At dawn on the Jamestown shoreline, canoes come in loaded with the night's catch and the fishmongers gather around the bay to grill and sell it. That working harbour, with old stone houses and cliff-top views above it, is one of the clearest introductions to Accra you can get.
Accra suits travellers who want history and contemporary culture in the same trip: colonial forts and independence monuments on one side, artist-run galleries and design workshops on the other. It rewards early starts and a willingness to walk with a local guide.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time in the city, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Accra
1. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The park was created to honour Kwame Nkrumah, who led Ghana to independence from Great Britain and became the nation's first president. You can see a monument dedicated to him and his mausoleum, where he is buried.
It sits opposite the Supreme Court of Ghana, so it pairs naturally with a walk through the surrounding government district. Allow time to read the inscriptions rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
2. Independence Square (Black Star Square)
Also known as Black Star Square for the large black star atop Independence Arch, the square celebrates Ghanaian independence from the British in 1957 and features an eternal flame first lit by Nkrumah in 1961.
Head to Independence Avenue, next to the Accra Sports Stadium and Osu. The square is open and exposed, so go earlier or later in the day rather than at midday.
3. National Museum
The National Museum on Barnes Rd offers a look at Ghanaian history and culture from prehistory to the present. Cultural exhibits include clothing, thrones, carvings, pottery and archaeological finds, with exhibits on traditional metalworking and cultural rites of passage; the second floor holds displays of historical Ghanaian currencies, postage stamps and football uniforms.
It is open daily 09:00-16:30, and entry is GH₵ 80 for a foreign adult. A guided tour is available on request and differs from the text in a few places, so tip your guide at the end.
4. Jamestown
Jamestown is the oldest part of Accra, a short distance west from Independence Square. It remains an active fishing centre, and a friendly local guide helps you find the alleys, old stone houses and cliff-top harbour views you would otherwise miss.
The only real sights are the lighthouse (closed for repairs as of 2024), a prison building inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse a road leads to one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana; go early in the morning to watch the small boats bring in the day's catch.
5. Osu Castle (Christiansborg Castle)
Built by the Danes in the 17th century for Sweden, the castle changed hands under many rulers before Denmark claimed the area. It was used for trading precious metals, then to store slaves before shipping, and later became the headquarters of the Danish Gold Coast; after independence in 1957 it became the Presidential House and remains the seat of government today.
It is not open to walk-in visitors. Armed guards stand outside and typically do not allow photos, and the rules change sporadically, so it is safest not to try.
6. Fort James
Fort James is a trading post established by the British in 1673, used as a prison until 2007. It sits on Tetteh Kpeshie Rd and is open 09:00–17:00.
Combine it with Jamestown and the harbour below, since they are in the same part of the city. Keep to the areas your guide indicates.
7. W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre
W.E.B. DuBois was an American civil rights activist and author who moved to Ghana near the end of his life. His home has been turned into a museum and library, and the centre also houses his grave and several memorials.
The museum is quite small, but informative guided tours are available on request. It is at 22 First Circular Road (Fifth Link Road) in the Cantonments neighbourhood, and entry is GH₵ 20 per foreign adult.
8. Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop
This is the workshop of Seth Kane Kwei, who invented the famous design coffins in the 1950s, carved into shapes representing something important to the deceased, such as a fish or an aeroplane. You will likely meet Eric Adjetey Anang, grandson of Kane Kwei, who has owned it since 2005, and hear stories about the coffins, which are used for funerals in the region and held in collections of contemporary art around the world.
It is at Teshie First Junction, along the road by a Total gas station. Call ahead on +233 244-11-47-19 before making the trip.
9. Artists Alliance Gallery
This artist-run gallery on La Beach Rd, about 1 km west of La Beach Hotel, spreads over three floors with sculptures, fabrics and paintings. It covers everything from inexpensive wooden artefacts to expensive paintings by top artists in Ghana.
