Accra is an amazing city with lots of attractions and spots to explore. This city is perfect to be your next holiday destination. You can avail flights to Accra with British Airways, KLM, Emirates, TAP Portugal, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa, Arik Air, Air France and Kenya Airways. All of these flights can be availed from main UK airports such as London Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Birmingham and Manchester.
Like other major African city, it has two types of seasons: wet and dry. The most suitable time to visit Accra is during dry season which occurs around November to March. However, prices of flights are high in this season due to large number of tourists. A flight in economy class can cost you around £650 to £1000. Flights in off season are cheaper and you can save money, if you visit in this season. A flight in economy class can range around £390 to £550.
Direct flights are only offered by British Airways from London Heathrow Airport. Rest of the airlines operates connecting flights from major UK airports. The most opted airlines by the UK passengers are Emirates Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Tap Portugal and Lufthansa. These can make stopovers at any Middle Eastern, European or African hub. Connecting flights are cheaper than direct flights. However, you have to wait on stopovers for reaching your destination.
Duration of flights usually depend what kind of flight you are choosing i.e. whether you are getting a connecting flight or a direct one. Minimum stopover is around 1 hour which can extend your flight timings. The shortest possible duration is around 7 hours with direct flights and longest is 30 hours. Here is average flight duration of most used airlines:
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British Airways only offers direct flights and their average duration is 7h.
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Emirates Airlines has connecting flights at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham via Dubai. Minimum flight duration is 20h and maximum 25h.
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With Tap Portugal, you can travel from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester via Lisbon. The shortest timing is 11h 30m and longest is 30h (21h transit).
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KLM operates connecting flights from Manchester, Heathrow and London City Airports via Amsterdam. The minimum flight duration is 9h 30m and maximum is 27h.
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Ethiopian Airlines only offers connecting flights from London Heathrow Airport via Addis Ababa and average flight duration is 15h.
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You can avail flights of Kenya Airways from London Heathrow Airport via Nairobi. On average, its flights can take 18h 30m.
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Royal Air Maroc operates connecting flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick via Casablanca. Minimum flight duration is 10h whereas maximum is 13h 30m.
Following is the weekly schedule of different airlines offering flights from UK to Accra:
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British Airways has a daily direct flight from London Heathrow Airport seven days a week.
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Air France only offers daily connecting flights via Paris which are available at London Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
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You can fly with Emirates Airlines from UK to Accra via Dubai. Every day it has connecting flights departing from major UK airports.
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Ethiopian Airlines only offers daily connecting flights at Heathrow Airport via Addis Ababa.
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Kenya Airways has daily connecting flights at London Heathrow Airport via Nairobi.
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KLM offers daily 3 connecting flights from London Heathrow and London City Airport whereas 4 daily flights are available at Manchester via Amsterdam.
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TAP Portugal operates daily 3 connecting flights at Heathrow and one each on Manchester and Gatwick via Lisbon.
Many passengers tend to overlook baggage allowance. So, when they are on airport, they get frustrated with overweight baggage and its corresponding fee. To avoid this situation while you are travelling to Accra, please view the given below baggage allowance of well-reputed airlines:
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Arik Air has baggage allowance of 20kg in economy class and 30kg in business class for Accra.
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Lufthansa allows you to take 1 piece of 23kg in economy classic and economy flex whereas in business class you can take 2 bags of 32kg each.
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When you travel with Air France, you can take one piece of 23kg in economy, two pieces of 23kg each in premium economy, two pieces of 32kg each in business and three pieces of 32kg each in La Premiere class.
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With British Airways you can take one piece of 23kg in economy class, two pieces of 32kg each in business class and three pieces of 32kg each in first class.
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KLM has baggage allowance of 12kg in economy class and 18kg in business class.
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Kenya Airways allows you to take two pieces of 23kg each in economy class and two pieces of 32kg each in premier world.
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With Emirates Airlines you can take 35kg in economy class (depending on fare type), 40kg in business class and 50kg in first class.
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TAP Portugal has baggage allowance of two pieces up to 23kg each in economy class and two pieces of 32kg each in executive class.
The climate of Accra remains sunny and warm around the year. However, there are few months during which it receives considerable rain. Most UK visitors prefer to visit the city during Christmas and New Year holidays. This is peak season and finding cheap flights to Accra is very difficult. December is the most expensive time of the year. You have to book in advance for securing your tickets in peak season.
The rainy season starts in April and end in mid-July. It is off season as there are fewer crowds. If you want to save money, this time of year is best to explore the city. The most pleasant month of the year is August and there is a major drop in tourist influx. You can get great deals on tickets and accommodation.
Each year several thousand tourists visit Accra for spending their vacations that's why there is thriving hoteling business in the city. You will have plenty of accommodation options like hotels, resorts and lodges. These can be found not only in the city center but also on the beaches as well. If you want standard and cheap option, then spacious lodges are good for this purpose. They have parking area, gardens, dedicated services, lounges, dining and living rooms. You can also choose to stay in budget category hotels which offer individual rooms and purpose-built infrastructure.
If you have enough budget, you can choose international hotel chains which offer luxury amenities with swimming pools, attached restaurants and suites. Beach resorts are best if you want to live along the coast. You can live in apartment complexes as well but you have to do cooking and laundry by yourself.
Accra has so many tourists' attractions so you can surely find which suits your tastes. Following are top attractions which you cannot afford to miss:
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Makola Market: This market is must for every tourist. You not only can buy anything under the sun but also a good opportunity for mixing with locals. However, don't bring your camera or try to take pictures as locals don't like their photos taken.
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Labadi Beach: This the most popular beach of the city. You can go on a horse ride, view acrobatic tricks, hip-life dancing and performance of rasta groups. If you want to avoid crowds, you can head to luxury resorts like La Palm Royal Beach or Labadi Beach Hotel.
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Artists Alliance Gallery: You will be amazed by fine art and contemporary art collections at the gallery. It is founded by one of the most popular artists of Ghana - Ablade Glover. Buying one of the prices is really easy. You can directly contact the artist and pay with your credit card. Really tempting!
Delicious food is all you need at the end of a hectic city exploration. There are plenty of places in Accra to relax your nerves and give a feast to your taste buds:
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Santoku: This place is famous for its innovative yet tasty Japanese cuisine. The restaurant has contemporary design and interior. The specialties of Santoku are tempura, seafood, crisp salads and sashimi. It is perfect if you want to spend a romantic evening or a lengthy dinner.
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Kaya Energy Bar & Design: If you are health conscious, then try this restaurant. It serves dishes and drinks made from raw ingredients. The restaurant believes that cooking process leads to lose of healthy nutrients. It has also a natural shop where you can buy organic vegetables and fruits.
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Buka: You can enjoy delicious cuisines of Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and dishes of their fusion. There are two sitting choices available: outdoor terrace and indoor restaurant. Must-to-try dishes are fish soup, grilled guinea fowl, fried plantain and jollof rice.
Ghana has over 50 different cultural, religious and art related festivals each year. Following few are top festivals and events happening in Accra:
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Accra Jazz and World Music Festival: This festival is much awaited by citizens of Accra. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervor. It is a weeklong festival which occurs in month of October. You can enjoy not only good music but also good prices of art and sculptures.
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Homowo Festival: It is the most favorite festival of Ghana people. In traditional language, Homowo literally means hooting at hunger. It is celebrated in the months of August and September. The main events of Homowo Festival are presenting 'kpokpol' and processions in streets.
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Jaynii International Folklore Festival: It is another celebration which is celebrated with pomp and show. Many international and local musicians and dance performers participate in Jaynii International Folklore Festival. It offers an overview of Ghana's musical culture.
