Find places in Nigeria

Must-Haves

• Nike Art Gallery (Lekki)
  Five floors of Nigerian paintings, sculpture and textiles, often with Chief Nike Okundaye herself greeting visitors.
• National Museum Lagos (Onikan)
  Nigeria's national collection, with Nok terracottas and bronzes in a modest but rewarding building.

Fun for Everyone

• Freedom Park (Lagos Island)
  A former colonial prison turned leafy arts park, with concerts, plays and food stalls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kalakuta Republic Museum (Ikeja)
  Fela Kuti's former home, now a small museum with his clothes, instruments and a rooftop bar.
• Badagry Heritage Museum (Badagry)
  A moving museum in an old colonial building telling the story of the slave trade on this coast.

Must-Haves

• Lekki Conservation Centre (Lekki)
  A green escape in the city, with boardwalks through wetland forest, monkeys and one of Africa's longest canopy walkways.

Fun for Everyone

• Tarkwa Bay Beach (Lagos Harbour)
  A sheltered beach reached by boat from the city, calmer for swimming than the open Atlantic shore.
• Elegushi Beach (Lekki)
  A lively beach with music, horse rides, food and weekend crowds from across the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Muri Okunola Park (Victoria Island)
  A shady green park for an easy walk, a picnic or a weekend event.
• Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park (Ikeja)
  A wide public park beside the state secretariat, with fountains and open lawns.

Must-Haves

• New Afrika Shrine (Ikeja)
  The home of Afrobeat, where Femi and Seun Kuti play late into the night on their regular shows.

Fun for Everyone

• Rufus and Bee (Lekki)
  A games bar with bowling, arcade games and food, fun for groups and families.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lekki Arts and Crafts Market (Lekki)
  Rows of stalls selling adire cloth, beads, carvings and bronzes, with friendly bargaining expected.
• Balogun Market (Lagos Island)
  The vast, loud heart of Lagos trading, best for fabrics and lace if you go with a local friend.

Must-Haves

• Alara (Victoria Island)
  A striking concept store showcasing African fashion, design and art.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jazzhole (Ikoyi)
  A beloved bookshop and record store, perfect for Nigerian literature and old highlife vinyl.

Fun for Everyone

• Ikeja City Mall (Ikeja)
  A large, air conditioned mall with shops, a cinema and food courts.

Must-Haves

• Point of No Return (Badagry)
  The walk across Gberefu Island to the beach where enslaved people were taken to the ships.

Fun for Everyone

• Upbeat Centre (Lekki)
  A big indoor play centre with trampolines and games, ideal for a rainy day with children.
• Silverbird Galleria (Victoria Island)
  A mall and cinema where Lagosians catch the latest Nollywood releases.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Tafawa Balewa Square (Lagos Island)
  The historic parade ground where Nigeria's independence was marked.

Great for Date Night

• Lekki Ikoyi Link Bridge (Lekki)
  A cable stayed bridge popular for evening walks and lagoon views.

Must-Haves

• Yellow Chilli (Victoria Island)
  A smart, reliable place to try jollof, pepper soup and other Nigerian classics for the first time.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Amala Skye (Surulere)
  A famous spot for amala with gbegiri and ewedu, where Lagosians of every kind queue for lunch.
• Bukka Hut (Lekki)
  A clean, friendly chain for jollof, ofada stew and pounded yam with egusi.

Great for Date Night

• Shiro (Victoria Island)
  A grand pan Asian restaurant with dramatic interiors, popular for celebrations.
• RSVP Lagos (Victoria Island)
  A stylish restaurant and bar with a terrace, a buzzy crowd and a modern menu.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Café Neo (Victoria Island)
  A homegrown coffee chain serving African beans, good for a calm hour.

Great for Date Night

• Hans and René (Ikoyi)
  Gelato and sorbet in bold local flavours, a sweet stop on a hot afternoon.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bogobiri House (Ikoyi)
  A small boutique hotel full of Nigerian art, with live music nights in its lounge.

Must-Haves

• Eko Hotels and Suites (Victoria Island)
  A huge, well known hotel complex with pools and restaurants on Victoria Island.

Great for Date Night

• The Wheatbaker (Ikoyi)
  A quiet, elegant boutique hotel with contemporary art and calm leafy surroundings.

