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Ghana travel guide

English-speaking West Africa, from the Accra coast to inland Kumasi and Tamale

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 to combine coastal cities such as Accra and Cape Coast with inland centres like Kumasi and Tamale. English is the official language, so many visitors find it easier to get around than in other parts of the region. The best months to go are July and August. The honest limitation is that this window is short. Outside those months, conditions are less favourable, so plan your dates with care.

  • English is the official language

    English is Ghana's official language. That makes it easier for English-speaking independent travellers to read signs, arrange transport and ask for directions. You can plan and book without a phrasebook.

  • Three coastal cities to choose from

    Accra, the capital, sits on the coast, and so do Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Coast. You can base yourself in the capital and still move along the shoreline to smaller coastal cities.

  • Kumasi, the biggest city inland

    Kumasi has a population of about 3903480, more than double Accra's 1782150. It lies inland. That gives you a large city experience away from the coast and a clear second stop after the capital.

  • Room to explore north and east

    Ghana covers 238533 km². Inland cities such as Tamale in the north and Ho in the east let you add different regions to a trip that goes beyond the coast.

  • Simple practical details

    Ghana runs on UTC, uses type G plugs at 230 V and drives on the right. The emergency number is 999. July and August are listed as the best months to go, so plan around them.

Is Ghana right for you?

Great for

  • English speakers, since English is the language listed for Ghana
  • Dry-season trips in January, with just 0.6 rain days and 10.8 sun hours
  • Visitors in July and August, when highs ease to about 30°C
  • Coastal city trips linking Accra, Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi
  • Travellers who want no jet lag, as Ghana runs on UTC all year

Less ideal for

  • Heat-sensitive travellers in February and March, with highs of 35–36°C
  • September trips, with about 25 rain days and 198 mm of rain
  • Anyone wanting fully dry weather in July and August, which still see 19–20 rain days
  • People who need cool nights, as lows stay above 20°C all year

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

The chart shows data for Ghana as a whole for 2015–2024, not a single city; July and August score best because highs drop to about 30°C, though expect 19–20 rain days, and December is also fine, with only 1.4 rain days. Avoid March to May, when highs of 33–35°C come with 14–20 rain days, and September, the wettest month with 198 mm.

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

Accra, the coast and Kumasi in a week

  1. Day 1–2

    Accra

    Start in the capital, which is on the coast. Rest after your flight, change money into Ghanaian cedi and get a local SIM. English is the official language, so arranging things is easy.

  2. Day 3–5

    Cape Coast

    Move west along the coast to this smaller city. It is a quieter base than Accra. Spend slow days by the sea and explore the town on foot.

  3. Day 6–7

    Kumasi

    Head inland to Kumasi, a much larger city than Cape Coast. Use your last 2 days for its markets and street life. Leave enough time to get back for your flight home.

10 days

Coast to the north in 10 days

  1. Day 1–2

    Accra

    Begin in the coastal capital. Sort out cedi, a SIM card and plug adapters (Ghana uses type G at 230 V). Save 999, the emergency number, in your phone.

  2. Day 3–4

    Cape Coast

    Travel west to Cape Coast. It is small and easy to walk around, so it is a good place to slow down by the sea after the capital.

  3. Day 5–6

    Sekondi-Takoradi

    Continue along the coast to the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi. Stay near the sea and compare its working port atmosphere with quieter Cape Coast.

  4. Day 7–8

    Kumasi

    Turn inland to Kumasi, one of the biggest cities in Ghana. Spend 2 days in its markets and neighbourhoods. It is busy and crowded, so plan some breaks.

  5. Day 9–10

    Tamale

    End in Tamale, the main city of the north and far from the coast. It feels very different from the south. Arrange your onward or return journey before you arrive.

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

Rice cooked in a spicy tomato, onion and pepper sauce, often served with chicken or fish. You will find it at family gatherings, parties and simple local eateries across Ghana.

Fufu with light soup

Pounded cassava and plantain formed into a soft dough, eaten with a thin, spicy tomato soup with goat or fish. Ghanaians usually eat it with the right hand.

Banku and tilapia

Banku is a slightly sour dough of fermented corn and cassava. It is often served with grilled tilapia and hot pepper sauce, a popular evening meal in Accra.

Waakye

Rice and beans cooked with dried sorghum leaves, which give it a red-brown colour. It is a common breakfast, sold from street stalls with shito (black pepper sauce) and boiled egg.

Kelewele

Cubes of ripe plantain seasoned with ginger and chilli, then deep-fried. It is a street snack, usually sold in the evening and often eaten with roasted peanuts.

Sobolo

A cold, deep-red drink made from dried hibiscus flowers, often flavoured with ginger. Street vendors sell it chilled in small bottles or bags, and it is good on hot days.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Ghana uses type G plugs, the three-pin plug also used in the UK. The supply is 230 V. Bring an adapter, and check that your chargers accept 230 V.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Ghana. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when overtaking.
  • Emergency number: The emergency number in Ghana is 999. Save it in your phone before you arrive.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Ghanaian cedi. Plan how you will get cedis, whether from cash machines or by exchanging money, before you land.
  • Language: English is the official language, so you can use it for signs, forms and most everyday travel needs.
  • Time zone: Ghana uses UTC. Check the time difference from home when you plan arrival times and calls.
  • Calling code: The country calling code is +233. Use it when you give your Ghanaian contacts' numbers to people abroad or dial Ghana from another country.

Ghana: frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Ghana?

July and August are the best months to visit Ghana, though neither is ideal. Both score 4.1, the highest of the year, and are rated "ok". They are the coolest months, with highs of 29.9°C and 29.8°C. But they are wet. July has 19.5 rain days and 145 mm of rain, and August has 18.9 days and 136 mm. December scores 4 and is almost dry, with 1.4 rain days, but it reaches 34.4°C.

Is Ghana good to visit in April?

No. April has the lowest score of the year, 0.3, and is rated "avoid". It brings both heat and rain. Highs reach 34.5°C, nights stay at 24.4°C, and there are 17.6 rain days with 119 mm of rain. March (score 1) and May (score 0.9) are almost as poor. If you can choose, go in July, August or December instead.

When is the rainy season in Ghana?

Most rain falls from March to October, with 14 or more rain days in each of those months. September is the wettest month, with 24.7 rain days and 198 mm. October still has 20.1 rain days. The rain drops sharply in November, to 7 days and 31 mm. It almost stops from December to February. January is the driest month, with 0.6 rain days and 2 mm.

Is Ghana too hot in January and February?

They are very hot, and both months are rated "avoid". January has highs of 35°C, and February reaches 36.3°C, the hottest of the year. The upside is dry, sunny weather. January has only 0.6 rain days and 10.8 hours of sun a day. January scores 3.9 and February 2.9. For dry weather, December is slightly better, with a score of 4 and highs of 34.4°C.

What plugs and voltage does Ghana use?

Ghana uses type G plugs and a 230 V supply. Check that your chargers work at 230 V. Bring an adapter if your devices have a different plug. The currency is the Ghanaian cedi, and the language is English.

What is the emergency number in Ghana?

The emergency number in Ghana is 999. The country calling code is +233. Traffic drives on the right. Ghana's time zone is UTC. The capital is Accra.

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