The Ghana travel guide we give our own clients.

Visas & entry requirements

Ghana entry rules depend on your passport, and they change. This is how they generally work; we confirm the current requirement for your nationality before you book, and you should also check with the Ghana embassy or high commission nearest you.

• ECOWAS citizens (Nigeria, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and the other member states) enter visa-free.
• Other African passport holders: Ghana has announced visa-free entry for all African passport holders. Implementation details and any conditions are set by the Ghana Immigration Service — confirm before travel.
• UK, USA, Canada, EU, Australia and most other nationalities need a visa. The normal route is a visa from the Ghana embassy or high commission in your country before you fly. Ghana has also run visa-on-arrival windows around December, but do not rely on one unless it is officially announced for your dates.
• Passport validity: your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with a blank page for the visa.
• Ghanaian dual nationals and the diaspora: if you hold a Ghana card or Ghanaian passport you can enter on it. If you are of Ghanaian descent without documents, talk to us early — the paperwork is worth starting months ahead.

Health & the yellow fever certificate

A valid international yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for every traveller aged 9 months and above. Immigration officers check it at Kotoka International Airport, and airlines can refuse boarding without it. Get the vaccine at least 10 days before you fly; the certificate is valid for life.

• Malaria is present across Ghana all year. Speak to your doctor about prophylaxis, use repellent in the evenings and sleep under a net or in air-conditioned rooms. All our homes have AC and screened windows.
• Routine vaccines (hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, polio, MMR) are commonly recommended by travel clinics — your doctor will advise based on your itinerary.
• Water: drink bottled or sachet ("pure water") only. We stock bottled water in every home and vehicle.
• Pharmacies are widespread in Accra and Kasoa; bring enough of any prescription medicine for your whole stay, in its original packaging.
• Emergency numbers: 112 (general emergency), 191 (police), 193 (ambulance), 192 (fire).

Money, cards & mobile money

Ghana's currency is the cedi (GHS, ₵). Exchange rates move, so check the day's rate before you change money; we quote in GHS, USD, GBP or EUR and show you the rate we used.

• Cash still matters. Markets, roadside food, taxis and many small shops are cash-only. Carry small notes (GH₵1–20).
• Exchange at banks or licensed forex bureaux in Accra (Osu, Airport City, Accra Mall) — rates are usually better than at the airport. Bring clean, newer US dollar, pound or euro notes.
• ATMs are common in cities and accept Visa; Mastercard acceptance varies by bank. Tell your bank you are travelling.
• Cards work in hotels, supermarkets, malls and better restaurants. Expect to pay cash outside big towns.
• Mobile money (MoMo) — MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash and AT Money — is how most of Ghana pays. A local SIM (available at the airport with your passport) lets you register a wallet and pay taxis, shops and tips by phone. We accept MoMo too.
• Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory: round up for drivers, GH₵10–20 for porters, 5–10% in restaurants if service is not included.

Best time to visit — month by month

Ghana is tropical: warm all year (roughly 26–33 °C on the coast), with a dry season from November to March and rains from roughly April to October, interrupted by a short drier spell in August. The north is hotter and drier than the coast. Tap a month:

How far is Ghana from you?

Kotoka International Airport (ACC) sits on the edge of Accra, about an hour from our base in Kasoa. Pick your nearest airport to see the real distance and roughly how long you will be in the air.

Distances are calculated great-circle (straight line) figures and the times assume a typical cruise of 830 km/h plus taxi, climb and approach. Not every one of these cities has a non-stop service in every season — tell us your city and we will price the fastest sensible routing, including the connection.

Getting around Ghana

Ghana drives on the right. Accra traffic is heavy at peak times, road quality varies outside the main highways and there are police checkpoints on intercity roads — none of which is a problem with a local driver who knows the routes.

• Private car with driver — the way most of our clients travel. Door to door, air-conditioned, flexible and safe at night. See airport pickup & car rental.
• Self-drive is possible with a valid licence in English or an International Driving Permit; we recommend it only for confident drivers who have visited before.
• Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, Yango) works well inside Accra and Kumasi and is cheap. Confirm the plate before getting in.
• Trotros (shared minibuses) and intercity coaches (STC, VIP) are the local way to travel — cheap and authentic, but slow and crowded. Fun for a day, not for a schedule.
• Domestic flights connect Accra with Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi in under an hour — useful for reaching Mole National Park without a full day's drive.
• Distances from Accra: Kasoa ~30 km · Cape Coast ~145 km · Kumasi ~250 km · Ho ~165 km · Tamale ~600 km. Allow more time than the map suggests.

Where to stay

Hotels in Accra range from guesthouses to international five-star brands around Airport City and Ridge. For families and groups staying a week or more, a private furnished home is usually more comfortable and more economical than several hotel rooms — you get a kitchen, a living room to gather in, secure parking and a quieter neighbourhood. Our homes are in Kasoa Opeikuma, about an hour west of Accra on the Cape Coast road, which makes them a convenient base for both the city and the coast. You can see the homes, the vehicles and every place in this guide in our photo gallery.

Safety, customs & etiquette

Ghana is widely regarded as one of West Africa's most welcoming and stable countries, and most visits are trouble-free. Use the same common sense you would in any big city.

• Greet first. A handshake and "good morning / afternoon" before any request is basic courtesy. Use your right hand to give and receive things — the left is considered impolite.
• Dress is relaxed but modest outside beaches; cover shoulders and knees at churches, mosques, palaces and in villages.
• Photos: ask before photographing people, and never photograph military sites, the airport or government buildings.
• Valuables: keep phones and bags close in busy markets (Makola, Kejetia) and at Kwame Nkrumah Circle; avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar areas; use a driver after dark.
• Scams: be wary of unsolicited "guides" at castles and beaches, and of anyone asking for money to speed up an official process. Our guides carry ID.
• Language: English is the official language; Twi, Ga, Ewe, Fante and Dagbani are widely spoken. A few words of Twi open doors.
• Practicalities: time zone GMT with no daylight saving; electricity 230 V with UK-style three-pin (type G) and type D sockets — bring an adapter; power cuts happen, which is why our homes have backup power.

Useful Twi phrases

Before-you-fly checklist

Tick items off as you go — your progress is saved on this device. Print it for the fridge.