A big plus is being able to browse in a relaxed gallery without being hassled to buy. Prices run from US$10 to US$10,000, so set your own budget before you go in.
10. Nubuke Foundation
The Nubuke Foundation is a contemporary art and cultural institution dedicated to preserving, recording and promoting Ghanaian arts and culture. Founded in April 2006 by Odile Tevie, Kofi Tutu Agyare and artist Kofi Setordji, it serves as a creative hub for artists and art lovers.
It is at 7 Lome Close, East Legon, next to the Mensvic Grand Hotel. Check ahead on +233 289 102 163 or info@nubukefoundation.org before visiting.
11. Achimota Forest
Achimota Forest on Achimota College Rd is Accra's version of a city zoo for now, with a fairly representative sampling of African animals. The habitats are fresher and cleaner than at a lot of other zoos, perhaps because it sits in an open area.
It is open Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00 and lies in the same direction as the University of Ghana. Call +233 245896987 to confirm before you travel out.
12. Liberation Day Monument (World War Monument)
The Liberation Day Monument, also mapped as the World War Monument, is a historic war memorial within the Black Star Square complex on 28th February Road, between the city's main thoroughfares and the southern coastline.
It stands as a tribute to the World War II veterans of the Gold Coast Regiment who were shot by British colonial police during a peaceful march in 1948, an event that catalysed Ghana's path to independence. Visit it as part of the same stop as Independence Square.
13. Holy Trinity Cathedral
This historic Anglican church of Accra was built in 1894 and sits near the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and the National Theatre. It is on the way to Ussher Fort and James Fort.
Because of that position, it works well as a short stop between the memorial park and the forts rather than a separate outing. The listed contact number is 055 388 0679.
14. Wesley Methodist Cathedral
Built in 1922, the Wesley Methodist Cathedral lies on Asafoatse Nettey Road in Adedainkpo, a district of the Jamestown area. It was designed by W. F. Hedges, and construction began in 1922 with Frederick Gordon Guggisberg laying the foundation stone, though it was not dedicated until 1960.
In 2000 the church was made a cathedral, part of the Methodist Church Ghana, and it is the seat of both the Bishop of Accra and the Presiding Bishop of Ghana. It fits neatly into a Jamestown walk.
15. Ghana National Mosque (Accra Furkan)
The Ghana National Mosque is a mosque and Islamic complex that has served as the national mosque for the country since 2021. It is free to enter.
It is in Kanda (Kawukudi), on East Kanda Road near the Kawukudi Junction. Contact +233 54 367 8283 or ghananationalmosque@gmail.com for details before you go.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start early in Jamestown, walking the old stone houses and cliff-top paths with a local guide, then follow the road from the lighthouse down to the working fishing harbour to watch the small boats bring in the day's catch. Continue to Fort James and, on the way, Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Afternoon. Move east to the government district for Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, opposite the Supreme Court of Ghana, then walk to Independence Square (Black Star Square) and the Liberation Day Monument within the same complex. If time allows, add the National Museum on Barnes Rd before it closes at 16:30.
Evening. Finish at the Artists Alliance Gallery on La Beach Rd, roughly 1 km west of La Beach Hotel, where you can browse three floors of sculptures, fabrics and paintings at your own pace.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Jamestown's harbour?
Go early in the morning, when dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. The harbour is reached by taking the road from the lighthouse.
Can I visit Osu Castle?
No. It is not open to walk-in visitors, armed guards stand outside and they typically do not allow photos. Rules about pictures change sporadically, but it is safest not to try.
Do I need a guide in Jamestown?
It helps. A friendly local guide will help you find the alleys, old stone houses and cliff-top harbour vistas you would otherwise miss. The same applies at Brazil House, which is tough to find without a local guide.
How much does the National Museum cost, and when is it open?
It is open daily 09:00-16:30, and entry is GH₵ 80 for a foreign adult. A guided tour is available on request, and you should tip your guide at the end.
Decide which of these you want most, check the contact details before you set out, and start building your days around them.