10 Best Things to Do in Ghana

Planning your trip? Don’t skip these 10 best things to do in Ghana! Ghana is the place to be… It’s hot! Everyone seems to be planning their #Blaxit or dreaming of a perfect escape to Ghana. If you are coming to Ghana, here is a list of things to do that will ensure you enjoy visiting Africa and make the most out of your time in Ghana. Check out these things to do in Ghana.

1. Chop

Food is good… so, so good. In Ghana, you’ll constantly be tempted by the smells, colors, and calls coming from the food vendors on the sides of the road. With so many options for chop shops, you’ll want to dive in and get some small chops. That makes eating one of the best things to do in Ghana.

In Ghana, chop means food. When someone tells you they want to stop for small chops, they’re stopping for a snack. What can that mean? Well, in Ghana, roadside food is a-plenty and depends on the season and the region you’re in.

In Tamale, you’ll be tempted by guinea foul being grilled roadside. Stop! You’ll love the flavor and bragging rights that comes with eating street food. When you’re in Kumasi, stop and get ***. While in the Volta region, enjoy the fruit stands and freshly diced produce. If you make it to the Cape Coast area, snag fresh seafood from the daily catch. And if you’re in Greater Accra, or really anywhere in Ghana, check take time to taste the waakye, kelewele, and bofrot. If none of those food ring a bell, then check out the post all about FOODS TO EAT IN GHANA.

No matter what your personal palette prefers, there’s chop you’ll love in Ghana. Vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians breathe a sigh of relief. Most restaurants close to the cities have an option or two that will fit into your dietary preferences. If you’re in Accra, then you’ll have a choice of great restaurants that cater to you.

2. Shop

Who doesn’t love shopping? Real talk… don’t overpack on your way to Ghana. You’ll need plenty of space in your suitcase to bring back the amazing handcrafted wares from the local shops and roadside vendors.

There are a few things your trip to Ghana would be incomplete without.

While you’re here, make sure you visit a wood carver for a mask, drum, or oware mancala game with an adinkra symbol etched upon it. If you’ve loved seeing the women of Ghana carrying their babies on their backs, you may opt for a carving that reminds you of it. Either way, pick up some carvings.

If you are someone who buys anything with shea butter in it back home, then when you’re in Ghana, get authentic stuff from the source! Ghana is a major producer of shea and you can get raw butters, shea-infused natural products, or butter blends for your hair and skin. Tamale markets in the Northern region are a treasure trove of shea, so if you’re there, bring me some!

Ghana is also a top producer of chocolate! Mmm… This may not make it into your suitcase back home, it’s so good. The chocolate here in Ghana tastes different than the stuff in the states, so be sure to shop and try all the different kinds! If you have the time, go to a cocoa farm and see how the velvety chocolate you love starts out.

Fabrics in Ghana are rich with color and patterns that go beyond just being striking. Patterns in Ghana have a story to them. If you have the chance to visit the market, stop to get some fabrics by the yard. When you get home, you can use them as blankets, beach coveralls, baby wrappers, and even as head scarves. Oh… and you can also have fabrics sewn into outfits while you’re here.

After you grab some wood carvings, shea butter products, chocolate and fabric, there are lots of other things to shop at the local markets. That means getting out of your car and walking in the streets… it’s how you’re meant to experience Ghana!

3. Vogue

Speaking of sewing, there is nothing better than having authentic clothes made here in Ghana to take back with you. If you are in Ghana for a week or more, connect with a seamstress or tailor to have something custom-made. Be sure to get with them at the start of your trip so your items can be completed before you leave. I’ve seen clothes being run to people in the airport that made it just in time.

Ladies, have a skirt or shorts made. If you’re feelin’ it, do a whole dress! There are patterns available at the shops or just browse online to find a pattern you like. Here’s a tip though. In the States, you may not want a head to toe pattern, so get separates if you work or live in a less vibrant area… You’ll be more likely to wear them back home.

Gentlemen, channel your T’Challa and have some shirts made. If you want to get some matching pants or shorts, that will complete your outfit. Here’s a tip though: Ghana pants are typically cut tighter and a touch shorter. If you like some breathing room, then be specific with your tailor.

If you’re only in Ghana for a short time (or just forgot to get something sewn early enough), no worries. There are tons of shops that sell ready-to-wear items that you’ll love. It may not be tailor-made, but you’ll enjoy heading home with some Ghana threads.

4. Swim

Ghana’s southern border is the ocean. That means there are miles and miles of coastline for you to zen out. In Greater Accra, you’ll find resorts with private beach access that will make you feel like you are royalty.

