Kumasi
Visited in January 2019
At a glance
- Country
- Ghana
- Region
- Ashanti Region
- Population
- 3.9 million
- Best time to go
- November to March
- Main airport
- Kumasi Prempeh I International (KMS)
- Coordinates
- 6.69°N, 1.62°W
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Overview
Kumasi is Ghana's second city and the historic capital of the Ashanti kingdom, whose king, the Asantehene, still holds court here. It is a green, hilly and busy city, with one of West Africa's largest markets at its centre.
Ashanti culture is the reason to come: royal history at the palace museum, festivals with drumming and umbrellas, and villages nearby where kente cloth is woven and adinkra symbols are stamped by hand.
Things to see
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Photo: Nkansahrexford, CC BY-SA 3.0 Manhyia Palace Museum
The former royal palace, with life-size figures of past kings and stories of the Ashanti court.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Dave Ley, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kejetia Market
A vast market of fabric, beads, food and everything else, best explored with a local guide.
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Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
A small museum with royal regalia, drums and a replica of the Golden Stool.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Caupolicaningles, CC BY-SA 4.0 Okomfo Anokye Sword
A sword said to have been driven into the ground by a priest at the founding of the kingdom, now in the hospital grounds.
Things to do
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Photo: Andy Carvin, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kente weaving at Bonwire
Watch weavers at their narrow looms produce the bright strip cloth in a village north-east of the city.
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Photo: shawnzam's, CC BY 2.0 Adinkra printing at Ntonso
See craftspeople stamp traditional adinkra symbols, each with its own meaning, onto cloth using carved calabash stamps.
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Lan, Public domain Lake Bosumtwi
A crater lake ringed by forested hills, about an hour south-east, for walks and a swim.
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Photo: Paul5263, CC BY-SA 4.0 Akwasidae festival
Every six weeks, chiefs gather at the palace in kente and gold for a durbar with drumming.
Where to stay
Adum
The busy commercial centre, close to the market and transport.
Hotels in AdumNhyiaeso
Quieter and greener, with hotels and restaurants.
Hotels in NhyiaesoAhodwo
An upmarket residential area with some of the city's better hotels.
Hotels in Ahodwo
Getting around
Taxis are plentiful, though traffic can be heavy. Hire a driver for trips to the craft villages and lake.
Flights from Accra take under an hour, and the airport is close to the city centre. By road, Accra is around five hours away.
When to go
The dry season from November to March is the most comfortable, though the harmattan can bring haze. The rains peak from April to June and again in September and October.
Plan your trip to Kumasi
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.