Kumasi City Tour: Asante history and the legendary sword

Stand where Asante unity began, then trace four centuries of royal history

A four-hour guided tour of Kumasi traces Asante history through four stops: the Okomfo Anokye Sword Site where the legendary priest planted the sword that founded the kingdom; the Manhyia Palace Museum, built by the British and later used by three Asante kings before becoming a museum in 1996; the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, designed like a traditional Asante palace and holding royal artifacts from the 16th century; and Kejetia Market, West Africa's largest open-air market with eleven thousand stalls. Private transportation and an English-speaking guide are included. Children from age 10 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Manhyia Palace Museum1h · entry included
2. Prempeh II Jubilee Museum1h · entry included
3. Kejetia Market1h · entry included

Explore historical sites in Kumasi

• Visit Okomfo Anokye Sword Site
• Tour Manhyia Palace Museum
• Explore King Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
• Shop at Kejetia Market

The Experience

The tour opens at the Okomfo Anokye Sword Site, where the legendary Asante priest planted a sword into the ground to ensure unity among the Asantes and establish the kingdom. The sword has never been uprooted, not even when Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight boxer, attempted it. This is the historical anchor of the entire tour, the moment Asante power took root.

From there, the guide takes you to the Manhyia Palace Museum, a building the British constructed as compensation when the Asante king returned from exile in Seychelles. The Asantes rejected the offer and instead paid the British to use it as their own palace. Three Asante kings lived there before it was converted into a museum in 1996 by King Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. The collection spans centuries of accumulated royal history. Next is the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, designed in the architectural style of a traditional Asante palace. It houses artifacts from the 16th century onward: ancient royal bath setups, kitchen arrangements, and a mysterious bag made by the legendary priest. Sealed and never opened.

The final stop is Kejetia Market, the largest open-air market in West Africa, with roughly eleven thousand stalls and around forty-four thousand daily visitors. Most traders are women. The scale and energy of the market give a sense of Kumasi's present-day commerce and life. Private transportation connects all four stops, and the entire experience takes four hours.

What’s included

• Private transportation to all four stops.
• a live English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Days and timesDaily

Ages27 to 50 years · Seniors (55+) · 10 to 20 years · Under 10 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts17 pickup points to choose from.Meeting point, per the operator: “We will be picking travelers from their own preferred location.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Here Is Kumasi Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace across four distinct sites in four hours, so you'll spend time at each stop rather than rushing between them. Children from age 10 can join, and the sites are wheelchair accessible if you need that option.

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Top questions

Can children come?

10 to 20 years. Under 10: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is the Okomfo Anokye Sword and why does it matter to Asante history?

The Okomfo Anokye Sword is the sword the legendary Asante priest planted into the ground to ensure unity among the Asantes and to establish the Asante kingdom. Since it was planted, no one has been able to pull it from the ground, including the late heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. It is the founding symbol of Asante power.

What will I see inside the Manhyia Palace Museum?

Manhyia Palace Museum holds royal artifacts accumulated over centuries. The building itself was constructed by the British as compensation when the Asante king returned from exile in Seychelles, but the Asantes paid the British to use it as their own palace instead. Three Asante kings lived there before it became a museum in 1996.

What makes the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum different from other museums?

The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum is designed to look like a traditional Asante palace. It houses artifacts from the 16th century onward, including ancient royal bath and kitchen setups, and a mysterious sealed bag made by the legendary Asante priest that has never been opened.

How large is Kejetia Market and what will I encounter there?

Kejetia Market is the largest open-air market in West Africa, with approximately eleven thousand stalls and around forty-four thousand visitors each day. Most of the traders are women, and the market gives a vivid picture of Kumasi's daily commerce and life.