Rentorize Gazette · First-Time Visitor Guide

Ghana Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors from the UK and USA

A clear, current rundown for your first trip to Ghana from London, New York, or anywhere in between. What changed in 2026, what to sort before you fly, and how to settle in once you land in Accra.

Ghana is one of the gentlest places in Africa to visit for the first time. English is the official language, Accra is easy to get around, and the welcome is genuine. A few things shifted in 2026 though, and two of them can catch first-timers out: you now need to sort your visa before you fly, and there is a new airport charge added to international tickets. This guide walks through both, then covers money, getting around, what to see, and where to base yourself, written by a host who lives here.

Section 1Before you go: visas, vaccines, and the 2026 airport charge

Start here, because two of these have changed and both can stop you at the gate.

You need a visa arranged before you travel

UK and US passport holders need a Ghana visa sorted in advance. The old habit of grabbing a visa on arrival at the airport is no longer a routine option, it is now reserved for emergencies with a sponsor in Ghana. Apply through Ghana's online e-Visa system or your nearest mission: the Ghana High Commission in London or the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. Give yourself two to three weeks before travel, since standard processing takes several business days. Tourist visas are usually issued for 30 or 60 days, and your passport needs at least six months of validity left. You can check current rules at the Ghana Immigration Service.

Yellow fever is mandatory, plus a few recommended jabs

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Ghana, and you can be asked for it on arrival, so carry the yellow card with your passport. Beyond that, a travel clinic will usually suggest hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and antimalarial tablets, since Accra is a malaria area. Book that appointment a few weeks ahead so any course has time to start.

Budget for the new airport charge

Since April 2026, Ghana applies an Airport Infrastructure Development Charge to international tickets. For long-haul travellers it works out to roughly 100 US dollars on a return fare, or about 50 dollars one way, and it is added at booking rather than collected at the airport. Infants, diplomats, and on-duty crew are exempt. It is small against a long-haul fare, but worth knowing so it is not a surprise.

Section 2Getting there and getting around

Flights land at Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, which sits inside the city rather than far outside it. Carriers such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London in around six to seven hours, and airlines including Delta and United connect Accra with the US East Coast in roughly ten to eleven hours. Routes change season to season, so compare a few options when you book.

Once you land, the easiest way into the city is a ride app. Bolt, Yango, and Uber all operate in Accra, the fare is set in the app, and it saves haggling at the rank. Cantonments, the diplomatic neighbourhood where many visitors stay, is only about 4 km from the airport, usually a 10 to 20 minute drive depending on traffic. Tro-tros, the shared minibuses, are how most locals move around and cost very little, though they take some confidence on a first trip. For a fuller rundown of getting around, see our Accra travel tips.

Pick up a local SIM early. MTN has the widest coverage, with Telecel (formerly Vodafone) and AirtelTigo as the other main networks. You will need your passport to register a SIM, and 4G in Accra is solid, so data is cheap and easy.

Section 3Money, power, water, and staying connected

The currency is the Ghana Cedi (GHS). Cards work at hotels, larger restaurants, and supermarkets, but markets and small shops run on cash, so keep some on you. Mobile money, known here as MoMo, is everywhere and is how a lot of day-to-day payments happen. ATMs are common in the city.

Power cuts, called dumsor locally, still happen across Accra, so it is worth choosing a place with backup power and water. That is the difference between an outage being a non-event and your evening grinding to a halt. Tap water is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled or sachet water for drinking and brushing teeth.

On electricity, Ghana runs on 230V, 50Hz with Type G three-pin sockets, the same as the UK. UK travellers can plug straight in. US travellers need a UK-style adapter and should check their devices are dual voltage, which most phone and laptop chargers are. On time, Ghana stays on GMT all year with no daylight saving. That puts it level with the UK in winter and an hour behind in summer, and about five hours ahead of US Eastern time.

Section 4What to see in Accra first

Give Accra a couple of days before you rush off. A good first loop:

• Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. The mausoleum and museum for Ghana's first president, fully renovated and reopened in 2023, with a sharp museum on independence.
• National Museum of Ghana. Reopened in 2022 after a long refit, a solid grounding in the country's history and craft.
• Jamestown. Old colonial Accra, a working fishing harbour, street art, and a lighthouse you can climb for the view.
• Makola Market. One of West Africa's great markets. Go with small cash, go early, and enjoy the noise.
• Labadi Beach. The city's liveliest beach, busiest at weekends with music and food stalls.
• W.E.B. Du Bois Centre. The home and resting place of the scholar, here in Cantonments and a short walk from where many guests stay.

For more ideas with opening details, see our guide to things to do in Accra.

Section 5Beyond Accra: castles, parks, and beaches

If you have more than a few days, head out of the city.

• Cape Coast and Elmina castles. About three hours west of Accra, these UNESCO World Heritage sites and the Door of No Return are the most moving thing you will do in Ghana. Take the guided tour and give yourself time afterwards.
• Kakum National Park. Near Cape Coast, known for its canopy walkway strung high above the rainforest. Go early for cooler air and birdsong.
• Mole National Park. Up north, Ghana's best wildlife, with elephants and antelope often seen on a walking or driving safari.
• The beaches. Kokrobite for drumming and a laid-back weekend, Busua further west for surf, and Ada Foah where the Volta meets the sea.

Section 6Culture, food, and a few words of the language

Ghana has more than a hundred ethnic groups, with the Akan, Ewe, Ga-Dangme, and Mole-Dagbani among the largest. English is the official language and is spoken widely, while Twi is the most common local language and Ga is what you will hear most in Accra. Festivals run through the year, from the Ga Homowo to the Akan Odwira, and craft traditions like Kente weaving and Adinkra symbols carry real meaning rather than just pattern.

The food is a highlight in itself. Jollof rice is the dish people argue about, banku and waakye are everyday staples, and kelewele, the spiced fried plantain sold from evening stalls, is worth seeking out. Shito, the dark pepper sauce, goes with almost everything. If you have a low spice tolerance, just say so, and portions are generous.

A few words go a long way. Locals warm up fast when a visitor tries.

English	Twi
Welcome	Akwaaba
How are you?	Ete sen?
Thank you	Medaase
Yes / No	Aane / Daabi
How much?	Sen?

On etiquette, greet people before getting to business, use your right hand for giving and receiving, dress modestly at shrines and sacred sites, and ask before photographing people.

Section 7When to visit

The dry season from November to March is the easiest time to travel, with less rain and lower humidity. December is the big one. Between the Year of Return momentum and what locals call Detty December, Accra fills with returning diaspora, concerts, and parties from Christmas into the new year. It is the most exciting time to be here and also the busiest and priciest, so book your stay early if you are coming for it. Our Detty December guide covers the festivals and the timing in detail.

Section 8Embassy and consular contacts

Keep these to hand for visas before you travel, and for help if anything goes wrong while you are away.

This guide is general information for first-time visitors, not legal or medical advice. Entry rules, fees, and health requirements change, so confirm current details with the Ghana Immigration Service and your nearest Ghana mission before you travel.