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Empty tropical beach lined with palm trees

Ghana travel guide

West Africa's coast, castles and culture, best visited in the drier months

Best: Jan, Feb, Jul, Sep

Photo: Erik Kristensen / Wikimedia Commons

Capital
Accra
Language
English
Currency
Ghanaian cedi
Time zone
UTC
Plugs
Type G · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
999

Why visit Ghana

Ghana suits independent travellers who want history, coastline and cities without a packed tourist trail. Accra, Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi sit on the Atlantic, while Kumasi and Tamale lie inland. January, February, July and September are the best months to go, with drier conditions easing travel. Humidity stays high most of the year, so pack light clothing and expect heat even outside the wet season.

  • Accra, a coastal capital

    Accra sits on the coast and is home to about 1,782,150 people. The best months to visit are January, July, September and February, when conditions are more comfortable for walking the city and the seafront.

  • Kumasi, Ghana's inland giant

    Kumasi is Ghana's largest city by population, with around 3,903,480 residents, even though it sits inland away from the coast. It gives a different urban scale and rhythm compared to the capital.

  • Cape Coast on the Gulf of Guinea

    Cape Coast is a coastal town of about 189,925 people, smaller and slower-paced than Accra or Sekondi-Takoradi. Its location on the Gulf of Guinea makes it a base for exploring Ghana's southern coastline.

  • Sekondi-Takoradi, a working port city

    Sekondi-Takoradi is a coastal city of about 539,548 people. Being on the sea, it offers a different pace and setting from Ghana's inland centres like Kumasi and Tamale.

  • Tamale in the north

    Tamale, with a population of about 729,768, lies inland in the north of Ghana, away from the coastal cities of Accra, Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi. It gives travellers a chance to see Ghana beyond the coast.

Is Ghana right for you?

Great for

  • Warm-weather seekers: Accra highs stay near 27-31C all year round
  • Beach and coastal city trips: Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Coast all sit on the water
  • Travellers who plan around driest spells: January and February bring under 30mm of rain each
  • Sun-hour chasers: Accra averages around 10 hours of sunshine most months

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike heavy rain: June brings about 172mm over nearly 24 rain days
  • People sensitive to high humidity heat: highs stay above 27C every month of the year
  • Trips timed around a cooler sea for swimming: sea temp drops to about 23-24C from July to September

Ghana right now: October

7.0/10
Avg high
29°C
Avg low
24°C
Rain days
21
Sea
27°C

Averages for Accra.

Weather by month

This data is for Accra. January and February bring the driest, sunniest conditions, with highs around 31°C, under 9 rain days and only 17-30mm of rain, while July to September stay cooler (27-28°C highs) with still-reliable sun hours, making both stretches the best windows to visit. June is the toughest month, with 23.8 rain days and 171mm of rainfall, while May and October also bring heavy, frequent rain.

Average highs and lows in Accra by month January: high 31°C, low 24°C , 5 rain days . February: high 32°C, low 25°C , 8 rain days . March: high 31°C, low 26°C , 13 rain days . April: high 31°C, low 26°C , 15 rain days . May: high 30°C, low 25°C , 21 rain days . June: high 28°C, low 24°C , 24 rain days . July: high 27°C, low 23°C , 17 rain days . August: high 27°C, low 23°C , 15 rain days . September: high 28°C, low 23°C , 20 rain days . October: high 29°C, low 24°C , 21 rain days . November: high 30°C, low 25°C , 14 rain days . December: high 31°C, low 24°C , 8 rain days . 31°C 24°C JAN 5d 32°C 25°C FEB 8d 31°C 26°C MAR 13d 31°C 26°C APR 15d 30°C 25°C MAY 21d 28°C 24°C JUN 24d 27°C 23°C JUL 17d 27°C 23°C AUG 15d 28°C 23°C SEP 20d 29°C 24°C OCT 21d 30°C 25°C NOV 14d 31°C 24°C DEC 8d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Accra · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Ghana: month-by-month weather →

Where to go in Ghana

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Coastal Ghana: Accra to Takoradi

  1. Day 1–3

    Accra

    Start in the capital, home to around 1782150 people. Use these days to settle in, explore the coastal city and get oriented before heading further along the coast.

  2. Day 4–5

    Cape Coast

    Visit this coastal town of about 189925 people, known for its history along the shoreline. Spend time walking the coast and taking in the historic coastal setting.

  3. Day 6–7

    Sekondi-Takoradi

    End the trip in this coastal city of roughly 539548 residents, enjoying the Atlantic coastline and the mix of port-city life before departing.

