If you’re planning your first vacation in Ghana know that there are many beautiful places in Ghana to visit! Ghana is a culturally-rich country located in West Africa. It is regarded as one of the most accessible and safe destinations in the region, which is why it welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
I’ve been to Ghana multiple times, if you have a limited amount of time and this is your first trip to Ghana, I recommend you visit these top 7 tourist attractions in Ghana:
1. Aburi Botanical Garden
If you’re a nature lover, a visit to Aburi Botanical Garden is a must during your Ghana vacation. Aburi Botanical Garden has a good mix of local and exotic trees. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Ghana and it is only a 45-minute drive from Accra! We hired a driver to take us to and from the garden for 100 Ghanaian Cedis ($25). Expect to spend 3-4 hours exploring.
Here are some highlights from my visit:
The Travellers Palm
Strangler Fiscus Tree
Going inside of a tree was magical! The view from inside was beautiful!
Stranded Helicopter
We came across this mysterious stranded helicopter, which according to a local, once belonged to the British.
There are several schools within the Aburi Botanical Garden grounds. I really enjoyed interacting with the community. My favorite moment was when two school girls came up to us and said, ” selfie, selfie” and we took a selfie with them (bottom left pic). I love how selfies can bring the world together!
Pro Tip: Make sure you get a guide. Visitors are prohibited from going into the forest section of the gardens without one.
Pro-tip: If you are interested in visiting waterfalls in Ghana, this day trip can easily be combined with a trip to Akaa Falls or Boti Falls.
2. Kakum National Park
Kakum National Park is about a 3.5 hour ride from Accra and is one of the most popular tourist sites in Ghana. The park offers several different experiences, but we just went with the Kakum canopy walk. It was exhilarating! We went on a gorgeous 20 minute hike, which led us to the canopies. We walked 6 canopies of varying heights led by a guide. If you are afraid of heights there is a shorter (3 canopy) version. While there we learned that they have a tree house experience, where you go on a night hike to see the wildlife and sleep overnight. I would have totally loved to do this, but you have to book this in advance.
Pro-tip: When you visit Kakum National Park in Ghana make sure you have closed-toe shoes with a good grip. It was raining earlier in the day we went and the hike to the canopy was a bit slippery in some places. My sneakers were a saving grace!
3. Elmina Castle
Elmina Castle is one of the most historical sites in Ghana. It was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and originally used as a trading post, but later became a major stop along the Transatlantic slave trade route. It was seized by the Dutch in 1637, and by the British in 1871. Some of my vivid memories from the tour include walking through the windowless poorly ventilated dungeons which held 400 men and women in separate quarters for up to three months before they were sent through “Door of No Return” where they were stripped away from their homeland; being in the courtyard where the British governor stood from the balcony and chose a woman to rape and then brought her through the back door to his bedroom; and the contrast of the spacious airy living quarters, given to the British governor. Needless to say, my visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site was very emotional!
Pro- tip: Elmina Castle is a 3-hour drive from Accra and it closes at 5:30 pm (last tour at 4:30 pm). We left Accra at 9:30 am and stopped at Kakum National Park before we went to Elmina. We made it just in time for the last tour, but we weren’t able to make it to Cape Coast Castle. If you are interested in seeing both castles and visiting Kakum during the same day I advise you to leave Accra by 6am. We hired a driver for the day for 400 Ghanian Cedis ($100).
4. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum is one of the most popular landmarks in Ghana dedicated to the country’s First President and one of its founding fathers, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The park itself is very well maintained and features statues of Dr. Nkrumah, including the original one that stood in front of parliament, but was vandalized during the 1966 coup, the mausoleum where he and his wife were laid to rest, peacocks, and luscious trees. Your admission to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park park comes with a tour guide who walks you through the museum, where many of his personal items are on display. Although the museum is not well maintained, I was impressed by its contents. Also, it was truly inspiring to learn about Dr. Nkrumah’s life, he was a remarkable leader and a strong advocate for Pan-Africanism (unity of all Africans).
5. Black Star Square
The Black Star Square is another landmark in Ghana. It is also known as Independence Square and consists of the Black Star Gate, Independence Arch, The Liberation Day Monument, and the Memorial to an unknown soldier. Every year Ghana celebrates its independence on March 6th with a festive parade in Black Star Square. It is free and open to the public. The square holds over 30,000 people!
Pro-tip: Visit Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Black Star Square during the same visit. Both sights are in the heart of Accra and are within minutes of each other.
6/7. Arts Centre & Makola Market
You will find some of the best markets in Ghana in Accra. A visit to the Arts Centre and Makola Market is a must because beyond being some of the best places to get authentic souvenirs in Accra, they are both unique experiences.
As you can see there are many historical and cultural tourist attractions in Ghana. This list of 7 top places to visit in Ghana can help you make the most of your first trip to the country.
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This Post Has 16 Comments
I was in Ghana in 2005 volunteering for 3 months. Beautiful country. I never heard of this stranded helicopter tough. Missed it.
We almost missed it too!
Love your blue and gold dress!
I’ve never been to Ghana but it is definitely on my list 🙂
Thank you!! You will love Ghana!
I have always wanted to visit Ghana. I love your pictures! Thank you for sharing your tips and itinerary; it looked like a fun trip!
Thank you for reading!! You should definitely visit Ghana!
Ghana is top of my list for places to travel this year. I’m hoping to get there at some stage so I’ll definitely visit these places. I’d love to do the canopy experience. It looks really fun. I’ve only heard good things about Ghana and your posts and pictures confirm everything I’ve heard!
Ghana is amazing!! I’m excited for you to experience it!
This inspires me to head to Africa! I need to experience the motherland 🙂
Yayy I’m glad it inspired you! I believe everyone should visit the motherland at least once. I’ve been 5 times and there’s nothing like it :-).
Since I have not been to Ghana, I read your post with great interest. Loved reading your descriptions and those vibrant photographs, especially the selfie with two school kids.
Thanks for reading Chirasree! It was a fun trip!
Ghana looks so cool. I didn’t peg it for being so beautiful. There is so much to see here than I expected. Hopefully i can make it here one day. It’s so pretty!
Ghana is beautiful! Definitely looks different than the images that mainstream media shares. There’s a lot to do there. I hope you get to experience it for yourself soon.
Loved this post – to be honest I knew nothing much of Ghana before reading so it was a helpful insight. Also absolutely adore that dress you’ve got on in the Botanical Gardens! I’d love to try that overnight sleep in the national park one day.
Thanks Reena!! Ghana is definitely a hidden gem! <3