Lagos is Africa’s largest and most populous city and the 4th largest globally. With a whopping 16 million people, the city offers such electrifying energy that you can just feel when you touch down.
Lagos is the epicenter of culture, arts, music, and fashion. This means there’s never a dull moment or a shortage of things to do in this marvelous city. During my recent 2-week visit home to see family, I explored Lagos and had a blast. I have the most vivid memories of visiting historical landmarks and partying into the wee hours of the morning. Ideally, you want to stay longer than 5 days, but if you are short on time, here’s a 5-day itinerary showing you the best things to do in Lagos.
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This is the tenth post in the Nigeria travel series. Here’s the complete 10-part series:
Nigeria Travel Series
Bucket List: 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Nigeria At Least Once
Travel Guide: The Ultimate Lagos, Nigeria Travel Guide: For First-Time Visitors
Food: 9 Popular Foods To Eat In Nigeria
Packing Guide: The Complete Packing List for Your Trip to Nigeria
Travel Tips: 13 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Lagos, Nigeria
Inspiration: 15 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Nigeria
Tourist Visa: 5 Tips for U.S. Citizens Applying for a Nigerian Tourist Visa
Lagos: 11 Best Things To do in Lagos
My Story: Homegoing: Reuniting with My Biological Family
Travel Itinerary: How to spend 5-day in Lagos, Nigeria
5-Day Itinerary in Lagos, Nigeria
Here’s a map of the destinations below.
When To Visit Lagos
November to January is the best time to visit Nigeria. During this time, Nigeria experiences cool, dry winds blowing from the Sahara, known as harmattan. The weather is less hot and humid.
On the flip side, the city can be pretty dusty with windy conditions. What excites me most about visiting during this time of year is many people living aboard return home, especially as the holidays get closer.
That’s when the city feels the most special; people are excited to be back with family and friends, which means you are guaranteed to experience a higher level of enjoyment.
Where To Stay
If you’re visiting Lagos strictly for a holiday, I recommend staying on the island verse the mainland. Victoria Island and Lekki are my top choices because it’s close to beach resorts, boutiques, and of course, my favorite, the nightlife.
While I haven’t been to Ikoyi, this trendy hotspot has some of the cutest boutique hotels in the city. Check out booking.com for the best hotel options in your price range. Alternatively, you can stay in an Airbnb as we did. Since there was a group of us, we opted to stay in an Airbnb right behind the Lekki Conversation Centre.
Day 1
Arrive and get settled
If you can help it, plan your arrival at LOS -Murtala Muhammed International Airport to be before 13:00 hrs (1:00 pm local time). By getting to Lagos around this time, you will hopefully miss the infamous and frenzy-filled Lagos traffic when heading to your accommodations, whether you’re staying on the mainland or the island.
You will soon notice traveling around Lagos that the traffic is no joke. It makes New York City’s traffic and other major cities seem like a breeze!
Once at your lodging, relax and unwind. Although you might be like me and want to stay up because the adrenaline of being in a new city consumes you, you’re too excited to sleep! However, remember you had a long flight, I recommend resting up, drinking plenty of water, and taking a nap.
Try suya
After resting, you’ll want to eat and even check out the city. The very thing I have on my brain is where is the closest place for suya! This flavorful traditional street food hails from Northern Nigeria and is made by grilling pieces of skewered meat (beef or ram) with salt, onions, ground peanut, pepper, and other spices. Suya is wrapped with old newspapers or aluminum foil.
If you’re staying on the island, go to Glover Court Suya for the tastiest suya! You can eat your suya there or take it to go.
I like eating my suya immediately, as I prefer mine to be hot and fresh! After having small chops (suya and other small bites of food), head to the House Cafe Lekki for a chill dinner.
Insider tip: use Bolt or Uber to get around Lagos.
Day 2
Visit the Terra Kulture Center
Now that you’re fully rested start your day at the Terra Kulture Center Arts and Studios on Victoria Island. This cultural educational and recreational center promotes the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts, and culture.
Founded in 2003, the center has organized over 300 art exhibitions, 140 plays, and 70 book readings. After wandering around the center, you’ll have developed an appetite. Have lunch and enjoy Nigerian cuisine at the restaurant before hitting the road.
