Explore Ghana
Ghana's heritage sites tell the country's story in stone, earth and timber. Along the coast, a chain of forts and castles — Elmina Castle, Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove, Fort San Sebastian at Shama, Fort Gross-Friedrichsburg at Princes Town and Fort Apollonia at Beyin — marks centuries of trade between Europe and West Africa, and the painful history of the slave trade. Inland, the Asante Traditional Buildings at Besease and Ejisu Besease preserve shrine houses of earth and timber, while the Bonwire Kente Museum celebrates the weaving town that gave kente its name. Further north, the Dakpema Chief's Palace in Tamale and St. Andrew's Cathedral in Wa show Dagbon and Upper West traditions, and the old Sudano-Sahelian Dondoli Mosque stands nearby.
What these places share is that they are living heritage, not museum pieces alone. Some are active shrines, palaces or places of worship; others are cared for as monuments and museums. They differ greatly in condition and access. Elmina Castle and Fort Apollonia are established visitor sites with museums, Fort Good Hope at Senya Beraku and Fort Gross-Friedrichsburg offer rest-house stays, while Fort Augustaborg at Teshie, Fort Fredensborg at Old Ningo, English Fort Komenda and Dondoli Mosque are ruins. Fort Santo Antonio at Axim is closed, so check before travelling.
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Plan your route by region rather than trying to see everything at once: the Central and Western coastal forts sit in one arc, the Asante sites cluster around Kumasi, and Wa, Tamale and Keta lie far to the north and east. Roads between the main towns are generally good, but expect longer, slower journeys on the smaller coastal and northern routes, and consider a car with a driver for the more remote forts. Before setting out, confirm opening times and access, as several sites are ruins, in partial ruins, or closed — Fort Santo Antonio at Axim has been closed since 18 December 2025. Dress respectfully at shrines, palaces and churches, ask before photographing people or ceremonies, and take water, sun protection and cash for smaller towns.
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Attraction · Cape Coast
The Gothic House, or PWD building, is a 19th-century Gothic Revival landmark in Cape Coast, Central Region, tied to the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society.
Attraction · Gwollu
An indigenous bone-setting practice run by the Najiriwia Clan in Gwollu, Sissala West District, listed among the district's tourist sites.
Attraction · Hani
The Hani Archaeological Site near Hani in Ghana's Bono Region preserves the remains of Begho, a medieval trading town occupied from the 11th to the early 19th century.
Attraction · Komenda
Komenda Sugar Factory is a dormant state-owned sugar plant in Komenda, Central Region, Ghana, cited as a landmark of industrial heritage.
Attraction · Tanoboase
A working Benedictine monastery at Tanoboase in Bono East, Ghana, founded in 1989, with a guesthouse for retreats, a monastery shop and Sunday Mass open to all.
Attraction · Kunsu
Kunsu Slave Cave is a cave and heritage site in Kunsu, Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, linked by oral tradition to the transatlantic slave trade.
Attraction · Prampram
Lalue Kpledo Shrine in Prampram, Greater Accra, is the sacred shrine of the Lalue deity and the focus of the three-part Lalue Kpledomi festival.
Attraction · Adidome
An undeveloped ancestral cave and heritage site at Mafi-Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District, Volta Region, listed among the district's undeveloped tourist sites.
Attraction · Sirigu
Catholic parish church at Sirigu in Ghana's Upper East Region, known for church walls decorated by local women with traditional mural designs and for Gurune-language hymn singing.
Attraction · Beyin
An eco-museum inside the restored Fort Apollonia at Beyin, Jomoro District, presenting Nzema culture, history and the Amansuri wetland environment.
Attraction · Navrongo
The Navrongo Palace is the working traditional seat of the Navro-Pio, Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, and a ceremonial venue in Ghana's Upper East Region.
Attraction · Nkroful
Museum and mausoleum at Nkroful, birthplace of Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah, retaining his original 1972 burial site and memorial.
Attraction · Fantevikope
Nkyinkyim Museum is an outdoor museum and evolving sculpture installation in Nuhalenya-Ada, Greater Accra, created by artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo to honour enslaved African ancestors.
Attraction · Old Tafo
A sacred shrine and ancient spiritual tree in Old Tafo, Eastern Region, central to the Ohum Festival of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
Attraction · Kibi
The Okyeman Old Palace in Kibi, Abuakwa South Municipality, is preserved as a museum reflecting the royal heritage of the Akyem Abuakwa State.
Attraction · Teshie
Traditional Ga shrine and seat of the Teshie Wulomo in Teshie, Greater Accra, and customary venue for the Bloahejuu and Abele kuu rites of the Homowo season.
Attraction · Mangyea
The Osagyefo Barge is a decommissioned barge-mounted gas turbine power station at Effasu-Mangyea in Ghana's Jomoro District, listed by the municipal assembly as a heritage site.
Attraction · Techiman
A Catholic pilgrimage and retreat grotto of the Diocese of Techiman, built on rock formations at Asueyi in the Bono East Region.
Attraction · Salaga
A mass grave and burial ground in Salaga, Savannah Region, for enslaved people who died during captivity or transport through the Salaga slave market.
Attraction · Sefwi Wiawso
The administrative and ceremonial seat of the Omanhene of the Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Area, in Sefwi Wiawso, Western North Region, Ghana.
Attraction · Nkontompo
Bisa Aberwa Museum in Nkontompo, Sekondi-Takoradi, is a Pan African museum holding about 2,200 artefacts, sculptures and photographs on African struggle history.
Attraction · Senchi
Historic Volta River ferry crossing at Senchi in the Eastern Region, once the main vehicular link to Old Akrade before the Adomi Bridge opened in 1957.
Attraction · Sirigu
The Azukodaana Palace in Sirigu, Upper East Region, is the seat of the Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area and the launch venue for the annual Azuko Festival.
Attraction · Sirigu
SWOPA is a women's craft cooperative and community tourism centre in Sirigu, Upper East Region, with a visitor centre, gallery, workshop and guesthouse.