Travelling to Ghana
The practical things people ask us before they fly. None of it is complicated, but it is easier to know it now than to work it out at the airport.
Arriving
- Meeting you at the airport
- Someone from People & Places will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, holding a sign with your name, and will take you straight to your hotel. This is included on the multi-day package.
- Getting here
- International flights are not included in any of our prices. You book your own travel to Kotoka International Airport, code ACC. Booking early usually costs less.
Money
- The currency
- Ghana uses the cedi (GHS). You will need some for markets, small purchases and tips.
- Bringing cash
- US dollars in cash exchange easily at forex bureaus. Bring notes dated 2013 or newer, because older notes are often refused or exchanged at a poorer rate.
- Cards and ATMs
- ATMs are widely available in Accra, and Visa and Mastercard are accepted at major hotels and larger restaurants. Local markets and small vendors are cash only.
Staying connected
- Wi-Fi
- All the hotels we work with provide Wi-Fi.
- A local SIM
- For data everywhere else, a local SIM card is cheap and the coverage is good. We can help you buy one when you arrive.
What to pack
Ghana is tropical and warm all year. Pack light, breathable clothing, and then these.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- There is more walking than people expect, particularly on city tours, at the cocoa farm and around Shai Hills.
- Something white
- A white outfit is often worn for the welcome dinner and for ancestral ceremonies. If you have one, bring it.
- Swimwear
- For the beach and for hotel pools.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Both are available here, but bring what you know works for you.
- A power adapter
- Ghana uses the three-pin British style plug, Type G, at 230 volts.
Eating
- What you will eat
- Breakfast each day and lunches on tour days are included on the package, and they are Ghanaian: jollof, waakye, red red, grilled tilapia. Tasting the food is part of the point.
- If that is not for you
- Continental options are available at most hotels and at the restaurants we visit. Tell us about allergies or dietary needs when you book and we will plan around them.
Before you travel
Three things are your responsibility rather than ours.
- A visa
- Most visitors need one to enter Ghana. Apply through your nearest Ghanaian embassy or high commission, and apply early.
- Yellow fever
- A yellow fever certificate is required to enter Ghana and you may be asked for it on arrival. Speak to your doctor about anything else, including malaria prevention.
- Travel insurance
- Cover is required on every trip we run, and we need proof of it 30 days before you travel. Our Travel Insurance page sets out what your policy must include. Read the insurance requirements