Urban retreats
Discover the best of Accra’s hotels and the best of Ghanaian hospitality with our top picks for relaxing stays
Fifteen years ago, the hotel scene in Ghana was a very different proposition. Wildy expensive, even compared with European cities, and rooms often in need of a decent joiner. With a couple of notable exceptions, the service was often lacking too. But in 2024, the outlook is very different. The new, large hotels – the Kempinski, Marriot and Mövenpick – have found their groove, operating as a seamless part of the Accra visitor experience. And despite a couple of holding company changes, there have been very few openings. But that’s OK – even the prices, seem to have settled. And the service in most of the hotels rivals anywhere in the world. You’ll find the barman who remembers your name when you come back the next night or the lifeguard who lets you know they’re keeping an eye on your child. The best hotels and residences are the friendliest… and that definitely doesn’t mean the most expensive. It’s a warm smile that elevates hotels in Accra.
The most recent opening is the Accra Marriott Hotel and it consistently gets superb ratings from guests. The nearby Holiday Inn Accra Airport continues to be one of the best hotels in the country, again this is down to its great staff. Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City remains the most luxurious residence in the city. It feels like a world away from the heat and hustle outside.
For luxury outside Accra, then head due east, for The Royal Senchi, an award-winning residence considered by many to be one of the best (and most romantic) getaways in Ghana. It sits close to the waterways of the Volta, and remains the perfect base to explore the region. That is, if you can pull yourself away from the huge beds, rooms overlooking the river and the abundant food offering.
If you’re looking for something a little more ‘boutique’, then La Villa Boutique Hotel is a little oasis with an inviting pool. Also in Osu, is Olma Colonial Suites, one of the bargains of the city.
Note: Pricing guide is usually for a standard double. $$$$ = more than $300, $$$ = between $200-$300, $$ = $100-$200, $ = less than $100. To be used as guide prices only, and these rates are based on rack rates (often much more expensive than you normally pay, or from the website). Offers bring the price down. And needless to say, the prices over the last two years have fluctuated dramatically. Take the dollar rating almost as a definition of the hotels level of service.
