Visiting Ghana for the First Time: Essential Tips for a Smooth Trip

Dec 02, 2025 0

Traveling to Ghana is an experience filled with vibrant cities, rich culture, and flavorful cuisine. Ghana, located in West Africa and bordered by Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Gulf of Guinea, is known for its friendly people and laid-back lifestyle. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning once again, it's important to be well-prepared. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your first trip to Ghana.

Map of Ghana showing the 16 regions.

Before You Go

1. Visa and Entry Requirements

Whether or not you need a visa to visit Ghana depends on your nationality and the agreements Ghana has with your home country.

Visa on Arrival: Citizens of countries in the African Union that are not part of ECOWAS can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days. The Ghanaian government has been known to allow visa on arrival for international travelers without prior approval for a limited time period during December and January.
Applying in Advance: The D.C. Ghanaian embassies and consulates are known for getting backlogged, especially around December and summertime. Be sure to send your visa application and passport at least 1.5 months before departure.
Passport Validity: All visitors to Ghana must be in possession of a passport or legal travel documents of 6 months validity.

Besides a visa, you must meet other entry requirements to visit Ghana.

2. Vaccinations and Health

One of the travel requirements to enter Ghana is the Yellow Fever vaccination. You will be required to show proof of yellow vaccination at the immigration point before being allowed entry into the country.

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Required Vaccinations: A Yellow Fever vaccine is required for all travelers nine months or older entering Ghana.
Recommended Vaccinations: Other recommended vaccines include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Meningitis.
Malaria Prevention: The main healthcare challenge to be aware of in Ghana is malaria. The disease is still prevalent in Ghana, and malaria-carrying mosquitoes are everywhere. I strongly recommend taking an anti-malarial tablet for the duration of your time in Ghana, which you can arrange in your home country before arriving.

Ensure to use a high percentage DEET based product on your skin, especially at dusk and in the evening. I also recommend sleeping under a net, unless you are in an air-conditioned upscale hotel room.

3. Travel Insurance

Get travel insurance before traveling. One thing about traveling is that there can always be unexpected incidents like illness or accidents. If you lose your luggage, you can always get your insurance company to replace your missing items with some new clothes, toiletries and other accessories.

4. Flights and Transportation

Getting to Ghana from the States used to be a lengthy trip (20-30 hours). It was a long journey due to the layovers that are included in most flights.

Airports: Airports based in popular cities like New York and Washington D.C. tend to have the best flight options to Ghana. This is because the layovers are shorter, and ticket prices tend to be cheaper.
Flights Cost: to Ghana is about $1,500 on average and can get as high as $2,500 for an economy seat ticket.
Airlines: Plenty of airlines fly to Accra, including Virgin and British Airways direct from the UK, and American Airlines and United from the US (from New York and Washington DC). Other airlines flying into Accra include Air France, TAP Air Portugal, KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines and South Africa Airways.

The main point of entry to Ghana is the Kotoka International Airport in Accra. This is where all international flights arrive.

25 ESSENTIALS To Pack For Ghana (In Under 2 Minutes)

Money Matters

1. Currency and Exchange

The currency used in Ghana is the Ghanaian Cedi. There are foreign exchange bureaus located around Ghana that exchange money in cash for Ghanaian cedis.

Read also: Baskets from Ghana

Exchanging Money: If you use Forex bureaus in Ghana, be sure to have larger bills like 50s and 100s to get a higher exchange rate on your money.
ATMs: The easiest way to get cedis is by using an ATM. There are ATM machines you can use at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, where you will most likely fly into.
How Much to Bring: For a one-week trip, I recommend $1,000 (after your flight and accommodation), but it all depends on the experience you want in Ghana.

Cash is king in Ghana, and it is best to always have cash on you, as you will make most of your purchases with cash.

2. Mobile Money

Often referred to as “Momo Money,” Mobile Money is similar to platforms like Cashapp and Venmo, except the money is linked to a digital wallet on the user’s phone instead of a third-party app. The money is held in the digital wallet and is password protected. It eliminates the need for physical cash.

If you are visiting Ghana for a short time (2 weeks or less), I would not worry too much about Mobile Money. Instead, you can use apps like Western Union or Remitley to transfer money to the Mobile wallets of others or give the money to a Mobile Money vendor to send it on your behalf.

3. Credit Card Usage

Modern restaurants and other establishments like the Accra Mall accept card payments. WiFi connection in Ghana goes in and out, and network issues often cause card processing machines to be out of service.

As you can see, navigating money in Ghana can sometimes be tricky. It is best to always carry cash in Ghana and stay prepared with alternative payment methods.

Staying Connected

1. SIM Card

If your phone is unlocked, getting a SIM card in Ghana is something I recommend getting done on your first day in Ghana. A SIM card will give you a Ghanaian number that you can use to make phone calls and have data to stay connected while roaming around.

Phone Companies: I got my SIM card from Vodafone, but some other common phone companies in Ghana are Airtel Tigo and MTN.
Where to Buy: You can walk into any phone company, tell them you need a SIM card, and they will register you for one.

2. WiFi

Ghana is known for many great things, but unfortunately, WiFi is not one of them. WiFi in Ghana can be a hit or miss depending on your city’s neighborhood and your WiFi provider.

