Things To See And Do In Accra On Budget
Staying in Accra for more than 6 years, the City is beautiful and full of new opportunities. But had to leave because it was always expensive. You could spend your paycheck a day without knowing. So I always respect the people that have survived there so many years without a good job. But with all this, there are still things to see & do in Accra on a budget.
Accra is one of my favorite cities. To be honest I love to be there not because I have few friends there but because it’s an amazing place to feel Ghana. A place fills with tourists from other countries and local tourists, people from different cultural backgrounds. To me, I can say Accra is the center of Ghana, With foods, wild nightlife scene, cultures and there are so many things to do without sending much or breaking the bank.
Tourists mostly find it hard when they visit Accra. Most think it’s expensive to visit the city (yes it is), but the locals always know where to get the freebies and the cheap deals. Despite what most people think, it’s actually possible to have fun with your tight budget – if you know where to look. So if you want to explore Accra without spending a fortune, here are the best things to see & do in Accra on a budget.
Is It Save In Accra, Ghana?
Well, the world is not in normal times so I wouldn’t say Accra is safe to travel now. But there are measures put in place to protect everyone in Accra or visiting Accra. The coronavirus cases still going up around the globe and Accra is no exceptional. It’s very important to stay updated for any Travel Advisory and any security alerts.
It is best to read more on what you need to know when visiting Accra. So if you are on that very tight budget then here are things to see and do in Accra on budget.
Cheap and Free Things To See And Do In Accra
1. Walk The Oxford Street
The first and best thing to do when you visit a destination is to go for a walk. It is the best way to get to talk to locals and get answers to all the questions running in your head. If you are on a tight budget I recommend you to take a free walking tour.
But if you are looking forward to blending in, I recommend you take a walk on Osu Oxford street. You can find some traditional bracelets or even some Africa wear for your visit here in Ghana and some of these things cost cheap. Don’t be shy to ask the seller to reduce the price down, they can sell it to you at a higher price if they get to know you are a tourist.
2.Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
This Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is one of the places in Ghana to learn about our independence day as a country. You can easily locate the Park anywhere you are in Accra. You don’t need a paid tour guide to take you to the park. Just ask someone and they will be happy to show you.
During your visit to the Park, you have to buy about $3 USD to get it in. There is a tour guide to explain things to you. From when Kwame Nkrumah Was born, when he had independence for Ghana and everything you know to know about the park. Spending $3 USD to know the history is totally worth it.
You can get your phone or camera out to take pictures of this beautiful memorial park. The park is open to everybody and any day, but it’s better you visit on Saturdays.
3. Tour At Makola Market
Touring inside the Makola market is among the few things to see and do in Accra on your budget. You don’t need much to tour inside the most popular market in Ghana. It’s best to go with someone or tip a local to take you around the market. If you’re on a budget, you can tell your tour guide to help you get some cheap things.
Make sure you don’t hold a lot of things and be careful with pickpockets. It is better to hold your phone very tight or wear something with a zip pocket.
My friend Kaptionlexi is the best tour guide I would love to recommend
4. Labadi Beach
No doubt, Labadi Beach is the most popular beach in Ghana. The beach host about 1000s of local and international tourists every year. Everyone wants to experience the beach when they visit Ghana and if you haven’t heard of it yet then you should also try.
Gate fee is always expensive to locals. But to someone coming on vacation or coming to explore Accra, I think it will sound cheap to you. Before last year, the entry fee was just $2 USD and now $4 USD. I told you it may sound cheap to you.
Things are very expensive at the beach, and if you are on a tight budget I recommend you buy whatever you will eat or drink outside the beach. Weekends are the best time to visit the beach. And night beach at Labadi will be your best travel experience ever. Try it.
5. Tour Inside Accra Mall Or Achimota Mall
These two malls are in the center of Accra. As a tourist, I’m pretty sure you would like to buy some stuff as you visit. The Accra Mall and Achimota Mall are the safest places to shop. I dislike how they get so busy and full during occasions, but I just enjoy meeting new people and networking.
If you are looking to meet other international tourists, Accra and Achimota mall is the best place to go. They also have budget-friendly restaurants you would love to try some local and international cuisine.
