Greater Accra Region · Ghana
Accra travel guide
Accra is a city in Greater Accra Region, Ghana, home to about 1,782,000 people.
- Best months
- July and August
- Nearest airport
- ACC6 km · Kotoka International Airport
- Currency
- GHSGhana cedi
- Time zone
- Africa/Accra
- Language
- English
About
About Accra
Accra () is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, 20.4 km2 (7.9 sq mi), had a population of 284,124, and the larger Greater Accra Region, 3,245 km2 (1,253 sq mi), had a population of 5.46 million.
The Greater Accra region has an estimated population of 5.5 million in 2021. The City of Accra is a mix of rapid urbanization, informal settlements, and high-end, modern developments. The population of the Accra Metropolitan area is estimated to be over 2.7 million in 2025. However, the surrounding municipal districts are tightly connected to the Accra Metropolitan District. Usually the whole metropolitan area is referred to as "Accra". The local language is Ga and Dangme; other widely spoken languages are English, Twi (pron. 'ch-wee'), Ewe (pron. ayvay), and Hausa.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Accra
See
- National Museum
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
- Independence Square
- W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre
- Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop
- Artists Alliance Gallery
- Jubilee House
- Jamestown
- Brazil House
- Achimota Forest
- Liberation Day Monument
- Nubuke Foundation
Do
- Bojo Beach
- Labadi Beach
- Densu Delta Protected Area
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Accra
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Accra are July and August. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; June is the wettest, with about 164 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Accra: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kotoka International Airport (ACC), about 6.4 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
and Kotoka International Airport is a major hub, with international connections from North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, along with internal connections to Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi, and regional connections to virtually every West African country. Asky airlines fly to Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Lome. From the United States, Delta Airlines and United airlines operates flights directly from New York-JFK and Washington-Dulles. From there, it is possible to connect to all major North, South, and Latin American cities, and the Caribbean.
Getting around
Accra's best attractions are scattered across a relatively wide area, so if you can afford the modest prices the best thing to do is hire a car and driver to take you around. Travel companies offer drivers who double as well-informed guides, which helps as interpretive exhibits and brochures (if you can find them) leave much to be desired. If you need an SUV or a sedan there are plenty of affordable options because even the best drivers earn only about US$15 a day in Accra.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ACC · Kotoka International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Accra
Eat
Eat out at one of Osu's many trendy restaurants. Osu, a suburb of Accra, is known for its nightlife and a wide variety of eateries, hotels, and several options for entertainment. Located in Labone near the Metro TV building, "Maquis Tante Marie" is a restaurant serving a variety of African cuisines in a pleasant garden setting. Frankie's on Oxford Street in Osu is a popular oasis for tourists in Accra. Offering accommodation, a restaurant, salad bar, ice cream and a bakery/pastry shop. Other popular restaurants in Osu include Papaye (Fast Food), Asanka Locals (Traditional Ghanaian Cuisine) and Noble House Restaurant (Indian and Chinese Cuisine).
Drink
The biggest entertainment precinct in town is the Oxford Street area, in Osu. Home to over a dozen different night venues (most of them tucked up side-streets), there is no shortage of variety. Taxi drivers generally know the location of the following, but if not, just ask a young-looking person on Oxford Street.
Stay safe
See Ghana for general information. Bywel's bar in Osu district is a frequent hangout of expats on Thursday nights, meaning that it is a target for muggings. Be sure to leave in a large group and enter a taxi immediately upon exiting the bar.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Accra: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Accra?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Accra are July and August. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; June is the wettest, with about 164 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Accra?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kotoka International Airport (ACC), about 6.4 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Accra?
Ghana cedi (GHS).
Nearby
Destinations near Accra
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.