Things to do in  Ghana

If you want to experience day-to-day life in Ghana, there’s no better place than Accra’s sprawling Makola Market. One of the city’s best attractions, the market is equal parts wonderful and chaotic, with a maze of colorful stalls filling the streets. It’s also a great spot to try Ghanaian food or grab souvenirs—just be ready to haggle.

One of Accra’s most important monuments (and prettiest green spaces), the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park pays tribute to Ghana’s first president, who led the country to its independence in 1957. The newly modernized memorial now houses an expanded museum, a mausoleum, and other commemorative attractions.

The former home and final resting place of W. E. B. Du Bois—the African-American civil rights advocate and father of Pan-Africanism—Accra’s W. E. B. Du Bois Centre is open to tourists and visiting academics. Home to Du Bois’ mausoleum, it contains a small museum and lecture theater. Its serene grounds are a verdant escape from the capital’s bustle.

Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, is a powerful symbol of the nation's journey to freedom. Notable for its Black Star Gate and Memorial Arch, the site commemorates Ghana's liberation from colonial rule. A pilgrimage here offers a glimpse into history and the spirit of independence, making it a must-visit for anyone who seeks to understand Ghana's heritage.

Since 1957, the National Museum of Ghana has been a key destination for exploring Ghana's rich history and culture. It features three galleries with artifacts spanning ancient to contemporary Africa. Highlights include ornate chiefs' regalia, handcrafted instruments, and modern West African arts. The museum has a sculpture garden with life-size political figures, a library, and a conservation lab.

Manhyia Palace Museum offers a glimpse into Ashanti royal history and culture. Once home to Ashanti kings, the museum features an extensive collection of royal artifacts, including swords, jewelry, medals, and the revered Golden Stool. You can explore the palace's interiors and learn about the kingdom's past, making it an essential destination for understanding the Ashanti cultural legacy.

The greatest draw to this small museum housed inside a traditional Asante regalia house is a recreation of the Golden Stool, the seat of power of the lost Asante Kingdom. Visit to find a small but comprehensive collection of historical items relating to Asante royalty and culture, from royal war attire and ceremonial outfits to palace furnishings, jewelry, and insignia.

This teeming open-air marketplace in the heart of Kumasi is often called the largest in West Africa. Whether or not that’s been proven, you can see where the description comes from: There are around 12,000 stalls open for business, selling everything from clothes and Ashanti sandals to fresh produce and hand-made beads. But don’t expect an attraction geared toward tourists. This is where locals get their shopping done.

Dating back to the 1800s, the Kumasi Fort and Military Museum showcases Ghana's military history, including the British-Ashanti War and World War II. The building features war weapons, medals, photographs, cannons, and other military artifacts. Come here to learn about the complex relationship between Ghana and Britain.

Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana’s sole natural lake, was formed in a meteorite impact crater 17 miles (27 kilometers) southeast of Kumasi, and dozens of small villages now line the shores, all surrounded by lush greenery. Since the 1970s, the lake has become a popular recreational spot, with calm water where you can safely swim. Since the lake has no surface outlets, the water level has gradually risen over the years, and the villages on its banks are forced to relocate further up the hillsides from time to time. According to Ashanti traditional beliefs, the spirits of the dead come to Lake Bosumtwi to bid farewell to the god Twi. Since it’s considered sacred, there’s a taboo against letting metal touch the water, so locals may only fish the lake using large planks of wood.

Elmina Castle, also known as St. George’s Castle, is thought to be the oldest surviving European building in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this superlative, the building is renowned for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, as thousands of enslaved peoples were held captive here before being forcibly shipped to the Americas. In addition to touring the castle and dungeons here, you can visit a small museum to learn more about the history of the slave trade.

While it may appear to be a fairly ordinary building from the outside, Osu Castle (Christiansborg Castle) is home to a dark and extraordinary past. Thousands of African captives were held in this 17th-century Danish trading post before being forcibly shipped across the Atlantic as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Later, the castle served as a British colonial seat of government and the office of the president of Ghana.

Housed in a historic European fortress in Accra, the Ussher Fort Museum offers a sobering look at the West African slave trade. It features exhibits such as slave trade paintings and artifacts from captors and enslaved people, including shackles and weaponry. The museum features model slave ships and tributes to abolitionists, emphasizing the struggle to end this inhumane practice.

A must-see on any visit to Accra, Jamestown is just as vibrant as the street art that adorns its buildings. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover how the fishing village has been shaped by colonialism, slavery, poverty, and rebellion over the centuries.

Kumasi Centre for National Culture showcases Ghanaian culture and explores what it means to be Ghanaian. You can see traditional arts and crafts, and live music and dance performances. The center offers craft workshops—such as beadwork, pottery, wood carving, and batik—and there’s also the on-site Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, with rare antiques and Asante regalia.