Why Ghana for a Honeymoon
Ghana works best for couples who want meaning as well as rest. A typical trip might combine two or three days in Accra's restaurants, galleries and markets with a visit to the Cape Coast castle, a walk across treetop bridges in Kakum and then several lazy days at a beach lodge farther west. It is a varied trip in a manageable area.
For many African American travelers, Ghana has become a place of homecoming, especially since the government's Year of Return in 2019 encouraged the diaspora to visit. Couples marking a marriage here often find the experience layered and emotional in ways a typical beach honeymoon is not.
Ghana is English-speaking, which makes independent travel easier than in much of West Africa. Nonstop flights from New York and Washington keep the journey reasonable. And the food is a delight: smoky jollof rice, spicy fried plantain, grilled tilapia and fresh coconuts on the beach.
Best Time to Visit
The best months for the coast are November through March, during the main dry season. Humidity is lower, rain is rare and beach days are reliable. Temperatures sit in the high 80s Fahrenheit most days.
December through February brings the harmattan, a dry wind off the Sahara that hazes the sky with fine dust. Mornings can be a little cooler and sunsets more muted. It does not usually spoil a trip.
Southern Ghana has two rainy seasons. The main one runs roughly April through June, with heavy afternoon storms. A shorter one arrives around September and October. July and August are often a drier break with overcast skies. Rain tends to come in bursts, but it can make dirt roads difficult and some beach lodges quieter.
The northern savanna has a single rainy season from about May to September and is very hot from March to May.
Late December is festive and busy, with many diaspora visitors in town for celebrations, so book early.
Where to Go
Accra deserves two or three nights. Base yourselves in Osu, Airport Residential or Labone for restaurants and nightlife. Visit Jamestown's lighthouse and fishing harbor, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre and browse the Artists Alliance Gallery.
Cape Coast and nearby Elmina are essential. Our Cape Coast guide covers the castles, the Kakum canopy walkway and the best beach lodges along this stretch of coast.
Busua and the Western Region coast are where most couples go to relax. Our Busua guide explains how to pick a beach lodge, surf lessons and day trips to Dixcove, Butre and Cape Three Points.
Other options include Kumasi, the cultural capital of the Ashanti, for kente weaving and the Manhyia Palace Museum. The Volta Region has Lake Volta, the Wli waterfalls and the monkey sanctuary at Tafi Atome. Mole National Park in the north offers elephants and savanna, but check how the advisory applies to your route before booking.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Arrive in Accra and settle in. Spend a day exploring Jamestown and the independence sites, then a day with the city's galleries, markets and restaurants. Try a cooking class or a sunset drink by the ocean.
Days 4 and 5: Drive west to Cape Coast, about three to four hours. Tour Cape Coast Castle with a guide and visit Elmina Castle the next morning. Spend an afternoon on the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park.
Days 6 to 9: Continue to Busua or a beach lodge nearby. Take a surf lesson, walk to the fort at Dixcove, paddle the lagoon at Butre and spend a day doing absolutely nothing. Book one dinner of grilled lobster on the sand by lantern light.
Day 10: Drive or fly back to Accra from Takoradi for your evening flight home.
With more time, add two nights in Kumasi for Ashanti culture or a few days in the Volta Region for waterfalls and lake views.
Budget and Costs
Ghana is not as cheap as many travelers expect, largely because good hotels are limited and imported goods are expensive. These are approximate figures for two and will move with exchange rates and season.
In Accra, upscale international hotels often cost $200 to $400 or more a night. Good boutique and mid-range hotels run about $90 to $200. On the coast, characterful beach lodges usually range from $60 to $200 a night, with a small number of higher-end options.
Eating out locally is inexpensive, with a filling plate of waakye or jollof costing a few dollars at a chop bar. Dinner for two at a nice Accra restaurant might be $40 to $100.
The largest variable is transport. A private car and driver for the coastal circuit might cost around $80 to $150 a day including fuel. Domestic flights to Takoradi or Kumasi are reasonably priced. Budget too for guided tours at the castles and Kakum.
Getting There and Around
Kotoka International Airport in Accra is the main gateway. Delta flies nonstop from New York JFK and United from Washington Dulles, both overnight, in about ten to eleven hours. Other routes connect through Europe, Casablanca or Addis Ababa.
In Accra, ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt are widely used and convenient. Traffic is heavy, so allow plenty of time.
For the coast, a private car and driver is the most comfortable option. The road west from Accra to Cape Coast and Takoradi is busy but paved and the drive to Cape Coast typically takes three to four hours.
Domestic airlines such as Africa World Airlines and PassionAir fly from Accra to Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale, saving long drives.
Shared minibuses called tro-tros are cheap and part of daily life but crowded and slow. Long-distance coaches link the major cities. Avoid driving at night, as roads are poorly lit and accidents are common.
Culture and Etiquette
Ghanaians are famously friendly and greetings are important. Say hello and ask how someone is before getting to business. Handshakes are common and sometimes end with a finger snap between the two hands, which locals will happily teach you.
Always use your right hand to eat, give, receive or wave. The left hand is associated with hygiene and using it is considered rude.
Dress is casual in Accra and at the beach, but cover up a little more in villages and when visiting chiefs or religious sites. At the castles, show respect: these are memorial sites and some areas are not for casual photos.
You may hear people call you obroni, meaning foreigner. It is generally friendly and not meant as an insult.
Public displays of affection are best kept discreet for all couples.
Quick tips
- Take malaria prevention seriously and keep repellent handy at dusk, especially at beach lodges and in the rainy months.
- Hire a driver for coastal transfers; traffic out of Accra is slow and road conditions vary.
- Use your right hand to eat, pay and greet, since the left is considered unclean.