Expect slow WiFi unless you stay at a hotel or signal-boosting location. If you need to do work and your accommodation does not have reliable WiFi, it is best to go to a cafe like Vida E Caffe and use the WiFi there.

Safety and Security

Crime Map of Ghana

1. General Safety

What makes Ghana such a desirable country to visit is its reputation for being one of the safest countries to travel to-even alone-in Africa.

2. Crime Awareness

Petty theft is the number one crime you will have to look out for as a visitor, especially in crowded areas like marketplaces. Pickpocketing is highly expected in the capital, Accra, and some people will steal from you if they get a chance.

Street Crime: Street crime remains a serious problem in Accra and other large cities. Thieves carry out crimes of opportunity, such as “snatch & grabs,” on city streets in isolated areas as well as from vehicles idling in traffic.
Credit Card Fraud: Credit card fraud is common. Exercise caution when using credit and ATM cards in Ghana. It is very common for scammers to tamper with credit card terminals.
Highway Robberies: Robberies on highways are of particular concern, especially at night. Armed robbers also sometimes target vehicles coming from Kotoka International Airport.

Like in any other major city, always be aware of your bag placement. If you are walking with your phone in your hand, keep a firm grip on it. Also, never stick your phone out of the window of a car or other moving transportation.

3. Road Safety

Travel in darkness, particularly outside the major cities, is extremely hazardous due to poor street lighting and the unpredictable behavior of pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.

Travelers are routinely stopped at police checkpoints throughout Ghana, and vehicles and passengers may be searched. Drivers must possess an international driver’s license or a Ghanaian driver’s license.

Local Customs and Etiquette

1. Greetings

Greetings in Ghana are a big deal, and it’s considered rude not to greet others. When you enter a room, you should say hello, good morning, good afternoon, or good evening.

2. Respect for Elders

Respect for elders is immense in Ghana. You should not greet elders with a hat on your head. If you are wearing a hat, take it off completely or lift it halfway while extending your greeting.

3. Use Your Right Hand

Use your right hand to give items like money to people, receive items, and eat.

4. LGBTQ+ Considerations

Ghana in general is not an LGBTQ+ friendly country. Many Ghanaians look down on the LGBTQIA+ community. In some areas in Ghana, openly LGBTQIA+ individuals can be targeted and are victims of cruel violence. If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I recommend being extremely careful when traveling to Ghana, especially as a same-sex couple.

Getting Around

Tro-tro - a common means of transport in Ghana

1. Public Transportation

These are the iconic form of transport in Ghana, despite their total lack of safety. These are old minibuses, often a bare shell with various car parts taped on.

Buses: This is the main way to do long distance journeys in Ghana. They are generally safe and clean and often are air-conditioned too. The main company is STC, which has scheduled bus services throughout Ghana - and air-conditioning onboard.
Tro-tros: These are the iconic form of transport in Ghana, despite their total lack of safety. These are old minibuses, often a bare shell with various car parts taped on.
Taxis: The other major form of transport, particularly around urban areas such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi is taxi. These are easily identifiable by the orange corners.

2. Ride-Sharing

Uber is popular in Ghana, having arrived in the country in 2016.

While paying by card is an option on both apps, don’t plan on using it. Many drivers prefer cash and will cancel your ride if they find out you are paying using your card, or it could be an issue once you arrive at your destination.

3. Driving

If you plan to drive in Ghana during your trip, obtaining an International Driver’s License in Ghana is highly recommended. It allows you to legally rent and drive vehicles while avoiding fines at police checkpoints.

Ghana follows right-hand driving, and traffic rules are strictly enforced in urban areas.

Health and Hygiene

Tap water is not safe for drinking, and I recommend using a bottle or sachet of water for cleaning teeth too. Plastic sachets of water are sold all over Ghana and are very cheap - just 10 pesewas each (one tenth of a cedi). They contain purified water, but some brands are better than others. Try and buy water sachets that are Ice Cool, Ice Pack or Everpure brands.

Western style toilets are available all over Ghana, but poorer or more rural areas may have more hole-in-the-ground style toilets. Just keep tissues and hand sanitiser on you, just in case!

Additional Tips

Be Open Minded: Ghana is a developing country and very different from many other countries. You must be very open-minded to embrace many experiences that may come your way.
Sunscreen: The sun can be sometimes very scorchy depending on when you visit Ghana. Bring along some Sunscreen to use during the day especially if you have some outdoor activities planned.
Inform Your Bank: Always inform your bank about your travel plans before traveling.
Don’t Draw Attention: It is always best to try and stay as low-key as possible. This means not wearing shiny watches, expensive rings, bracelets, earrings, or necklaces.
Pack Wet Wipes: Wet Wipes are common to purchase in Ghana but you can always pack some along from home before traveling. You will need it for places hard to find soap and water to wash your hands.
Learn Common Phrases: Learning a few phrases in the local language is always appreciated and embraced by Ghanaians.

Emergency Contacts

Main Emergency Number: 112
Embassy Duty Officer: +233 (0) 30-274-1000

By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared to enjoy the beauty, culture, and warmth of Ghana on your first visit.