In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Ghana
Apam
Visit Fort Patience and the nearby beach in a half‑day; add one night if you want a relaxed beach evening.
Apam is a small coastal town on Ghana's Central Region peninsula. The main attraction is Fort Patience (Fort Lijdzaamheid), a 1702 Dutch fort overlooking a busy fish market and a calm beach. The town is best explored on foot; tro‑tro minibusses connect it to Accra (≈2 h) and Cape Coast. One full day covers the fort, market and beach; a second night lets you enjoy the seaside and local eateries.
- Country
- Ghana
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GHS
- Money
- Currency is the Ghanaian cedi (GHS, GH₵). Cards work in larger hotels, malls and some restaurants in Accra; most other payments are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget GH₵80–120 excl. bed · Mid GH₵120–200 excl. bed · High GH₵200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTN has the widest coverage, with Telecel (ex-Vodafone) and AT as alternatives; SIMs need a passport and Ghana Card-style biometric registration for foreigners at a company shop — check.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 192 · Ambulance 193
- Plugs
- Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin sockets are standard; bring a surge-protected adapter for power cuts ('dumsor').
- Tipping
- Chop bar or street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is added.; Driver day: GH₵50–100 a day.; Castle or park guide: GH₵30–60 per group.; Hotel porter: GH₵5–10.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Bottled water or sealed sachets from known brands are sold everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; public toilets charge a few cedis. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | GH₵5–10 |
| Grilled fish plate | GH₵20–35 |
| Taxi from Accra to Apam (one way) | GH₵200,000 minimum |
| Tro‑tro from Accra to Apam | GH₵12,000 |
| Boat ride for fishing trip (max per person) | GH₵30,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ACC · Kotoka International Airport
- Accra, about 2 h by tro‑tro
Typical fares
- Tro‑tro Accra → Apam (round‑trip)
- about GH₵12,000, 2 h each way (check)
- Taxi Accra → Apam (one way)
- minimum GH₵200,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the town centre; tro‑tro minibusses from Accra or Cape Coast drop at Apam Junction (≈8 km (5 mi) from the fort). Taxis are available but not needed for most sights.Walk the town centre; tro‑tro minibusses from Accra or Cape Coast drop at Apam Junction (≈5 mi (8 km) from the fort). Taxis are available but not needed for most sights.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Patience (Dutch fort)
- Fishing harbour and market
- Calm beach on the south side
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Coast | Tro‑tro from Apam Junction, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Winneba | Tro‑tro from Apam Junction, about 20 min | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Smayak Hotel
- Near Apam Junction, basic rooms, pool
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Mepa wo kyɛwmeh-pah woh cheh |
| Thank you | Medasemeh-dah-seh |
| How much is it? | Ɛhe na ɛka?eh-heh nah eh-ka |
| Where is the toilet? | Ɛhe na asuo no wɔ?eh-heh nah ah-soo noh woh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake with the right hand, ask after health and family; avoid: Starting with a question
- Elders: Stand when an elder enters and let them speak first; avoid: Crossed legs in front of chiefs
- Hands: Right hand for everything; avoid: Passing money with the left
- Dress: Smart clothes for churches, offices and palaces; avoid: Beachwear in town
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing police, soldiers or funerals without permission
- Funerals: Weekend funerals are public events; guests wear black, red or white as the family specifies; avoid: Treating them as a sight
Scams and watch-outs
- Beach water can be polluted; swim at your own risk.
- Boat rides for fishing trips can cost up to GH₵30,000 per person – negotiate price beforehand.
- Tro‑tro fare from Accra is about GH₵12,000; confirm price before boarding.
Apam is generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on personal belongings at the market and avoid swimming after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Apam yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Patience (Dutch fort)
- Fishing harbour and market
- Calm beach on the south side
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ghana Tourism Authority: www.ghana.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Apam, revision 5336830 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5336830
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/apam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.