Flights
Direct connections from Europe, the Gulf and across Africa to Accra, around six and a half hours from London or Brussels. Kumasi and Tamale take domestic flights. Accra is a comfortable regional hub and easy to combine with neighbouring countries.
When to come
The south has a major rainy season from April to July and a shorter one in September and October. The driest and most comfortable months are November to March. The harmattan, in December and January, brings dry Saharan dust that hazes the sky, drops the humidity and occasionally affects flights — it also makes the north pleasantly cool at night.
Getting around
The country is compact and the main roads are reasonable. Tro-tros — shared minibuses — are the everyday transport; intercity coach companies run comfortable services between Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. Ride-hailing works well in Accra. Avoid night driving outside the cities.
Money
The cedi has been volatile. ATMs work in Accra, Kumasi and the main towns; cards are accepted in hotels and modern retail only. Mobile money is dominant and is how most transactions actually happen — your partner can receive and send far more easily that way than through a bank.
Orders of magnitude
| Return flight from Europe | €500 to €950 |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel night | $50 to $130 |
| Local restaurant meal | $4 to $15 |
| Coach Accra–Kumasi | $10 to $20 |
What holds everywhere
- Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation stops being optional as soon as local healthcare is limited. Check it actually covers the destination: many policies exclude areas under adverse travel advice.
- Carry cash. In much of the world cards work in the big cities and nowhere else. Check the ATM situation and your bank's charges before leaving.
- Leave margin on connections. A tight transfer on a thinly served route is expensive: the next flight may be tomorrow, or in three days.
- The real budget runs over two years, not one trip: repeated flights, paperwork, translations, legalisations, any support sent. It is always underestimated.