Accra City Tour: Osu Castle, Markets & Independence Square

See Accra's history and street life in one morning and afternoon

A guided tour of Accra hitting five major sites (Osu Castle, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Makola Market, Independence Square and a fantasy coffin workshop) over seven hours with a live English-speaking guide. Pickup from your hotel or location is included, along with lunch, snacks, bottled water, entrance fees to all sites, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour works for any fitness level and runs in good weather. If weather forces a cancellation, you get a full refund or a rescheduled date.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Accra's culture and landmarks

• Visit Osu Castle
• See Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park
• Shop and explore Makola Market
• Visit Independence Square
• View fantasy coffins workshop
• Relax at Labadi Beach

The Experience

What makes this tour work is the route itself: you move through Accra's layers in sequence, starting at Osu Castle, a 17th-century UNESCO-listed fort that has been the seat of government on and off for centuries and sits on the Atlantic shore. From there the guide takes you to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, where Ghana's first president is buried alongside his personal effects: the smock he wore when declaring independence, letters, photographs. The castle and mausoleum anchor the political and historical spine of the city.

Then the tour shifts to the lived city. Makola Market is Accra's largest open-air market, dense with narrow alleyways, vendors carrying goods on their heads, and the noise and movement of a working West African market. Your guide steers you through the better vantage points and quieter corners so you can photograph and absorb without getting lost in the crowd. The Independence Square comes next (the second-largest city square in the world after Tiananmen), where Ghana's independence monuments stand. A stop at a fantasy coffin workshop rounds out the cultural picture: these are the real workshops where artisans make caskets shaped as birds, fish, planes, shoes and beer bottles, pieces now collected as contemporary art worldwide.

The day ends at Labadi Beach for rest before your drop-off. Lunch and snacks are included throughout, along with bottled water and WiFi on board the vehicle. All entrance fees are covered. The whole thing runs seven hours.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel or location pickup and drop-off.
• lunch and snacks.
• bottled water.
• entrance fees to Osu Castle, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Makola Market and Independence Square.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Freelancenana Travel And Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a private vehicle and guide for the full day. You'll move through five sites at your own pace rather than joining a group schedule.

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Top questions

What is Osu Castle and why does it matter?

Osu Castle, also called Fort Christiansborg, is a 17th-century fortress on the Atlantic shore that has been rebuilt many times and passed between Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Britain and Ghana. It served as Ghana's seat of government for most of its history and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site undergoing archaeological investigation.

Is Makola Market safe to visit, and what should I expect there?

Makola Market is Accra's largest open-air market and very crowded most of the time. Your guide shows you the interesting sections and good photo spots so you can navigate it comfortably and see the market's energy without getting overwhelmed by the narrow alleyways and constant activity.

What are the fantasy coffins, and where do I see them?

Fantasy coffins are handmade caskets shaped as animals, vehicles, objects and everyday things: birds, fish, planes, shoes, beer bottles, cars. The tour stops at one of the original workshops where they are made and sometimes sold as miniatures. These pieces are now collected as contemporary art around the world.

Does the tour include meals and drinks?

Yes, lunch, snacks and bottled water are included throughout the seven hours. All entrance fees to Osu Castle, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Makola Market and Independence Square are also covered.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in a hotel?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour price. Your guide will collect you from your accommodation and return you there at the end of the day. If you're staying elsewhere in Accra, the operator can arrange a pickup point that works for you.