GH
Kumasi
The capital of the Asante kingdom, with the Manhyia Palace, one of West Africa’s biggest markets and nearby kente-weaving villages
The capital of the Asante kingdom, with the Manhyia Palace, one of West Africa’s biggest markets and nearby kente-weaving villages
Built in 1925 for the Asantehene Prempeh I after his return from exile, the old palace is now a museum with royal furniture, regalia and wax figures of Asante kings. The current king lives in a newer palace nearby.
Photo: Sir Amugi, CC BY-SA 4.0
One of the largest markets in West Africa, now partly housed in a large modern building. Thousands of stalls sell food, fabrics, beads and household goods.
Easy to get lost; a local guide helps.
Photo: Afus199620, CC0
A group of traditional shrines with decorated clay walls in villages around Kumasi, listed by UNESCO in 1980 as the last surviving examples of historic Asante architecture.
Photo: Noahalorwu, CC BY-SA 4.0
About 30km south-east of the city, this lake fills a meteorite impact crater about 1 million years old. Villages on its shore have guesthouses, and the lake is sacred to the Asante.
Photo: Amuzujoe, CC BY-SA 4.0
The cultural centre has craft workshops and shops, and the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum with royal objects and history displays.
Photo: Jude Hammond, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kumasi is known for fufu (pounded cassava and plantain) with light soup or groundnut soup, and for chop bars serving it at lunchtime.
Try red red (beans in palm oil with fried plantain) and fresh fruit from Kejetia Market.
Kumasi’s Prempeh I International Airport, which opened its new terminal in 2024, has frequent flights from Accra of about 45 minutes. By road the trip takes 4 to 6 hours on STC and VIP buses.
Kente villages such as Bonwire are about 20km away by taxi. Most non-African visitors need a visa; Ghana launched an e-visa in May 2026, and African nationals are exempt from visa fees. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Ghana. Check current rules before you travel.
Ghana uses the cedi (GHS), whose exchange rate changes often, so prices here are given in US dollars as a guide. Mobile money is widely used; carry cash for markets and small towns.
Prices are approximate.
Asante history and crafts.
Visit the Manhyia Palace Museum, the Centre for National Culture and Kejetia Market.
Drive to Bonwire to see kente weaving and to one of the traditional shrines, or spend the day at Lake Bosomtwe.
Asante festivals such as Akwasidae are held every six weeks at the palace; dates change each year.
Watch your bags in Kejetia Market.
The city centre is congested; allow extra time.
Take malaria precautions.
Quick answers for planning time in Kumasi.
About 250km: 4 to 6 hours by road or 45 minutes by air.
It is the capital of the Asante kingdom and known for kente cloth and its markets.
In villages such as Bonwire, about 20km from Kumasi.
A lake in a meteorite impact crater about 30km from Kumasi.
November to March, the dry season.
English is the official language, so translation is rarely needed.
Free
Guides, drivers and guesthouses arrange almost everything by WhatsApp.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Ghana travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.