Accra Airport (ACC) Layover Guide — Ghana Visa, Yellow Fever Rules, Leaving the Airport, Sleep & Lounges

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Connections at ACC: the honest numbers

The indicative minimum international-to-international connection at Accra Kotoka is 90 minutes on a single booking with bags checked through. On separate tickets, add roughly 90 minutes: you'll collect bags, recheck them, and re-clear security — and no airline is obliged to help if the first leg runs late.

Transfer specifics

One naming note first: on 23 February 2026 the airport officially reverted from 'Kotoka International' to 'Accra International Airport' — but the IATA code is still ACC, and airlines, maps and taxi drivers will keep saying Kotoka for years, so nothing about your trip changes. It's West Africa's main gateway, running from a modern Terminal 3 (opened 2018).
The blunt reality: airside transit is fine with no visa, but leaving the airport is not casual. Unless you hold an African (ECOWAS) passport, you need a Ghana visa arranged before you fly — most Western travellers cannot count on visa-on-arrival — and everyone needs a physical Yellow Fever vaccination card or they can be refused entry at the health desk.

Leaving ACC during a layover

Ghana requires a visa in advance for most non-African travellers — there is no reliable visa-on-arrival for Western passports, so leaving the airport means sorting your visa at home first (ECOWAS/West African citizens enter visa-free). Airside transit itself needs no visa. Non-negotiable: carry a physical Yellow Fever vaccination card (the 'Yellow Card') — the health desk can refuse entry without it. If you do have a visa and time: the city centre is about 30 km / 30–45 minutes away, but Accra traffic is unpredictable, so budget generously. The arrivals taxi rank is tout-heavy — arrange a pre-booked transfer or use a reputable operator and agree the fare before getting in, rather than negotiating with drivers who approach you. There are ATMs in Terminal 3 (Visa and Mastercard work); better forex rates are in the city. For most layover passengers here, an airport lounge or a nearby hotel is the realistic plan unless the layover is long and the visa is already in hand. The city is about 30 minutes away one-way; as a rule of thumb you want 8+ hours before exiting is worth the queues, and you should be back through security 90 minutes before boarding.

Worth your hours in Accra

Only with a visa and 8h+: Independence (Black Star) Square, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and the Makola Market give a real feel of Accra
With a guide: a pre-booked city tour (Jamestown lighthouse and the fishing harbour, the Arts Centre for crafts) is the low-stress way to use a long layover
Realistically, most passengers should treat ACC as an airside/airport-hotel stop unless the layover is long and the visa is already sorted — the airport-and-traffic overhead eats short windows

Staying airside instead

Modern Terminal 3 (2018) with three business lounges, six air-bridges and a decent retail/food area — a real upgrade on the old terminal
VIP meet-and-assist services are widely marketed here and can smooth a complex connection or a visa-in-hand exit
ATMs before and after immigration in T3; carry a local eSIM, as public Wi-Fi can be patchy

Sleeping, showers and lounges at ACC

Sleep: There are no sleep pods. The terminal is modern but not designed for overnight sleeping, and public-area overnights aren't ideal. For real rest on a long or overnight connection, nearby hotels — several sit within a few minutes of the airport, some with shuttles — are the sensible, safer choice, and let you lock your bags away. Airport hotels & sleep pods

Showers: Available in the Terminal 3 business lounges.

Lounges: Three business lounges in Terminal 3, plus marketed VIP services, accessible via membership, Priority Pass or pay-in; busiest around the evening long-haul bank to Europe and North America. Priority Pass membership (frequent flyers)

Overnight reality: Long overnight connections happen on the Europe and US banks, but ACC isn't a comfortable overnight terminal. A nearby airport hotel is the better call; if you stay airside, use a lounge, keep valuables on you, and settle in the busier, staffed areas.

ACC layover FAQ

Can I leave Accra airport on a layover?

Only if you hold a Ghana visa (arranged in advance) or an ECOWAS/African passport — there's no reliable visa-on-arrival for most Western travellers, and you'll also need a physical Yellow Fever card. Without those, plan to stay airside or use a nearby hotel. Even with a visa, Accra's traffic means you want 8+ hours to make leaving worthwhile.

Do I need a visa for an Accra layover?

To stay airside in transit, no. To leave the airport, yes for most non-African travellers — Ghana requires a visa arranged before departure, and Western passports generally can't rely on visa-on-arrival. ECOWAS (West African) citizens enter visa-free. A Yellow Fever certificate is mandatory for entry regardless.

Is the airport called Kotoka or Accra International?

Both — it officially reverted to 'Accra International Airport' on 23 February 2026, but the IATA code is still ACC and everyone, from airlines to taxi drivers, still says 'Kotoka'. Book to ACC and you're in the right place; the name change doesn't affect anything about your trip.

How do I get from ACC to Accra city?

The centre is about 30 km / 30–45 minutes away, but traffic is unpredictable, so allow extra. The arrivals taxi rank is tout-heavy — use a pre-booked transfer or a reputable operator and agree the fare before getting in, rather than dealing with drivers who approach you. This only applies if you hold a visa to leave.

Can I sleep at Accra airport?

There are no sleep pods and the terminal isn't suited to overnight sleeping. For a long or overnight connection, a nearby airport hotel (several are minutes away, some with shuttles) is the safer, more comfortable choice than the concourse.