About the Port
Accra's port lies at Tema, a working harbor east of the capital, making the city center roughly a half-hour drive away. Ghana's largest city blends colonial-era streets with a modern skyline, and its landmarks trace a layered past, from the coastal fishing quarter of Jamestown, with its lighthouse and old colonial buildings, to Independence Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, honoring the country's first president and its 1957 independence, among the earliest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Beyond the monuments, Accra rewards visitors with lively markets like Makola, where textiles, crafts, and produce fill narrow lanes, and with a growing arts scene reflected in galleries and studios around the city. The National Museum offers context on Ghana's ethnic groups and history. Travelers with time to venture farther inland or along the coast can glimpse the country's broader story, from Akan traditions to its centuries-old role in Atlantic trade.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Accra .
Explore Jamestown's Fishing Quarter
Wander lanes lined with colorful colonial facades, climb the old lighthouse for harbor views, and watch fishermen mend nets and haul in the day's catch.
Visit Cape Coast Castle
A roughly two-hour drive west, this stark white fortress and its dungeons offer a sobering look at the transatlantic slave trade; guided tours are worth booking ahead given the distance.
Browse Makola Market
Dive into one of West Africa's largest markets, where stalls overflow with wax-print fabrics, baskets, and spices; go with time to haggle and a guide if it's a first visit.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Accra
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 125 | $54,999 | |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 153 | $69,999 | |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Dawn | 19 | $18,100 | |
| Dec 28, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 142 | $61,495 | |
| Dec 28, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 170 | $77,995 | |
| Jan 7, 2028 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 112 | $72,799 | |
| Jan 7, 2028 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 120 | $77,999 | |
| Jan 14, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 125 | $56,495 | |
| Jan 14, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 153 | $70,995 | |
| Mar 4, 2028 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 55 | $31,449 | |
| Mar 4, 2028 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 63 | $35,954 | |
| Mar 6, 2028 | Silversea | Silver Endeavour | 25 | $24,240 | |
| Mar 29, 2028 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 38 | $21,504 | |
| Mar 31, 2028 | Silversea | Silver Endeavour | 12 | $13,520 | |
| Dec 21, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 170 | $81,249 | |
| Dec 21, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 142 | $64,749 | |
| Jan 7, 2029 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 153 | $75,499 | |
| Jan 7, 2029 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 125 | $58,999 |