National Museum
Occupying prime position on Lagos Island in the centre of the
city, the National Museum contains a number of treasures and
cultural relics of great interest. Take your diary along to record
the experience as photography is not allowed. Highlights include
the exhibit 'Treasures of Ancient Nigeria: Legacy of Two Thousand
Years', and the bullet-ridden black Mercedes in which former
president Murtala Mohammed was assassinated in 1973. Also not be
missed is the gallery of Benin brasses and the crafts village,
where you can haggles for souvenirs.
National Museum
Shiraz Chakera Follow
Lekki Conservation Centre
Situated on the Lekki Peninsula covering
190 acres (78 hectare), the Lekki Conservation Centre is perfect to
experience the fauna and flora of this region's delicate
ecosystems. You can see Mona monkeys, crocodiles, bush bucks,
Maxwell duikers, and giant rats, among other fascinating creatures.
There are various trails and tree platforms to get the best vantage
point. Visit in the early morning when the animals are most active.
Tours need to be booked in advance.
Lekki Conservation Centre
Clara Sanchiz
Sungbo's Eredo
Take a taxi one hour north of Lagos to see Sungbo's Eredo,
Africa's largest pre-colonial construction, a sight rated by
experts as an unknown 'Wonder of the World'. The Eredo is a rampart
that is 1,050 years old, 100 miles (160km) long, and 70ft (20m)
high. Locals will need to guide you in and out, as the structure is
rapidly being covered by encroaching forest. The enigmatic Eredo
has been linked to the myths and legends of various tribes and
religions. According to the local Ijebu clan, the Eredo may have
been built as a memorial to noblewoman Oloye Bilikisu Sungbo, a
childless widow, whose grave is located nearby.
The walk to Sungbo Eredo
Jeremy Weate
Lekki Market
For a taste of the real Lagos, head to the bustling, chaotic,
and always fascinating Lekki Market. Intrepid shoppers that make
the trip here will be rewarded with a wonderful selection of
African masks, Nigerian beadwork, and traditional cloth. The Lekki
Market is located about 6 miles (10km) from the centre of Victoria
Island, and is a popular taxi route. Bargain hard, but keep
smiling. Get a local to help you navigate the market, for about NGN
50, it will be money well spent.
Lekki Market
shawnleishman
Eleko Beach
The best beach for Lagos-based visitors is
Eleko Beach, located just one hour away from Nigeria's frenetic
economic heartland. It's clean and peaceful, with perfect waves and
beach huts for hire, and is currently free of the traders and
hawkers that can irritate visitors on beaches around Lagos Island.
Eleko Beach is a welcome relief from the grime and congestion of
the metropolis. To get there, head out east on Lekki Expressway for
about 19 miles (30km) and turn right at the petrol service
station.
Address:
Eleko Beach Road, Lekki
Eleko Beach
B S
Osun-Osogbo
One of Nigeria's top tourist attractions
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
holds a deeply special place in the hearts and minds of the Yoruba
people. Located in the last remaining areas of pristine forest in
southern Nigeria, the grove is said to be the home of Osun, the
Yoruba goddess of fertility. Numerous shrines and sanctuaries have
been built in honour of Osun, including sculptures done by Austrian
national Suzanne Wenger who earned herself the local name Aduni
Olosa, the 'Adored One'. If at all possible, time your visit to
coincide with the Osun-Osogbo Festival (late July to August), a
12-day celebration of significant cultural interest.
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Alex Mazzeto
Lekki Beach Resort
A favourite among business travellers to Lagos and expatriates
living in the area of Victoria Island, Lekki Beach Resort is a new
establishment offering well-heeled tourists the opportunity to
experience some refinement and luxury in the midst of the often
chaotic and ramshackle city.
Built along 1.6 miles (2.5km) of the pristine Lekki Beach
shoreline, and covering an area of 157 hectares (388 acres), the
Lekki Beach Resort is a major operation featuring luxury
accommodation, including an 18-hole golf course designed by Ron
Garl, and a clubhouse with a fine restaurant and bar. There are
also numerous family-oriented amenities, such as swimming pools,
tennis courts, exercise rooms, and a health spa. Undoubtedly the
premier place to play golf in Nigeria, the course is also quite a
beautiful sight in its own right, blending seamlessly into its
natural surroundings and boasting fantastic Atlantic Ocean
views.
Lekki Beach
Ian Cochrane
Lagos has a tropical wet and dry climate with two distinct rainy
seasons; the more intense season occurs between April and July,
with a milder one from October to November. At the peak of the
rainy season, the weather in Lagos is wet about half the time.
Lagos experiences a dry season (when it rains less than two days
per month) during August and September, as well as between December
and March, accompanied by Harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert,
which are at their strongest from December to early February.
The temperature range in Lagos is fairly small, generally
staying between a high of 91°F (33°C) and low of 70°F (21°C). The
hottest month is March, when average daytime temperatures reach
91°F (32°C), while August is the coldest month with an average
temperature of 77°F (25°C). The best time to visit Lagos is during
the cooler dry season, between August and September.
Whether you're a business traveller or a sightseeing
adventurer, the Lagos restaurant scene has something for everyone.
Foodies will delight in the range of restaurants available. With
choices ranging from local Nigerian fare to traditional Thai
cuisine, diners will have a difficult time choosing between the
many restaurants available in Lagos.
Nigerian food is genenrally rich and colourful,
flavoured with spices and hot chilli peppers, and travellers
looking for a taste of the local cuisine should try dishes such as
jollof (rice cooked with tomato, onion, and pepper), akara
(deep-fried bean cakes), banga (a palm fruit-based soup), or moin
moin (a steamed bean pudding).