Have drinks at Moist Beach Club
After you’ve soaked up the culture, have drinks at Moist Beach Club and take in the ocean views. This swanky beach club offers the most spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, delicious food, and an incredible ambiance. Alternatively, there are plenty of other cute beach clubs along the strip you can check out.
Day 3
Spend the day in nature
Start your day bright and early and head to the Lekki Conversation Centre to see a different side of Lagos. Founded by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, this incredible coastal sanctuary is nestled on the Lekki Penisula, next to the Lekki Lagoon. The wetland reserve is home to the longest suspended canopy walkway in Africa!
One of the highlights was the 1,315 feet long (imagine more than three and a half football fields!) walkway featuring six towers offering the most incredible 360-degree views above the treetops. If you’re afraid of heights, I wouldn’t recommend going along the walkway. While in the reserve, you’ll see lots of wildlife, including monkeys, tortoises, crocodiles, and rare birds.
Insider Tip: Be sure to wear comfortable closed-toed shoes
Enjoy dinner at Shiro
This super cute Pan-Asian restaurant and bar located at Landmark Centre in Victoria islands is the ideal place for a special dinner or hot date. From the moment you walk into the restaurant, you’re surrounded by an inviting and captivating ambiance that makes you want to walk around before sitting down to dinner.
The menu offers a variety of yummy cuisines, including Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Mediterranean. If you visit Shiro on a cooler night, I highly recommend enjoying your meal overlooking the ocean!
Day 4
Check out the arts
Put aside at least two hours and check out this free art gallery! Founded by the illustrious artist and designer Oyenike Monica Okundaye, the Nike Art Centre is a 4-floor gallery filled with the most stunning and eye-catching paintings, sculptures, textiles, and the largest collections of African arts and crafts.
Every floor offers something totally different, and I fell in love with every piece of artwork I saw. As a canvas painting collector, I wanted to take home every painting! What’s cool about the gallery is it’s an artist retreat, workshop, and home all in one.
The property is beautiful, and I highly recommend walking around and exploring the intricate details of the sculptures.
One important thing to note is taking pictures of the artwork is strictly prohibited. However, you can take a picture as long as you’re standing with the sculpture or painting.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your day, head to Lekki Arts and Craft Market. This open-air market in Lagos is the best place to find a variety of one-of-a-kind wooden sculptures, masks, jewelry, Ankara fabrics, and clothing from different parts of Nigeria! The Lekki Arts and Crafts market (Jakande Air Market) is located off the corner of the Lekki-Epe expressway.
Start your night at Eko Suite Hotel & Suites
The nightlife in Lagos is one for the books. Located poolside in the Eko Hotel & Suites, this bar is the best place to start your evening. We initially came to Eko to enjoy drinks on the rooftop, but it was closed for a private party which is how we ended up at Calabash Bar. The ambiance and vibes at the bar were so inviting, and the breeze from the ocean was just incredible.
Once Calabash closes, head upstairs to crossroads to pop bottles and jam out to the latest and greatest Afrobeat tunes.
Day 5
Take a day trip to Badagry Hertigate Museum
Off the beaten path, located about 1.5 – 2 hours outside of Lagos, the Badagry Hertigate Museum is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Nigeria and is not to be missed. The museum is divided into eight sections filled with artifacts, drawings, and sculptures covering over 300 years of the slave trade era. Black Heritage Badagry Tours are available, ranging from 4 to 8 hours.
See a musical performance at New Afrika Shrine
To end your amazing 5 days in Lagos, spend your final hours checking out a musical performance at the new Afrika Shrine in Ikeja. This open-air entertainment center and art gallery were built by Femi Kuti to honor his father, Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician and human rights activist known for putting Afrobeats on the map. The Felabration, a music festival, is held during the week of Fela Kuti’s birthday to celebrate and honor his life. I haven’t experienced Felabration, and it’s high on my list. I can’t think of a better way to see Nigeria’s hottest artists perform in such a significant location.
Conclusion – Lady Chin’s Two Cents
Every time I visit Lagos, I discover something new and fall in love with the city even more. The next time I visit home, I plan to check out some of the activities I listed above that I missed, like the Lekki Craft Market. 5 days simply isn’t enough time to fully explore Lagos and everything the city offers. Still, it will undoubtedly give you a taste of the intoxicating culture and vibes.
Have you visited Lagos before? What are some of your highlights?
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