide choice of restaurants and bars in one walkable area.
Accra Arts Centre
The place for crafts, carvings, kente and beads, and a good spot for visitors to pick up souvenirs and gifts. Bargaining is part of the experience.
The W.E.B. Du Bois Centre
The memorial centre dedicated to the pan-African thinker who spent his final years in Ghana. It is a quieter, reflective stop with real historical weight.
Aburi Botanical Gardens
A short trip up into the hills for cool air, old trees and a gentle walk. It gives visitors a break from the city and a taste of the country just beyond it.
Legon Botanical Gardens
Near the university, with a canopy walkway and space to relax, it is an easy, enjoyable outing, good for families and a slower afternoon.
Mix a couple of the historical sites with the beach, the market and an evening in Osu, and your visitor leaves with a real feel for Accra rather than a list of monuments. Plan around the traffic, and you can fit more of it into a day than you expect.
