Top 5 Things to do in Accra, Ghana

If you’ve got a couple of hours in Accra, check out the top 5 things to do in Accra, Ghana. You can spend all day wandering town getting good food, shopping, and checking out cool street art. You can walk around these areas and get an uber in between to make the most out of your day.

#1 Walk around James Town

James Town is an old fishing community in Accra and the oldest district in Accra. Lately, the area has been revived with colorful street art. James Town is the site of Fort James, a British colonial trading post and prison. It was built in 1673.  

Walk up and down Cleland Road to see the street art and stop by the James Town Lighthouse. Much of the area looks run-down, but street art makes up for it.

You’ll come across an outdoor boxing ring that supports the community’s boxing tradition.

Get a bite to eat and a drink at the James Town Cafe.

Stop by the James Town Boutique Art Gallery and the Brazil House Art Museum.  

If you visit in August, you may catch the famous Chale Wote Arts Festival that “brings art, music, dance, and performance out of the galleries and onto the streets of James Town, Accra.”

#2 Go Shopping in Accra

Visit Global Mama’s, an organization that supports African women and their families. Women produce goods using traditional methods. They sell Hand Batiked Textiles (clothing and décor), glass beads, shea butter, and recycled accessories. I got a beautiful batiked dress that I absolutely love!

Visit Oxford Street at night (around here) for African print clothes and accessories.

Stop in the Woodin Boutique. Woodin is a popular brand found in countries across Africa. They sell high-end African print fabrics and readymade men’s clothing.

Ghana has excellent gold. If you want custom pieces and quick turnaround times, head to Emefa Jewelry. We bought Wilhelm’s wedding band from here. It has good reviews and we had a nice experience. The shop is just a little outside of Accra CBD. However, traffic can be horrid and the trip can take a while.

#3 Eat and Drink like a Ghanian

Get a drink at the Republic Bar and Grill. Visit in the evening for lively music and a fun scene. The bar spills out onto the street, which makes it a fun and casual spot. We went twice in one day!

Have an amazing meal at One Corner Garden. I had the best Red Red on our trip here. The restaurant is hidden away by trees. Once you enter, you leave the busy streets behind. Get the fonio dish. Fonio is an ancient grain with plenty of nutrients. It is lighter, fluffier, and smaller than quinoa. I went through a long phase of ordering fonio online after we got back from Ghana.

Eat at the sophisticated Buka Restaurant. The restaurant specializes in modern African cuisine. Expats and locals alike are found here. P.S. They have jollof rice— YUM!

#4 Walk to  Black Star Square + Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum

You can walk between Black Star Square + Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum. It’s about a 15-minute walk along the main road,  Prof. Atta  High St.

Black Star Square commemorates Ghanaian independence. Additionally, Independence Arch is located here.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum commemorates Ghana’s founding father, Kwame Nkrumah. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana. The mausoleum is huge! Beware of people trying to talk to you.

#5 Visit Labadi Beach

Labadi Beach is a casual beach hangout. It transitions to a party scene at night. Get a beer and indulge in street food. You may need to pay a small entrance fee to access the beach. Plan for crowds if you go on a weekend.

As with any city beach, do a common-sense check before going into the water to avoid infections: excess trash, open drains leading to the ocean, and open defecation nearby. Just to be on the safe side…

Bonus

Looking for a place to stay in Accra? Check out La Villa Boutique Hotel. We used it as a base between traveling to Togo and back. The hotel staff was excellent and let me keep my luggage at the hotel between the trips (4 days!) and all was safe. The hotel is near Oxford Street, which has plenty of shopping, cafes, and food within walking distance (day and night).