Reasons Why You Should Visit Kumasi

Kumasi is Ghana’s ‘second city’ as well as the ancestral land and modern home of the Ashanti people. A diverse city with diverse experiences suiting people of various tastes and interests, learn more about the nature, craftsmanship, local life, and history that this unique city has to offer.

It’s the home of Akan culture

The Asantehene (monarch of the Ashanti people) makes his home in a new palace adjacent to the former Manhyia Palace that’s now used as a museum. Delve into the history of this deeply rooted tribe and learn about the Anglo-Ashanti War, the golden stool, and all the kings and queens of the Akan people through exhibits and artifacts.

Manhiya Palace, Ashanti New Town Road, Kumasi, Ghana, +233 026 118 3144

With KNUST Botanical Garden, Rattray Park, and the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, there are plenty of opportunities to escape into nature. A perennially green city that is located in a rainforest region, the area gets more rainfall compared to Accra thanks to fresher air and wide open spaces.

KNUST Botanical Garden, Kumasi, Ghana

Rattray Park, Victoria Opuku-Ware Road, Kumasi, Ghana, +233 024 509 0093

Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary

Witness the tradition of the Akwasidae Festival

The Ashanti people and chiefs celebrate this festival of the Ashanti king every six weeks on Sunday. In reflection of the Akan calendar—divided into nine six-week blocks—these celebrations include drumming, dancing, and eating of special dishes such as eto, or mashed yams. The Asantehene meets with his sub-chiefs and also holds a durbar at the Manhiya Palace after his traditional procession where he is carried on a palanquin.

Procession of Ashanti King at Adae Festival

1. Discover the art and history of the kente cloth

Market

This popular interwoven fabric is native to the Akan people and has been woven on hand-operated looms for many years. With rich colour and heavy cotton, chiefs wear the most striking examples on festival days. To get a comprehensive history of this fascinating subject, pay a visit to the Adanwomase Kente Cloth and Tourism village, see traditional loom weaving in action, and pick up a few yards of the fabric.

2. It has an incredible crater lake

Lake Bosumtwi is one of Ghana’s natural wonders and the only natural lake in Ghana. The product of an impact crater after a meteor measuring 10.5 km (6.5 miles) in diameter fell, it is thought to be over one million years old. In local culture, the souls of the dead make a pilgrimage to the lake to bid farewell to one of the Akan gods. A gorgeous and peaceful spot, its natural beauty and serene presence on the edge of the city is welcome.

Lake Bosumtwi

Lake Bosumtwi | © David Bacon/Flickr

3. It is home to the sprawling Kejetia Market

Market, Vegetarian

A huge, sprawling shopping centre, Kejetia (also known as the Kumasi Central Market) is often considered the largest market in West Africa thanks to the 11,000 stalls and what is estimated to be nearly four times as many people working there. Everything is for sale here including foodstuffs, fabric and batik, shoes, clothing, and household items to name but a few. Take a walk to get the spirit of local life, but grab a guide from the Tourist Authority to make sense of it all since the market can be disorienting.

4. Pick up local artwork at the Ntoso Adinkra Village

Market, Museum, Store

A true gem, this government supported cooperative village supported by the government is the only place to go to pick up indigenous handicrafts. Learn all about Adinkra symbols, visual symbols that have their roots in Akan culture and represent concepts or aphorisms, try out the Adinkra printing process, and buy a strip of this unusual symbol-laden fabric.
Save

Save

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.