Your official guide to experiencing Lagos city in Nigeria

ABOUT LAGOS, NIGERIA:

Lagos City, Nigeria is the most populous city in Nigeria, the second fastest-growing city in Africa and the seventh in the world. Lagos is a metropolitan area which originated on islands separated by creeks, such as Lagos Island, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon while protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits such as Bar Beach, which stretch up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) east and west of the mouth. 

 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA:

There are over a dozen beaches in Lagos, making for a wide array to choose from.

 

• Tarkwa Bay - This man-made bay and beach was created during the formation of the Lagos harbour. It's a sheltered beach within the harbour breakwater and the safest for Children out of all the beaches in Lagos. The Beach is accessible by boat only, which can be hired opposite the American/Indian Embassy. You can also board water taxis for about ₦300($2 US Dollars) per trip. Surfing is available and other water sports such as Jet Skiing and Water Skiing are fairly common. The beach is good for a one-day picnic because of the absence of hotels and restaurants on it. You can buy good paintings and handicrafts from the local vendors on the beach. The last boats leave Tarkwa bay at 5PM. 

 

• Lagos Bar Beach - Named after the sand bars that characterize the coastline of Lagos, Bar Beach is very popular as the main inner city beach with easy access to hotels and restaurants.

 

• Lighthouse Beach - Located right beside Tarkwa Bay is Lighthouse Beach, named after the 110 year old lighthouse that guards the entrance to Lagos harbour. The Lighthouse can just be seen from the beach. The walk along the beach between Tarkwa Bay and Lighthouse Beach is very pleasant as you can watch the many ships queuing up to enter the port on the nearby horizon.

 

• Eko Tourist Resort (Akodo Beach) is at least a 40 minute drive from Lagos City Centre. The Resort has chalets, restaurants and a large conference hall on 10 acres, with more than half a mile of clean beach.

 

• Tropicana Beach - This beach is ideal for a quiet getaway with family or spouse (especially on honeymoon), with great Resorts like the La Champagne Tropicana Beach Resort offering 5star services on this private beach. 

 

• Other beaches include, Lekki Beach, Coconut Beach.    

 

OTHER ATTRACTIONS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA:

Other attractions in Lagos include, National Theatre of Arts & Culture, Tinubu Square and National Museum of Nigeria, Palms Shopping centre, Silverbird Galleria.

 

PLANNING A TRIP TO LAGOS, NIGERIA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

• Foreign Alien Visa: If you are planning on visiting Lagos City in Nigeria but do not hold a valid visa for travel, and you are neither a Nigerian Citizen (with a valid Nigerian Passport) nor a citizen of the Visa free travel countries (with a valid Passport) of the Economic Community Of West African States, then you must obtain a visa before leaving your home country to visit Nigeria. NOTE: Citizens of the following countries can travel visa free to Nigeria provided they hold a valid Passport: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Cape Verde. Citizens of Kenya may travel visa free to Nigeria and obtain a Visa at their point of entry to Nigeria.

 

• Flights to Lagos, Nigeria: FROM OUTSIDE NIGERIA: The following airlines offer services to Lagos: Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Arik Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, EgyptAir, AirFrance, Alitalia, Royal Jordanian, Lufthansa, South African Airways,

  KLM and Iberia. FROM WITHIN NIGERIA: Airlines flying to Lagos include: Arik Air, Dana Air, IRS Airlines, Aero.

 

• Where to stay in Lagos, Nigeria: Lagos has a variety of accomodations available. Click here for a list of Hotels in Lagos. 

 

• ​Getting around Lagos, Nigeria: Visitors to Lagos can choose any of the three public transport services avalaible which include, Taxis, BRT Buses, Trains. (Please visit LAMATA to view routes/maps). As with any big city Buses and Trains can be chocked with many commuters. Visitors are advised to rent/hire a vehicle which usually comes with a driver for the entire period. (To rent/hire a car, click here).

 

OUR TIPS: VISITING LAGOS, NIGERIA

 

• Making Calls: Buy a local SIM card and slut it in your phone and call your loved ones from your local line. It will save you a fortune. Roaming rates you are likely to pay for answering or making a call from Nigeria will be in the region of $1.50 - $3.00 per min. A local service provide like GLO will not charge you for receving calls and when you make a call back home, it will be in the region of $0.10c - $0.70c per min with USA being cheaper at $0.10. Prepaid topup plans start from as low as $0.70 - $100. Internet Data bundles are also cheap with plans starting as low as $19.00 for 1.5GB, $32.00 for 4GB etc.

 

• Emergency Contact Number in Nigeria: for Police, Fire Service or Armbulance is 112.

 

• Tourist Medical Treatment in Nigeria: Nigeria operates a Prepay Medical treatment system and visitors are advised to takeout a medical insurance policy with a company that serves a hospital in the city you will be visiting in Nigeria. Click here for a list of accredited medical insurance companies in Nigeria. NOTE: It is advised that you take out a policy with one of the accredited Medical insurance providers here in nigeria as hospitals may refuse your foreign medical insurance policy provider.

 

• Money: If you have a Debit or Credit card that is either a VISA or Mastercard, you can make payments over the counter at retail stores, restaurants, hotels etc and withdraw cash at a local ATM here in Nigeria at any of these Banks; UBA Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank. Nigeria has the most advance banking system in all of Africa and as long as your card is either a VISA or MASTERCARD you can make payments or make withdrawals here in the local currency at an excellent rate. NOTE: Please do not carry thousands of dollars in your pocket under a misguided thought that you will be unable to access money in Nigeria, it may be seized by Customs at the port of entry or even worse, may be lost.

 

• Foreign Alien Tourist, Driving while in Nigeria: You can drive in Nigeria with a Valid foreign driver's license issued by your home country, provided you obtain a valid International Driver's Permit (IDP) before leaving your home country. NOTE: Your IDP must be accompanied by a valid driver's license issued by your home country and carried with you at all times while driving. Further, you must verify that the vehicle you are driving while in Nigeria is insured, is road worthy (Road worthiness certificates are issued by the Vehicle Inspection Office). It is a legal requirement to carry valid copies these documents with you at all times.

 

• Tour Guide/Expenses: when travelling to another country, please remember to take all pre cautions as every major city (from London to New York City) with a major tourist attracton has con artists posing as tour guides. Plan for the trip and book a 3-5 star hotel. Rent/hire a car which comes with a driver who knows the city/town excellently, he will be your tour guide for an extra tip.