You don’t have to pay a gate fee to enter. If free and you can choose to buy or not buy. You can spend all day relaxing at the mall and no one will ask you to pay anything.
More Free Malls In Accra
Junction Mall: it is located inside Nungua.
West Hill Mall: on Accra-Kasoa road
6.See W.E.B DuBois Centre
The center is a library to commemorate the late W.E.B DuBois. I like the place because of the history behind it. As a tourist, it is more important to learn a little history about the places you visit. So visiting W.E.B DuBois Centre will be a great chance to learn something new.
My first visit to the center did cost me more than $4 USD, so it is better to ask for a price if you are on a very tight budget. It’s a very popular place so your GPS can take you there if you order Uber or Bolt.
7. Black Star Gate
Since you coming to Ghana or planing a trip to Accra, I’m pretty sure you have seen this gate on google or anywhere on social media. If you haven’t, then I think you have not google or search for Ghana anywhere. The Black Star Gate is like a symbol of the country and it is located in the capital, Accra.
As touristy as it is, no visit to Accra is complete without seeing the Black Star Gate. No matter what time you are here and how long you spending here, you have to see the site and take pictures with it to show some friends and family.
If you are not here for business, then you have so much time to visit the Gate. There is a tour guide there who will take you to the top. Make sure you tip the guide. There are few free things to see and do around the gate in Accra
8. James Town Lighthouse
James Town is the host street for Ghana’s biggest art festival, the Chalewata festival. I’m sure you are going to love the art street since it is the same street to the James Town Lighthouse. You can’t get enough of this street art anywhere in Ghana.
It is free to tour through the street and also free to get on top of the lighthouse. Carry your camera along as you will be taking pictures of some dope street art. The Chalewata festival is among the things to see and do in Accra and its also best to visit during august to experience it.
9. Walk Inside Artists Alliance Gallery
Be your own tour guide and take a tour inside the Artists Alliance Gallery. It is up to a standard of a museum and it is free to walk through. You can spend more than an hour just looking at different artifacts. This s better than any museum in West African.
If you wish someone to guide you, it is possible. And that is their special visit offer. Where a tour guide will show you around and you will have to pay. If you are lucky that day, the owner will show you around and tell you the history behind every art you see.
10. Biking
Renting a bike in Accra won’t cost you more than $8 USD. I haven’t rent one before but I know how things run in Accra. There are so many streets in Accra that are cool for biking. You’ll get a wonderful tour of the city if you try biking. West Legon, East Legon, Accra mall-Lapaz road are my best places for biking. But there are so many safe places for biking in Accra.
Always make sure your GPS is working fine – if you’re having a network problem, you can ask locals for directions.
11. Nightlife At Osu Or Cantonment
Nightclubs in Accra can be free things to see and do. Tourists often love to enjoy nightlife at new destinations. They just want to know how it’s like to be out at night in any city or country. Despite what most people think, Accra is one of the best places in the world to have fun at night.
The most active location for wild nightlife is the Osu street and Cantonment. Though there are other active places to enjoy nightlife, but not as fun as these two locations.
So if you want to find some of the top nightclubs, local food joints, restaurants, then you better book a ride to Osu and Cantonment. Most nightclubs are free, but sometimes have to pay a gate fee if there is a show or program. That shouldn’t cost more than $8 USD.
12. Visit Bojo Beach
If you are looking to experience luxury when on Budget, Bojo beach is the best beach for luxury and fun. Weekends are mostly fun and best to visit during holidays. The beach has two sides and the fun part is when you take a boat or canoe to the other side.
The boat or canoe doesn’t cost more than $5 dollars. Foods and drinks at the beach are very expensive and it is best to buy drinks from the mall or any supermarket when going.
They host some big parties in Ghana at the beach, so it is better to check their website calendar for any event.
13. Attend A TV Show
Live audience TV shows are not many in the country, but there are two popular TV live shows you would love to attend. The TV3 Music Music and the biggest dating TV show in Ghana, Date Rush. There is no need to get a ticket in advance because these shows are all free, and have to be there early. You don’t need any fancy dress for these shows, just dress to impress.
Saturday nights are for the Music Music show and Sundays for the Date Rush at TV3 studio B, Kanda. You can visit the TV3 station website for more information on these shows.
