Ghana looks small on a map and travels big in real life — roads are slower than the distances suggest, so a good itinerary is mostly about choosing what to leave out. Below are tested, day-by-day routes for 3, 7, 10 and 14 days, built the way locals actually move: anchored on Accra, looping the coast for history, and only heading north when you’ve got the days to do it justice. Pick the length that matches your trip, then use the planning section to make it run smoothly.
First, picture the geography
Almost everything funnels through Accra, the coastal capital and your likely arrival point. The famous history — Cape Coast and Elmina castles, Kakum’s canopy walk — sits an easy 2–3 hours west. Kumasi and the Asante heartland are inland to the northwest. The wildlife (Mole) and the oldest cultures sit far north, worth flying to Tamale to save a punishing drive. The Volta hills and waterfalls are to the east. Build your trip as loops out of Accra rather than one long line and you’ll waste far less time backtracking.
Which itinerary is right for you?
| Length | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Accra + Cape Coast/Elmina + Kakum | A long weekend or stopover |
| 7 days | Accra, Aburi/Akosombo, the coast & castles, a beach | The classic first trip |
| 10 days | The 7-day route + Kumasi & Asante culture | A fuller cultural loop |
| 14 days | The 10-day route + Mole safari & the north | Seeing the whole country |
3 days: the essential coast taster
- Day 1 — Accra: Black Star Square and the Nkrumah Memorial, historic Jamestown, lunch in Osu, sunset rooftop drinks. Sleep in Accra.
- Day 2 — Cape Coast: drive west, tour Cape Coast and Elmina castles and the Door of No Return. Overnight on the coast.
- Day 3 — Kakum & back: early canopy walk at Kakum, then drive back to Accra for your flight.
Tight but complete — the “I only have a long weekend” version that still hits the heart of the country.
7 days: Ghana’s greatest hits
- Day 1 — Accra: arrive, settle, easy city orientation, a first taste of the food and nightlife.
- Day 2 — Aburi & Akosombo: cool off in the Aburi Botanical Gardens, then on to Akosombo for a Lake Volta cruise to Dodi Island.
- Day 3 — Accra deep dive: Jamestown, Makola market, galleries and the Nkrumah Memorial.
- Day 4 — Cape Coast: drive west; afternoon at Cape Coast Castle.
- Day 5 — Elmina & Kakum: Elmina Castle in the morning, Kakum canopy walk after; coastal overnight.
- Day 6 — western beaches: slow down at Busua or Cape Three Points — surf, swim, do nothing.
- Day 7 — back to Accra: return, last-minute shopping, departure.
This is the route most first-timers should take — history, nature, city and beach without rushing.
10 days: add the Asante heartland
Run the 7-day plan through Day 6, then:
- Day 7 — to Kumasi: drive inland to the Asante capital.
- Day 8 — Kumasi: Manhyia Palace, the vast Kejetia market, and the kente-weaving villages of Bonwire and Adanwomase.
- Day 9 — Kumasi to Accra: craft shopping, then the drive or a short flight back.
- Day 10 — Accra: buffer day, beach or markets, departure.
14 days: go north for the safari
With two weeks you can finally do the north properly. Run the 10-day route, then:
- Days 11–12 — Mole: fly Accra–Tamale, transfer to Mole National Park for a walking safari with elephants; visit the ancient Larabanga mud mosque.
- Day 13 — Upper East or Volta: push to Paga’s crocodiles and Sirigu’s painted houses, or swap the far north for the Volta hills and Wli Waterfalls on the way back.
- Day 14 — return & depart: fly back to Accra for your flight home.
Getting around: realistic travel times
These are rough door-to-door estimates by road; traffic and conditions can stretch them, so always build in a buffer.
| Route | Best mode | Approx time |
|---|---|---|
| Accra → Cape Coast | Car / driver | 3–3.5 hrs |
| Cape Coast → Kakum | Car | 45 mins |
| Accra → Kumasi | Car or short flight | 4–5 hrs / ~50 min flight |
| Accra → Akosombo | Car | 2–2.5 hrs |
| Accra → Tamale (for Mole) | Flight strongly advised | ~1 hr flight vs 10–12 hrs road |
| Tamale → Mole | Car | 3–4 hrs |
A few planning principles
- Fly the long legs. Accra–Tamale by air saves a full day each way versus driving north.
- Over-budget travel time. Traffic and road conditions stretch journeys — add a buffer to every estimate above.
- Hire a driver for the coast loop. Far easier than self-driving, and a good driver becomes half the experience.
- Anchor on a festival if you can. Timing your trip to a festival instantly upgrades it.
- Carry cash and small notes. See our money guide — and set up Mobile Money on arrival.
Before you go: the logistics
Lock the basics early: check the best time to visit, sort your visa and vaccinations (Yellow Fever is mandatory), book flights, and skim the full things to do list to see what you most want to build around.
Where to base yourself
Rather than changing hotels nightly, anchor in a few hubs and day-trip out:
- Accra — your arrival base and springboard for Aburi, Akosombo and the eastern coast.
- Cape Coast / Elmina — the perfect overnight for the castles and Kakum, and the gateway to the western beaches.
- Busua — the spot to slow down for a couple of nights on the western coast.
- Kumasi — base for Manhyia Palace, Kejetia market and the kente villages.
- Mole (via Tamale) — the escarpment lodges put the safari right on your doorstep.
Common itinerary mistakes to avoid
- Trying to do the north on a one-week trip. It’s too far — save Mole for ten days or more.
- Underestimating drive times. Traffic and road conditions stretch every leg; build in buffers.
- Driving north instead of flying. The Accra–Tamale flight saves a full day each way.
- Backtracking. Plan loops out of Accra, not out-and-back lines.
- Over-packing the schedule. Leave room for the food, the markets and the unplanned afternoons — often the best parts.
A sample one-week budget
Rough per-person estimates for a 7-day coastal trip, excluding international flights. See our money guide for the detail.
| Style | Per day | 7-day total (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (guesthouses, shared transport, street food) | GH₵500–800 | GH₵3,500–5,600 |
| Mid-range (hotels, a driver, restaurants, tours) | GH₵1,500–2,500 | GH₵10,500–17,500 |
| Higher-end (top hotels, private guide) | GH₵3,000+ | GH₵21,000+ |
Travel smart and respectful
- Ask before photographing people, especially at ceremonies, markets and sacred sites.
- Dress modestly at shrines, mosques and palaces, and follow your guide’s lead.
- Learn a few words — “akwaaba” (welcome) and “medaase” (thank you) go a long way.
- Hire local guides at the castles, Mole and Kakum; it’s better context and supports the community.
- Carry small cash for tips, entries and the things cards won’t cover.
The bottom line
If it’s your first trip and you have a week, do the coast-and-castles loop out of Accra — it’s the most rewarding and logistically simplest route in the country. With ten days, add Kumasi; with two weeks, fly north for Mole’s walking safari. Whatever the length, keep your route as loops out of Accra, fly the long northern leg, and leave slack in every travel day — do that and Ghana unfolds beautifully.
