Top 7 Tourist Attractions in Ghana

If you’re planning your first vacation in Ghana, know there are many beautiful places 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, visiting Aburi Botanical Garden is a must during your Ghana vacation. The 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.

Pro Tip: Get a guide. Visitors are prohibited from entering the forest section of the gardens without one. If you want to visit 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 a 3.5-hour ride from Accra and is one of Ghana’s most popular tourist sites. The park offers several 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 six canopies of varying heights led by a guide. There is a shorter (3-canopy) version if you fear heights. While there, we learned they have a tree house experience, where you go on a night hike to see the wildlife and sleep overnight. I would have loved to do this, but you must book this in advance.

Pro tip: When visiting Kakum National Park in Ghana, ensure 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 significant 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 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 couldn’t make it to Cape Coast Castle. If you want to see both castles and visit Kakum on the same day, I advise you to leave Accra by 6 am. We hired a driver for the day for 400 Ghanian Cedis ($100).

4. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum

Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum is one of the most famous landmarks in Ghana, and it is 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 comes with a tour guide who walks you through the museum, where many of his personal items are displayed. 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

Black Star Square is another landmark in Ghana. It is also known as Independence Square and consists of the Black Star Gate, Independence Arch, Liberation Day Monument, and Memorial to an unknown soldier. Ghana celebrates its independence on March 6th with a festive parade in Black Star Square every year. The parade 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

Accra has some of the best markets in Ghana. A visit to the Arts Centre and Makola Market is a must because, in addition to being some of the best places to get authentic souvenirs in Accra, they are both unique experiences.

As you can see, Ghana has many historical and cultural tourist attractions. This list of 7 top places to visit in Ghana can help you make the most of your first trip there.

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