Eating out in Lagos offers not only variety in ethnic
and foreign cuisine, but price and quality too, with a range of
upmarket, casual, fast-food and street vendor options. Most trendy
and reputable restaurants are located on Victoria and Lagos Islands
and the Lekki Peninsula.
Yellow Chili
Ranked one of the top five restaurants in all Nigeria, the
Yellow Chilli is one of the best and most stylish places for
contemporary Nigerian cuisine in Lagos. The jollof fiesta is
particularly worth trying. This popular restaurant draws a big
lunchtime crowd of professionals and expats.
Address: 27 Oju Olobun Close off, Bishop Oluwole St, Victoria
Island,
Bottles
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Address: 8 Imam Agusta Close, off Olosa Street, VI. Behind Mobil,
near Victoria Island Hospital.
Churrasco
The first Brazilian restaurant in Nigeria has now developed into
one of Lagos' best eateries. The menu is all about the eponymous
- barbecued meat on skewers that are
sliced onto your plate. The restaurant is set on the lagoon and has
great views. Surprisingly, the menu and salad bar are suitable for
vegetarians too.
Address: 1C Ozumba Mbadiwe Ave, Victoria Island
Bungalow Restaurant
Bungalow serves up an array of great food options, including
sizzling steaks, tasty marinated ribs, mixed meat skewers, prawns
and fajitas. Bungalow Restaurant is definitely the place to go if
you're after familiar, western-style meat dishes.
Address: 1296 Akin Adisola Street, Victoria Island
Vellvett Victoria Island Lagos
The Vellvett is a tastefully decorated restaurant just off
Adeola Adeku Street. This great eatery has a wide range of
international dishes on offer, from fresh grilled kebabs and
Lebanese specialities to tasty pastas and decadent desserts that
will have you coming back for more.
Address: 19B Idejo Street, Victoria Island
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Location: The airport is located 13 miles (22km) northwest of
Lagos.
Time: Local time is GMT +1
Transfer Between Terminals:
The terminals are within easy walking distance of each
other.
Getting to the city:
Larger hotels have a shuttle bus meeting all international
flights. Otherwise, taxis are the safest and most efficient way to
travel to and from the airport.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies at the international terminal of the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport include Avis, Hertz,
Europcar and Sixt, while those at the domestic terminal include
Tuance, Pure Logistics, Achan, and Octavia. Note that driving
oneself around Nigeria is strongly cautioned against, as the roads
can be confusing and chaotic, and there is a risk of
car-jacking.
Airport Taxis:
Yellow taxis are available outside the terminal. It is wise to
negotiate a fee before departure; the fare into Lagos should be
around NGN 5,000.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include ATMs and currency exchange, executive
and VIP lounges, a meet and greet lounge, prayer rooms, disabled
facilities, and a tourist information desk in the arrival hall.
Shopping is limited to a few retail stores selling electronics,
mobile accessories, jewellery and healthcare products.
International and African foods are served by vendors in the
airport's food court.
Parking
Parking spaces are available.
With pumping night clubs, late night bars and live music venues,
Lagos has firmly established itself as the nightlife capital of
Nigeria. The nightlife scene tends to start late in the evening and
keep going until the sun rises, with most clubs only beginning to
fill up at about 11pm.
The main nightlife destinations in Lagos include Victoria Island
and Ikoyi. Mainland Lagos has a couple of great bars, but these are
only for the more adventurous as safety is not guranteed. A few
upmarket hotels host pool parties, which are a great way to beat
the heat and soak up the Lagos nightlife. Awolowo Road attracts a
number of diners and late night drinkers, while Nigeria's resident
expat population tend to migrate toward Pat's Place.
Finally, no Lagos nightlife experience is complete without a
visit to the New Afrika Shrine - a Lagos institution. The original
Afrika Shrine was the spiritual home of Afrobeat, owned by Lagos
legend Fela Kuti. After it burned down, the musician's son Femi
Kuti built the New Afrika Shrine to carry on the tradition, and
still plays there when he is in town.
Getting around Lagos can be a thrilling and unpredictable
experience. Walking can be risky unless a traveller can
convincingly blend in with the local populace, as tourists are
often targeted by criminals.
The best bet is to hire a private car and driver. Drivers are
available outside most hotels and concierges should be able to
recommend a reliable one. Taxis are reasonably safe, reliable, and
affordable. Cabs are often painted yellow with a blue stripe
running down the side.
Lagos has a number of interesting museums, including the
National Museum of Nigeria, the Didi Museum, the Nike Art Gallery,
and the National Theatre of Arts and Culture.
For many travellers, the noise and bustle of the city's streets
and markets will seem enough of a sightseeing adventure. Lekki
Market is a great experience, and one of the best places to explore
what city life in Lagos is all about.
After a few days in the city, many visitors may feel the need
for some peace and quiet, and there are a number of great
attractions within an hour's drive from central Lagos. There are
several excellent beaches in the area, including Eleko Beach, Bar
Beach, Elegushi, and Lekki Beach. Nearby beach resorts like
Hermitage Garden Resorts and La Campagne Tropicana on the Lekki
Peninsula are worth a visit, as is the Lekki Conservation Centre.
Finally, no trip to Lagos is complete without a visit to Sungbo's
Eredo to see the largest pre-colonial construction Africa has to
offer, or the ancient slave port of Badagary Town.