House 04 · Ashanti Region
Kumasi & Ashanti
The court, the market and the makers' towns
Sunday at the palace, Monday at the loom
Kumasi is the seat of the Asantehene, the king of the Asante, and a city that trades. Manhyia Palace is the court; Kejetia, one of the largest markets in West Africa, is the engine; and the villages around the city have been weaving, stamping and carving for generations.
If the dates allow, we time your stay to Akwasidae, when the Asantehene sits in state at Manhyia to receive chiefs and the public. A guide explains the protocol: how to greet, where to sit, when photographs are and are not welcome. (to verify) (to verify) (to verify) (to verify)
Why go
This is the place to understand court culture as something living rather than historical. A morning at the Manhyia Palace Museum and an afternoon in Bonwire watching kente come off the loom tell you more about Asante than any book.
The city is also a crossroads: Kumasi sits between the coast and the north, so most longer trips pass through it.
Let us help you plan your trip
Plan Kumasi & Ashanti into your journey
- A specialist who writes back by hand
- Days ordered one house at a time
- Time left free after the heavy days
Step into Kumasi & Ashanti
What to see and do in Kumasi & Ashanti
Good to know
Best time to go
November to March is driest. Akwasidae comes round every 42 days, so the best month is whichever one holds the date that suits you. (to verify)
Usually driest here: January, February, March, August, November, December. See when to go.
How long to stay
Three nights, longer if Akwasidae falls mid-trip.
Suggested on the planner: 3 nights.
Getting there
About four to six hours by road from Accra or Cape Coast, or a short domestic flight from Accra. (to verify) (to verify)
Where you will stay
Kumasi has business hotels and a few quieter garden hotels on the edge of town. Comfortable rather than characterful; we choose for quiet and a good breakfast.
On our list for this region (to be confirmed): garden hotel, Kumasi. See stays.
Best for
Court culture, Craft and makers, Markets, A Sunday at Akwasidae.
Routes through here
- The coast and the court (10–12 days)
- The whole board (16–18 days)
- The heritage path (12–14 days)
How we plan“The Sunday at Manhyia decides the shape of the week around it.”
Nearby houses
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Central Region
Kakum & the Central forests
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Central Region
Cape Coast & Elmina
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Eastern Region
Akuapem Ridge & Krobo
Start a conversation
Leave your name and email and a specialist will write back by hand, usually within two working days. Or use the trip planner to send us more.