House 01 · Greater Accra

Accra

Galleries, highlife and the old town by the sea

AccraGreater Accra, Ghana

Start where the country talks fastest

Most journeys begin and end in Accra, and we treat it as a place to spend time rather than a city to get through. The capital is loud, generous and quick-witted, and it rewards a guide who knows which door to knock on.

Jamestown, the old Ga quarter by the sea, is where we usually start: the lighthouse, the fishing harbour below it, boxing gyms in back streets, and the forts that predate the city around them. From there the city opens out into Osu's restaurants, the galleries and studios of a busy contemporary art scene, and evenings of live highlife. (to verify)

A busy Accra street seen from above, packed with traffic and people beside shops and office buildings

Why go

Accra is where Ghana's present is easiest to meet. Artists, chefs, designers and musicians are often happy to talk about their work, and we build introductions in where we can.

It is also where heavy days elsewhere can be balanced. After the castles on the coast, an evening of music or a long lunch in Accra is part of the plan, not a detour.

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Plan Accra into your journey

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Days ordered one house at a time
Time left free after the heavy days

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Step into Accra

1/3Accra from a rooftop. Accra, Accra, Ghana
2/3Midday traffic in central Accra. Accra, Ghana
3/3The lighthouse in Jamestown, Accra. James Town, Accra, Ghana

What to see and do in Accra

Good to know

Best time to go

Any month. November to March is driest; the city is hottest and most humid from February to April. Chale Wote street art festival fills Jamestown in August. (to verify) (to verify)

Usually driest here: January, February, August, November, December. See when to go.

How long to stay

Two or three nights, often split between the start and the end of a trip.

Suggested on the planner: 2–3 nights.

Getting there

International flights land at Kotoka International Airport, a short drive from the city centre when traffic allows. Traffic is the main variable: we plan days by neighbourhood.

Where you will stay

Accra has the widest choice in the country, from international hotels to small, design-led guesthouses in Osu, Labone and East Legon. This is where you will find the most polished rooms of the trip.

On our list for this region (to be confirmed): design-led guesthouse in Osu, hotel by the sea, Accra. See stays.

Best for

Contemporary art and design, Live music, Food, First and last nights.

Routes through here