There are also public beaches to explore. When you’re at the public beach, there are vendors offering horse rides, drinks, and small chops, like kebobs. Just know this… on a public access beach you’ll have lots of hawkers or vendors that approach you to buy things. No harm, but if that’s not your ideal beach fantasy, then you may want to opt for a private beach.

Oh, and one more thing to know. Those private beaches rarely have a restroom. Nuf’ said.

Escaping the city and heading out a little will get you an entirely different beach experience. Traveling to Pram Pram, to Cape Coast, or to Takoradi will transform you. So when you’re here, leave Accra and explore. The beaches are one of the best things to do in Ghana!

5. Drink

Yup, even if you don’t drink, there are some things you’ve gotta try here. Palm wine is a specialty in the mountain areas, like Aburi. It you’re heading up to the botanical gardens there or the monkey sanctuary, then stop on the way back down and enjoy some wine. Be warned, it can have a bit of a kick, so pace yourself.

Back at the club, you can try some ***. This stuff is mixed with local spices, so it has a Ghana flavor. It’s also a drink that’ll knock you on your behind if you can take it.

The Accra Brewing Company has been brewing beer here in Ghana for decades. There’s nothing better than a cold one on a hot day. There are several types, like Club Beer, Shandy or malt. Either way, have a locally brewed beer.

If alcohol is not your thing, you can’t come to Ghana and not have coconut water fresh from the nut. Vendors are everywhere and those coconuts cost less than a dollar. If you like the taste, you can ask your vendor to cut up the coconut meat and take it with you to snack on. Yum!

A common breakfast food here is actually a beverage. Koko is a porridge with milk and sugar added into the mix. Also known as hausa, koko is made from millet and spices. It’s usually eaten with bread or fried bofrot (donut or fritter), but you can drink it from the bag it’s served in by shaking it, biting the plastic away, and slurping on the go. For vegetarians and those eating gluten free, this is a great breakfast or snack.

6. Paddle

We covered the beaches earlier, but there’s a whole other arena of enjoyment to be had here in Ghana. The Volta Region is just about 90 minutes east of Accra and is home of Lake Volta. Lake Volta is the largest manmade lake in the world! If you love water and water activities, then the Volta area is a great place to head to.

You can take lake cruises, go kayaking and paddle boating. You can relax on the shores, go fishing, and jet ski too! Best of all, the area is beautiful… just beautiful! And with it being so close to Accra, the trip is well worth. Take advantage of the region and enjoy all the water activities, see a different side of Ghana, and explore outside of Accra.

7. Dine

Listen, the food is good-o. There are so many great foods to eat in Ghana that it’s a blog post all on it’s own. Check out the post on Foods to Eat in Ghana. You can get great food roadside and at local chop shops like we mentioned earlier, but there is a fine dining side of Ghana to explore too.

Treat yourself to a dining experience at one of the many great restaurants in Ghana, several of which have local dishes as well as continental ones with a little Ghana stank on it… and I mean that in a good way. Tasting the fusion of classic American with the spices of Africa will keep your mouth excited and your belly full.

At least once during your trip, sit down, slow down, and savor some fine dining… it’s one of the best things to do in Ghana.

8. Dance

Gotta love those afro beats! It’s hard not to tap, shimmy, or downright pop and lock when these beats surround you. The underlying base and drum line drive the music right into your bones. Good news is there are lots of places where you can hear local music. Better news is you can catch live music most weekend nights in Accra.

If you’re a budding musician, you may want to grab a local drum at the market and take it home for when you’re longing for Ghana again.

Most bigger cities in Ghana have a cultural center or arts center. There you’ll likely find leather craftsmen, wood carvers, and kente weavers. You’ll also see they have regularly scheduled drumming, dancing, and performances. Check them out!

9. Walk

Ghana is a walking kinda place. You can live an entire life in a small radius and that’s because each little community has its own nooks and crannies filled with families, chop shops, vendors, and stories.

You miss all that in a car.

Be sure to get out and walk some. You see Ghana in a whole new way when you do. That includes walking the streets, the market, and the neighborhood you’re staying in. Even if you only explore less than a quarter mile in every direction from where you’re staying, it’ll all feel completely different and also give you a more authentic Ghana experience.

10. Tour

There are so many places worth seeing in Ghana that will make your African experience complete. You can put all the pieces together yourself, but why not take the hassle out of it? Check out a great list of day trips and multi-day tours that will allow you to do everything on this list and make sure you experience all the best things to do in Ghana. Expat Life Ghana will make your Ghana trip epic!