Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa

Accra is the capital as well as the largest city of Ghana, situated on the coastline in the southern part of the country. It is economic hub of Ghana, getting its larger proportion of economy from industries, mainly from manufacturing and electricity plants and tourism is also one of the major sources of the Accra’s revenue. The tourism industry of Ghana holds all types of attractions including churches, beaches, theatres, forts and museums. Accra is also the site of the University of Ghana. Accra experiences a tropical savanna climate with around 730 millimeters of average annual rainfall.

History of Accra:

The name of Accra may be derived from the Akan language term ‘nkran’ which means “ants”. Accra witnessed the rule of many powerful European empires in its long and grand history, including Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch and British. Accra has been serving as the capital of Ghana since 1877, including Gold Coast colony during British rule.

How to reach Accra:

Accra is served by the Kotoka International Airport with scheduled flights from New York City, London, Milan, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Istanbul, Johannesburg and many other prime destinations in the world. The airport is situated around 7 km northeast of the heart of Accra, which can be crossed by bus or airport taxi.

The local transportation of Accra is served by minivans, taxis, rental cars and luxury public buses.

Food and Shopping in Accra:

Accra is home to the country’s two prime educational and cultural centres, the Central Library of Ghana and the University of Ghana.

Makola Market in Accra is famous for traditional shopping and tourist favor restaurants found in Accra at the suburb of Osu.

Things to do in Accra:

Beach exploration
Ghana Nima Tours
BlasTours
Jamestown Walking Tours

What to see in Accra?

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park:

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park commemorates the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, who was also the prime independence leader during Ghana’s independence movement against the British. The highlights of the park are Kwame Nkrumah’s monument, mausoleum and museum dedicated to him.

Labadi Beach:

The Labadi Beach is one of the top tourist attractions of Accra, lying between La Palm and La Badi Beach, which are the most expensive hotels of the city. The entrance fee is 5 Gh¢.

The National Theatre of Ghana:

The National Theatre is housed in a uniquely constructed structure, constructed by the Chinese as a present to Ghana. The theatre houses the National Symphony Orchestra Ghana, is situated in the Victoriaborg district of Accra.

Parliament House of Ghana:

The Parliament House of Ghana is a planned project of the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. It features the Eclectic style of architecture and is located in the East Ridge district of Ghana. It was inaugurated in 1965.

W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre:

The W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre in Accra was named after an American author and Civil Rights activist, W.E.B. DuBois, who spent final days of his life in Accra. It is used as a research library with lots of interesting things.

List of other places of interest in Accra includes:

National Museum of Ghana
Bojo Beach
Kwame Nkrumah’s Mausoleum
Kokrobite Beach
Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity
Academy for African Music and Arts
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Coco Beach
Resurrection Presbyterian Church
Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Artists Alliance Gallery
The National Archives of Ghana

When to visit Accra?

Probably from July to August and November to March is the best time to visit Accra in Ghana.

Where to stay in Accra?

Accra is home to around 300 standard accommodation centres ranging from budget options like vacation rentals to star rated resorts and hotels with all modern and basic facilities. Advance booking is preferred. The major hotels in Accra are listed below: