Kumasi City Tour: Ashanti Kingdom History & Local Markets

Four stops into the Ashanti Kingdom, ending at the market that moves like its own city

A guided tour of Kumasi visiting the Manhyia Palace Museum, Okomfo Anokye Sword site, Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, and Kejetia Market, with a local English-speaking guide, transportation, entrance fees and lunch included. The tour runs five to six hours and children from age 10 are welcome. You start with a video on Ashanti history, then move through palace rooms holding royal artifacts and regalia, visit the sacred sword site where the Ashanti Nation was founded, and finish at the sprawling central market with 11,000 stalls.

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 Kumasi's historic sites and market

• Watch Ashanti history video
• Tour Manhyia Palace Museum
• Visit Okomfo Anokye Sword Site
• Explore Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
• Walk around Kejetia Market

The Experience

The tour opens at Manhyia Palace Museum with a video on Ashanti history, then walks you through several rooms holding original artifacts: war attire, ceremonial dress, jewelry, royal insignia and gold from King Prempeh II's time. The museum sits adjacent to the field where Akwasidee tribal chiefs gather every six weeks. From there you move to the Okomfo Anokye Sword site, the exact place where the Golden Stool descended to King Osei Tutu I, founder of the Ashanti Nation. The sword itself was driven into the ground almost 300 years ago by the chief priest Okomfo Anokye, and it has never been removed despite attempts: legend says the Ashanti kingdom will collapse if it ever comes out.

The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum holds displays arranged to resemble an Ashanti chief's house, with the king's war attire, ceremonial clothing, jewelry, protective amulets, bathing and dining equipment, furniture and royal insignia on view. Then you walk Kejetia Market like a local. From a distance it looks like a spacecraft landed in central Kumasi. Up close it is a sprawl of rusting tin roofs. The market has 11,000 stalls and at least four times as many people working inside, often called the largest in West Africa. It is disorienting but absorbing.

Your guide speaks English throughout the five to six hour tour. Transportation and entrance fees are included, as is lunch featuring local food. Children from age 10 can join. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• Transportation to all four stops.
• entrance fees to Manhyia Palace Museum, Okomfo Anokye Sword site and Prempeh II Jubilee Museum.
• lunch with local food.
• English-speaking guide for the full five to six hours.

Days and timesDaily · 09:30 and 14:30

Ages30 to 65 years · 18 to 28 years · 10 to 16 years · Under 10 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts5 pickup points to choose from.

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 today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Bilson Tours Gh

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover both royal palaces and the central market in one trip. The guide picks you up and moves you between sites, so you're not coordinating separate transport.

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Top questions

Can children come?

18 to 28 years; 10 to 16 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 Kumasi?

The Okomfo Anokye Sword was driven into the ground almost 300 years ago by the chief priest Okomfo Anokye at the exact site where the Golden Stool descended to King Osei Tutu I, founder of the Ashanti Nation. Legend says the Ashanti kingdom will collapse if the sword is ever removed, and it has remained in the ground despite attempts to pull it out.

What will I see inside the Manhyia Palace Museum?

The museum holds original artifacts from the Ashanti empire, including King Prempeh II's war attire, ceremonial clothing, jewelry, protective amulets, personal equipment for bathing and dining, furniture, royal insignia and gold. A video at the start explains Ashanti history and figures like Yaa Asantewaa, the war queen.

How big is Kejetia Market and what is it like to walk through?

Kejetia Market has 11,000 stalls and at least four times as many people working inside, making it one of the largest markets in West Africa. From outside it looks like a spacecraft landed in Kumasi. Inside it is disorienting but absorbing, with rusting tin roofs and a circular layout that fills the space.

What kind of lunch is included in this tour?

Lunch features local Kumasi food, letting you eat the way residents do as part of the local experience.