Attractions in Kumasi & Ashanti Region
The royal heart of the Golden Kingdom 👑🦁
Showing 25 attractions · Sorted by importance
Akwasidae Festival
📍 Kumasi
🎭 EventOccurring every 42 days on a Sunday (nine times per year), this one-day festival is the most significant celebration of the Ashanti Kingdom. It attracts thousands of international visitors and dignitaries to witness the Asantehene (King) sit in state at Manhyia Palace. The event features magnificent displays of golden regalia, traditional drumming, and horn-blowing. It is highly educational and welcoming for families interested in African history and royal traditions.
Asante Traditional Buildings
📍 Ejisu
🏰 CastleA UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the last remaining examples of traditional Ashanti architecture with intricate clay reliefs.
Bonwire Kente Weaving Village
📍 Bonwire
🏘 Town / VillageThe most famous center for Kente weaving in Ghana, where families can watch artisans create intricate, colorful royal fabrics on traditional looms.
Kumasi Zoo
📍 Kumasi
🦁 ZooA centrally located conservation center where families can see lions, primates, and various reptiles in a tropical park setting.
Lake Bosomtwe
📍 Kumasi
🌲 NatureGhana's only natural lake, situated within an ancient meteor impact crater, offers a serene environment for lakeside swimming, traditional wooden boat rides, and hiking.
Manhyia Palace Museum
📍 Kumasi
🏰 CastleThe historic seat of the Asantehene offers families a deep dive into the royal heritage and traditional artifacts of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Ashanti Craft Villages Circuit
📍 Kumasi
🚗 Road TripA 60km paved loop (3-5 hours) north of Kumasi visiting the three primary artisan centers: Ahwiaa for woodcarving, Ntonso for Adinkra textile stamping, and Bonwire for traditional Kente weaving. The route follows the N10 and local arterial roads through lush forest scenery and bustling village markets.
Lake Bosomtwe Circular Route
📍 Abono
🥾 Hiking & Cycling36km moderate loop around Ghana's only natural lake, formed in a meteorite crater. Typically takes 7-8 hours to hike or 3-4 hours to cycle, with an elevation gain of approximately 420m over undulating hills. The trail passes through several fishing villages and cocoa plantations. Bicycle rentals are available at local lakeside accommodations such as Cocoa Village Guesthouse (cocoavillage.com).
Lake Bosomtwe Scenic Route
📍 Kumasi
🚗 Road TripA 35km paved drive (1 hour each way) from Kumasi to the village of Abono. The route features a dramatic descent into a 10.5km wide meteorite crater, offering panoramic views of the lake—Ghana's only natural lake—surrounded by steep, densely forested hills and small fishing settlements.
Kumasi Fort and Military Museum
📍 Kumasi
🏰 CastleOne of the few inland forts in Africa, this historic site details the military history of the Ashanti Empire and the British colonial era.
Adanwomase Kente Village
📍 Adanwomase
🏘 Town / VillageA traditional Kente weaving village and one of Ashanti's premier craft heritage sites, where roughly half of all residents weave Kente cloth on wooden looms. The community has served as a royal weaving village for the Asante since the 17th century. Visitors can observe and participate in Kente production, and supplementary tours include visits to a cocoa farm and local forest shrines.
Ahwiaa Woodcarving Village
📍 Ahwiaa
🏘 Town / VillageA bustling community of master carvers specialized in producing traditional Asante stools, fertility dolls, and intricate masks from local wood.
Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary Nature Trails
📍 Kubease
🥾 Hiking & CyclingA network of easy nature trails and an arboretum walk totaling approximately 5km. Duration varies from 40 minutes to 2 hours with minimal elevation gain. The routes wind through a virgin semi-deciduous tropical rainforest known for over 900 species of butterflies — making it the only butterfly sanctuary in West Africa — and ancient trees with massive buttress roots.
KNUST Botanical Garden
📍 Kumasi
🌿 GardenA serene university-owned landscape featuring a canopy walkway and a rich collection of tropical plant species, ideal for nature lovers.
Okomfo Anokye Sword Site
📍 Kumasi
🏰 CastleA legendary historic site featuring a 300-year-old sword wedged into the ground that, according to tradition, cannot be removed.
Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
📍 Kumasi
🖼 Art GalleryA small yet rich museum located in the Cultural Centre, featuring historical Ashanti treasures and a famous silver-plated stool.
Rattray Park
📍 Kumasi
🌿 GardenA premier urban green space in Kumasi featuring beautifully landscaped lawns and a large musical fountain that serves as a central family destination.
Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary
📍 Kumasi
🌲 NatureA tranquil wetland sanctuary featuring a large reservoir that serves as a haven for migratory birds and local wildlife within a secondary forest.
Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary
📍 Kubease
🐄 FarmA unique tropical forest reserve featuring an arboretum and a butterfly sanctuary with hundreds of species in a tranquil rural setting.
Bomfobiri Waterfall Trail
📍 Kumawu
🥾 Hiking & CyclingA moderate trail within the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary covering approximately 10km and taking 2-3 hours. The route leads through savanna and tropical forest to the Bomfobiri and Wala waterfalls, with notable features including the 'Lion Stone' rock formation and diverse birdlife.
Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary
📍 Kumawu
🏔 Scenic ViewA protected area featuring scenic waterfalls and a unique blend of forest and savannah ecosystems, perfect for hiking and bird-watching.
Bonwire Kente Museum
📍 Bonwire
🖼 Art GalleryA dedicated museum and visitor center celebrating the intricate history and royal artistry of Kente weaving in its ancestral home.
Lake Bosomtwe Visitor Centre
📍 Abono
🌲 NatureA discovery centre located at Ghana's only natural lake, explaining the scientific and geological history of this ancient meteorite impact crater.
Ntonso Adinkra Village
📍 Ntonso
🏰 CastleA historic village where families have practiced the traditional art of Adinkra cloth printing for generations using natural dyes and symbols.