Africa > Ghana > Accra
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Quick Ratings
Price band:
Accra is in car rental price band: 9/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)
General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Accra?
Absolutely not. Car rental is extremely expensive and best avoided.
Volatility:
Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Accra between the peak and the off peak season?
0/10 (0 = stable prices)
Driving score: 1/10
Non car score:3/10
Balance: 2
(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)
General comment -
Our advice has remained broadly the same since we first looked at the city. Improved rail services make little difference to visitors.
Many of the major resorts in Accra are along the coastline to the east of the city centre. Resort transfers aren’t particularly fast or convenient, but the resorts along Teshie Rd are reasonably well connected with Kotoka International Airport. The airport is to the northeast of the city centre, and to the north of the major resorts.
There are a number of excursions into rainforest parks. Other natural features which are well worth seeing are generally done by minibus tour. These will all take you well into the Ghanaian interior.
Public transport in Accra
Following decades of almost non-existent service, the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) is now overseeing a major investment in track infrastructure. In addition, there is now major technical and financial input from China. It seems like future years will see the restart of inter-city services within Ghana. For the time being, trains are only really useful for suburban services within Accra.
Accra does have an extensive public bus system, including one high profile bus rapid transit route. However, these services are aimed more at local users than at tourists. Furthermore, there is no dedicated airport bus. If you are staying at a hotel within Accra, then local bus services should at least be able to provide useful links to and from the city centre.
Why? Visiting Accra using a hire car
Why do you need a car in Accra ?
- A hire car, or hired car with driver, is always going to allow you to see each destination at your own pace.
- Wheels will be needed to visit Ghana’s spectacular national parks (see below).
- Public transport is poor.
- Rail services in Ghana are currently being redeveloped, but at the moment, they are of little use to tourists.
Why not? Visiting Accra without a car
Why don't you need a car in Accra ?
- Most visitors will take some kind of organised tour, rather than self-drive hire.
- Roads relatively unsafe, and not well developed beyond a small number of trunk highways.
- Very limited car hire services available.
Accra car hire verdict
Not really worth looking at trying to hire a car here – few options available.
Ratings: How does Accra compare?
Is it worth hiring a car in Accra? TBC
This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Accra, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.
How does this compare if:
You are travelling:
Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc
Does car rental make sense on different budgets?
Do you need to hire a car in Accra? TBC
This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Accra (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".
Should you rent a car in Accra? TBC
This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.
See global comparisons
Hiring | Driving | Parking
Trains | Buses | Local travel
Car hire basics:
Public transportation basics:
Regular bus services: YES
Coach (inter-city): YES
Tram: NO
Metro: NO
Commuter Rail:
High Speed Rail:
Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):
As you start ....
Does Accra airport have a direct rail link?
(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No
Changelog
Has our advice for Accra car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?
2017 - 2
2019 - 3
2021 - 2
Average score - 2
Notes:
Ghana Holidays and Accra car hire?
Is it worth hiring a car in Accra? Ghana has a total of 21 protected park areas, including no less than 7 national parks. This makes the country ideal for exploring as part of a tour package, and a wide range of options are available, often including flight packages from the UK or elsewhere. The main interest of Carornocar is whether or not there is any reason to hire a car for independent or small group travel within a destination. Based on the relative lack of road infrastructure in Ghana, and the remoteness of the national parks relative to the city of Accra itself, our Accra car hire advice still remains a firm “no”. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t think you should move around outside the city, far from it! Ghana.
Summary
Do you or don't you need a car in Accra ?