Ghana Sightseeing: Castles, Palaces, Mosque

October 5, 2026

Sightseeing in Ghana

Ghana’s landmarks tell the story of independence, empire and kingship in three different regions, and they ask more of a visitor than most photo stops. Several are places of remembrance, and a respectful pace pays off. Prices here are in Ghana cedis (GH₵), at about 11.7 to the US dollar in early October 2026, and they move.

Accra: independence landmarks

Black Star Square and the Independence Arch, built in 1961 beside the coast road in Osu, celebrate the country’s sovereignty and are free to walk around; ask security before taking wide photographs. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum on High Street honours the leader who took Ghana to independence in 1957, the first sub-Saharan country to do so. The black granite mausoleum is set among pools and bronze statues with a museum alongside. Foreign adults pay GH₵100, and it is open daily from about 08:30 to 23:00 (knmp.gov.gh ).

Cape Coast and Elmina

Cape Coast Castle was the operational headquarters of the British slave trade in West Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Foreign adults pay about GH₵80, confirmed at the gate, and the visit is led by a guide. The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board lists both castles at gmmb.gov.gh . Elmina Castle, 12 km to the west, was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is the oldest European building south of the Sahara. The Dutch seized it in 1637 and the British acquired it in 1872. Ask the board for the current Elmina admission. Both sites hold the dungeons through which enslaved people were taken, so dress modestly, keep voices low and follow the guide. Browse guided heritage tours if you want transport arranged.

Kumasi: the Asante court

Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi was built by the British in 1925 as the residence of the Asantehene after King Prempeh I returned from exile. Its galleries display royal regalia, gold weights and ceremonial swords, and tell the story of the Golden Stool and Yaa Asantewaa’s 1900 resistance. Admission for foreign adults is about GH₵100.

The north: Larabanga Mosque

Larabanga Mosque, founded around 1421, is the oldest surviving mosque in Ghana, a Sudano-Sahelian building of mud, reeds and timber struts with conical minarets. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but a guided walk around the exterior and village is typically GH₵30 to GH₵50. It sits at the gate of Mole National Park, reached by flying Accra to Tamale (about one hour) and driving 2.5 hours. The US government advises reconsidering travel to parts of northern Ghana, including areas of the Savannah Region, so read the US advisory and the UK FCDO’s Ghana advice before you book.

Planning

UK and US passport holders need a visa, applied for on the official e-visa portal at evisa.immigration.gov.gh , where you can check the current fee. A yellow fever certificate is required, and without one you may be refused entry or vaccinated on arrival. Carry cash in cedis for gates, markets and shared transport; larger Accra hotels and restaurants take cards, and mobile money is widely used.

Verdict: if time is short, take Manhyia in Kumasi and the Cape Coast visit on one southern loop, and keep Larabanga for a trip north. See the 3-day Ghana itinerary for a route that fits.