Highlights
The coast holds Ghana's most moving sites: the UNESCO-listed slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina, whose 'doors of no return' tell the harrowing story of the transatlantic slave trade — essential, emotional visits. Nearby Kakum National Park offers a thrilling rainforest canopy walkway high above the trees.
Kumasi, the Ashanti capital, is the cultural heart — the Manhyia Palace, the vast Kejetia market (one of Africa's largest), and the kente-weaving and adinkra villages where Ghana's iconic crafts are made. Accra, the lively capital, mixes beaches, the Kwame Nkrumah memorial, art galleries, nightlife and the buzzing Makola market.
Inland, the Volta Region offers the Wli waterfalls, mountain hikes and Lake Volta, while the north brings a different world — the mud-and-stick mosque of Larabanga, Mole National Park (Ghana's best for elephants on foot and by vehicle), and the crafts of the savannah. Beaches like Busua and Kokrobite add surf and relaxation.
When to go
November to March is the dry season and the best time to visit — sunny, less humid, and ideal for the coast, forts and festivals (including the vibrant Christmas-New Year period). The harmattan wind from December to February can bring a dry, dusty haze.
The main rains fall from April to July, with a shorter wet spell around September-October, greening the forests but making some roads muddy. Ghana is hot and humid year-round near the coast, cooler and drier in the north. For comfortable travel and cultural events, aim for the dry months.
Visa & entry
Most visitors need a visa to enter Ghana, arranged in advance through a Ghanaian embassy or, increasingly, an e-visa/visa-on-arrival system for eligible nationalities. A passport valid six months, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate (mandatory), and proof of onward travel are required.
Ghana has been moving toward easier entry, including visa-on-arrival for African nationals and e-visa expansion, so confirm the current options and requirements for your nationality on Ghana's official immigration service site before you travel.
Health & safety
Ghana is one of West Africa's safest, most politically stable and welcoming countries, and tourism is well established. Petty crime (bag-snatching, opportunistic theft) occurs in Accra and Kumasi, so take normal urban precautions and avoid displaying valuables. Road-traffic accidents are the main genuine risk given fast driving and variable roads, so avoid night travel and choose reputable transport.
Malaria is present year-round (take prophylaxis), and a yellow-fever certificate is required. The far-north border regions carry some advisories — check current guidance. LGBTQ+ travellers should note restrictive local laws. Review your government's latest advisory before departure.
Getting around
Between cities, comfortable long-distance coaches (such as STC and VIP lines) run on the main tarmac routes — the recommended, safer option over crowded shared minibuses (tro-tros), which are cheap and cover everywhere but can be uncomfortable and driven fast. Domestic flights link Accra with Kumasi and Tamale, saving long drives to the north.
In Accra and Kumasi, ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt) make city travel easy and fair-priced, far simpler than negotiating with taxis. Hiring a car with a driver is popular for touring the coast and interior comfortably. Roads are decent on main routes but rougher in rural areas.
Money
The Ghanaian Cedi is the local currency; carry cash for markets, tro-tros, tips and rural areas, where cards are not accepted. ATMs are widely available in Accra, Kumasi and towns and accept international cards, though they impose limits. Mobile money is ubiquitous locally.
US dollars, euros and British pounds are easily exchanged at forex bureaus (better rates than banks) — bring clean, newer notes. Cards work in upmarket hotels and restaurants in the cities but little else. Bargaining is expected in markets. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up and small tips for guides and drivers are welcomed.
Ghana