14. Legon Garden
Looking to experience adventure on a tight budget? Legon garden is the best cheap place to visit. The Garden is super amazing. And the best time to get there is early in the morning between 8 am and 12noon, when the weather is not too hot.
There are many adventures in the garden which include a canopy walk, canoe riding, high rope course, bird watching, fishing, and cycling. It is the only Botanical garden in Accra and now welcoming over 1 million visitors each year.
You don’t need to pay much to get in. $3 USD as entry fees and you can decide to walk around all day. If you looking to have fun then check the garden’s website for more inquiries and price changes.
15. Christiansborg Castle
You may pay $4 USD to get a tour guide to show you around and tell you more history about the place. Like many Castles, during Gold Coast time (Ghana’s first name) the Osu castle was one of the Slave trade castles in West Africa.
There are places at the castle you can’t take a photo, but sure to ask your tour guide where and where you can take photos.
Recreational Places In Accra
Few places in Accra offer a connection to nature, providing some cooling and offer several engaging activities to boot. If you are looking for some places in Accra relating to nature, these are the best recreational places in Accra to visit alone or with kids.
16. Legon Botanical Gardens
Legon Botanical Garden and Playground is the most popular recreational space in Accra. It hasn’t been around for long but the garden is the most popular recreational place in Accra now. There are unlimited activities you can enjoy alone or with the family if you visiting Accra with your family.
It can be a little costly if you plan o enjoying many activities, but gate fees are very cheap or budget-friendly.
17.Mmofra Place
During my hustle times in Accra, I normally pass by with my sister’s kids to have fun there. To be honest it is the second most child-friendly recreational center in Accra. But there are unlimited activities for you as an adult and you are not limited to any. So if are looking for the best place in the capital for a vacation picnic, then Mmofra place is the best location for it.
18.Efua Sutherland Children’s Park
Well, I already gave you the second most child-friendly recreational park. I’m pretty sure you waiting to know which is the first and best child-friendly recreational park. Efua Sutherland Children’s Park is what I call the full option recreational part for children.
The park wasn’t designed for kids only but also for everyone looking to have fun in a nice serene place.
19.Lakeside Marina Park
Lakeside Marina Park is a recreational park located around Lake Kalmoni that is located just outside Community One of Lakeside Estate’s residential development.
At Lakeside Marina Park, revelers can zipline across the park, play a few rounds of mini-golf, go horse riding, splash down a free-fall slide, cruise around the lake, or even fish in it! The park also features a children’s playground complete with swings and walkways for rollerblading or even skateboarding.
20.Aburi Botanical Gardens
I’m pretty sure you still enjoying the things to see and do in Accra on a budget. This may be out of our range but it’s worth adding it to the list. Aburi Gardens is not located in Accra, but very close to Accra (10min drive) and that is the reason I have it on my list.
When it comes to green spaces in Ghana, Aburi Botanical Gardens is usually the first to spring to mind. Located in Aburi, about 32km from Accra, the botanical garden is a fantastic destination for cooling off and communing with nature. It is said to be the most popular recreational park in Ghana but expert locals.
Extra Money Saving Tips For Accra
There are free things to see and do in Accra and ways to save extra cash during your visit to Accra. As a local, here are some money-saving tips to keep your budget under control.
- Use Trotro (minibusses) – This is another way of saying public transport in our local language. It is always affordable to use Trotro around when visiting these please if you are on a tight budget. You just have to remember the name of the location and tell the driver’s conductor (mate) to drop you off. Taking normal taxis here in Accra can be a little expensive, so it is also better to use Uber or bolt to reduce the price. But when there is traffic, Uber and Bold prices go higher.
- Eat Cheap – Many fancy and luxury restaurants sell cheap foods. You can get a plate of rice as cheap as $5 USD and a $1 UDS drink. If you are ok with some local food joints then you can even spend $2 USD on one meal. Check out some of the best restaurants in Accra you can eat cheap.
- Sleep Cheap – Yes it is a big city, but there are hundreds of cheap hotels you can accommodate a night for only $4 – $5 USD. Before you plan your trip in advance, you can make new friends on social media and ask if they can host you when you visit. Don’t forget to ask if he or she will charge you and if they don’t forget to tip. That same friend can be your tour guide around the City.