10 days

Ghana in depth: coast, forest and north

  1. Day 1–2

    Accra

    Begin in the capital, with a population of about 1782150. Good months to visit Accra include January, February, July and September, based on typical weather patterns.

  2. Day 3–4

    Cape Coast

    Travel to this coastal town of around 189925 people. Spend two days exploring the coastline and the historic buildings along the shore.

  3. Day 5–6

    Sekondi-Takoradi

    Continue to this coastal city of about 539548 people, with more time to enjoy the Atlantic coast and port-town atmosphere.

  4. Day 7–8

    Kumasi

    Head inland to Kumasi, Ghana's second-largest city with a population of roughly 3903480. Use these two days to explore the inland urban center away from the coast.

  5. Day 9–10

    Tamale

    Finish in Tamale, a northern city of about 729768 people, offering a different landscape and pace compared to the southern coast.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Osu

Accra

Good for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers

Osu is Accra's busiest area for restaurants, bars, shops and live music. Oxford Street runs through its centre. It is a good first base because so much is within walking distance. The drawback is noise and traffic, especially on weekend nights.

Food to try in Ghana

Jollof rice

This is a one-pot rice dish cooked in a tomato and pepper sauce. It is a staple at Ghanaian parties and family gatherings across the country.

Fufu with soup

Fufu is pounded cassava and plantain or yam, served as a soft dough. It is eaten by hand with a spicy soup, often groundnut or light soup, usually at lunch or dinner.

Banku with tilapia

Banku is fermented corn and cassava dough, cooked until smooth. It is commonly paired with grilled tilapia and a hot pepper sauce, especially near coastal towns.

Waakye

Waakye is rice and beans cooked together with dried millet leaves, which give it a reddish-brown colour. It is a popular breakfast or lunch street food in Accra and other cities.

Kelewele

Kelewele is ripe plantain cut into chunks, spiced with ginger and pepper, then fried. It is a common street snack sold in the evenings.

Red red

Red red is a bean stew cooked in palm oil, giving it a reddish colour, usually served with fried ripe plantain. It is a everyday meal found in local chop bars.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Ghana uses plug type G, the same three-pin plug as the UK. Electricity runs at 230 V. Bring an adapter if your home plugs are a different shape.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Ghana. Keep this in mind when crossing streets or renting a car.
  • Emergency number: Call 999 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in Ghana.
  • Currency: The currency is the Ghanaian cedi. Carry some local cash for small shops and markets, since cards are not accepted everywhere.
  • Language: English is the official language of Ghana, so most signs, menus and official information are in English.
  • Calling code: Ghana's international calling code is +233. Check this when dialling local numbers from abroad or setting up a local SIM.
  • Time zone: Ghana sits on UTC all year, with no seasonal clock changes. Useful for planning calls or video chats with people back home.

Ghana: frequently asked questions

Is Ghana good to visit in August?

Yes, August scores 7.7 out of 10 and counts as a best-month option. It's cooler than other times, with highs around 27.1°C and lows near 22.9°C. Rain drops back to 14.9 days and 58mm after the wetter June peak, and sea temperature cools to 23.4°C.

When is the best time to visit Ghana?

The best months are January, February, July, and September, all scoring 7.7 or higher. January is the top month at 8.4, with warm highs of 31.3°C and low rainfall of just 4.5 rain days and 17mm. July and September also score well, offering a break in the rains with cooler temperatures.

What is the wettest month in Ghana?

June is the wettest month in Accra, with 171mm of rain over 23.8 rain days. This is the peak of the main wet season. May and October are also rainy, with 130mm and 122mm respectively. Rainfall drops sharply by December, to just 24mm over 7.9 days.

Is the sea warm enough for swimming in Ghana?

Yes, most of the year. Sea temperature near Accra ranges from 23.4°C in August to 29.2°C in May, so swimming works in any month. May through November sees slightly cooler water in the 23–27°C range, while December to April stays closer to 28°C.

Which Ghanaian cities are on the coast?

Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Cape Coast are Ghana's main coastal cities. Accra is the capital and largest coastal city, with a population of 1,782,150. Kumasi, Tamale, and Ho sit inland, with Kumasi being the largest city overall at 3,903,480 people.

What is the emergency number in Ghana?

The emergency number in Ghana is 999. The country uses the Ghanaian cedi as its currency, drives on the right, and runs on 230V power with type G plugs. English is the official language, and the calling code is +233.

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