You know how sometimes a trip doesn't go at all like you planned? That's what happened to me in Accra. When I think about the best things to do in Accra, I almost laugh at how much of it was completely unexpected. There's a kind of chaos in travel that you can never fully prep for, but it's often in that chaos where the real magic happens.
This spot? Total surprise.
So, imagine this: I had just landed—exhausted, disoriented, and ready for whatever adventures the city had in store. My first few hours felt like I was stumbling around in a colorful, bustling dream. Everything was big; the colors, the heat, the sounds—it was overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.
I had a vague plan to hit up some of the usual touristy places but found myself wandering through Osu, a neighborhood that seemed to pulse with life. Initially, I thought I'd just grab a quick bite, but instead, I meandered into this little spot called Buka Restaurant. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. But the smells wafting in from the kitchen were intoxicating.
I decided to be adventurous and ordered jollof rice with grilled chicken, even though I had no idea if it was good or just another cliché. Let me tell you, I don't think I've ever made such a good culinary choice in my life. The rice was spicy and rich, absolutely bursting with flavor, and the chicken was so tender. I could have just sat there for hours, if not for the tiny bench that pinched my thighs in all the wrong places.
The afternoon that changed my whole mood
The next couple of days were a blur of markets and beach walks, but it wasn't until that one sunny afternoon that things took a turn. I woke up feeling a little lost, like maybe I should've planned more. I was just sitting in my hostel, sipping on some mediocre coffee when I thought, “What now?” It felt like a low point, and I almost toyed with the idea of just lounging around.
But then, a fellow traveler mentioned a place called Jamestown. “You HAVE to go,” she insisted, barely letting me speak. A lightbulb flickered in my head, and off I went. The moment I stepped into that neighborhood, everything shifted. The streets were lined with colorful murals, and there was a raw energy that grabbed my heart.
I wandered into one of those small community spaces that pop up around the globe—locals gathering, kids playing, the clamor of day-to-day life surrounding me. I don't know why I ended up there, but the openness and warmth of the residents was incredible. Someone noticed me wandering and invited me to join this game of street soccer. I said yes, even though my skills are more “run and trip” than “kick and score.”
We laughed a lot, and those kids didn't care that I was terribly out of shape. At some point, I realized that my mood had completely flipped. It was as if the city's rhythm had pulled me in, reminding me how to engage with life, the way it was meant to be lived—full of joy and spontaneity.
I almost missed this, no thanks to my bad sense of direction
You know, I like to think of myself as adaptable, but my sense of direction? Let's just say it's like a broken compass. Anyway, I'd been meaning to check out the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. I set off with my phone maps, thinking, “How hard can it be?” Spoiler alert: VERY hard.
After multiple wrong turns and an awkward encounter with a friendly goat that looked at me like I was completely lost (which I was), I finally stumbled upon it, but it was one of those “it's a long way to the top” situations.
I remember walking through the gardens leading up to the mausoleum and finally feeling a sense of reverence. The intricate architecture surrounded by lush greenery was breathtaking, giving me that “Wow, I'm really here” moment. There was this statue of Nkrumah that just radiated pride.
As I stood there, it hit me how small my initial complaints about the city were compared to the rich history and culture I was experiencing. I nearly turned back due to frustration but instead found myself deep in thought, considering what it really means to connect with a place and its people.
A taste of nostalgia in a sweet treat
I wish I could tell you about some high-end dining experience or gourmet food crawl, but the thing that touched me most in Accra was a little street vendor I found while wandering the lively Labadi Beach area. I was thirsty, and this small cart stood there with the most interesting array of drinks, but what caught my eye was the coconut water.
Is it weird how something so simple can make an impact? The vendor—an old man with a huge smile—took a coconut, whipped out his machete with startling precision, and in seconds, handed me a fresh coconut on the beach. I drank straight from it, the cool water was pure bliss.
I ended up spending the entire afternoon just sipping my coconut water, people-watching, and soaking in the waves. It made me reminisce about summers spent at the beach when life felt simpler. That small moment of pure happiness reminded me why I travel in the first place—to really feel alive.
Wrapping it all up (or not)
So there you have it. My trip to Accra was this cocktail of great food, surprise moments, direction woes, and quiet introspection. The best things to do in Accra turned out to be much more than I had ever imagined. It wasn't all sunshine and perfection, but those small detours and the spontaneity of chance encounters made the experience real and raw.
As I sit here, finishing my coffee and smiling at these memories, I realize those messy moments often wind up being the most beautiful parts of any journey. Who knows, maybe my misdirection was exactly where I was supposed to be all along. Life has a funny way of working that out, doesn't it?