Fun for Everyone

• Federal Palace Hotel (Victoria Island)
  A historic seafront hotel with sea views and a pool.
• La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort (Ibeju Lekki)
  A beach resort built in a traditional African village style, with forest and beach.

Must-Haves

• Lagos Fashion Week (Victoria Island)
  The country's biggest fashion event each autumn, showcasing designers shaping African style.
• Felabration (Ikeja)
  A week of concerts each October celebrating Fela Kuti, centred on the New Afrika Shrine.

Off the Beaten Path

• Eyo Festival (Lagos Island)
  A rare and spectacular masquerade parade of white robed Eyo figures, held only on special occasions.

Great for Date Night

• ART X Lagos (Victoria Island)
  West Africa's leading contemporary art fair, each autumn.

Must-Haves

• Aso Rock (Asokoro)
  The great granite monolith over the capital, best admired from viewpoints around the city.
• Zuma Rock (Madalla)
  A huge rock on the road into Abuja, often called the gateway to the capital.

Fun for Everyone

• Millennium Park (Maitama)
  Abuja's biggest park, with lawns, a stream and space for families to picnic.
• Jabi Lake (Jabi)
  A lakeside promenade with boat rides, horse rides and a relaxed weekend scene.

Off the Beaten Path

• Usuma Dam (Bwari)
  A quiet reservoir in the hills outside the city, for a scenic drive by day.

Must-Haves

• Abuja National Mosque (Central Area)
  A landmark mosque with a golden dome; dress modestly and ask about visiting outside prayer times.
• National Christian Centre (Central Area)
  A grand ecumenical church facing the mosque across the city centre.

Off the Beaten Path

• Thought Pyramid Art Centre (Wuse 2)
  A gallery and arts space showing contemporary Nigerian art.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Wuse Market (Wuse)
  A large, busy market for food, fabric and everyday goods.
• Garki International Market (Garki)
  A busy market good for fabrics, tailors and everyday shopping.
• Utako Market (Utako)
  A local market for fresh food, grains and everyday goods.

Fun for Everyone

• Jabi Lake Mall (Jabi)
  A modern lakeside mall with shops, restaurants and a cinema.
• Ceddi Plaza (Central Area)
  A central mall with a cinema and supermarket, handy for errands.

Must-Haves

• Transcorp Hilton Abuja (Maitama)
  Abuja's best known hotel, with pools, restaurants and solid security.

Great for Date Night

• Fraser Suites Abuja (Central Area)
  Apartment style suites, good for longer stays and families.

Fun for Everyone

• Sheraton Abuja Hotel (Wuse)
  A large hotel with gardens and pools, a long standing choice in the city.

Great for Date Night

• BluCabana (Maitama)
  A poolside lounge and restaurant popular for evenings out with friends.
• Cilantro (Wuse 2)
  A popular Indian restaurant, a favourite of residents for years.

Must-Haves

• Wakkis (Wuse 2)
  An Indian restaurant and bar beloved by Abuja residents.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Nkoyo (Wuse 2)
  Nigerian and continental dishes in a relaxed setting, popular for local soups.
• Mama Cass (Wuse 2)
  A homely chain serving Nigerian favourites.

Great for Date Night

• Jabi Boat Club (Jabi)
  A lakeside club for drinks and food with a view of the water.

Fun for Everyone

• Silverbird Entertainment Centre (Central Area)
  A cinema and entertainment centre for films and a night out.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Abuja City Gate (Airport Road)
  The grand arch welcoming visitors to the capital, a popular photo stop.
• Unity Fountain (Maitama)
  A fountain and plaza with symbols of all of Nigeria's states.

Must-Haves

• Calabar Carnival (Calabar)
  Africa's biggest street party each December, with costumed bands parading the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Calabar Christmas Festival (Calabar)
  A month of concerts, parades and events across the city each December.

Must-Haves

• Old Residency Museum (Calabar)
  A prefabricated colonial building from the 1880s, now a museum of the region's history.
• Slave History Museum (Marina Resort)
  A museum telling the story of the slave trade in the Cross River region.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mary Slessor's Grave (Calabar)
  The resting place of the Scottish missionary still remembered across Calabar.
• Duke Town Church (Duke Town)
  One of Nigeria's oldest Presbyterian churches, a quiet historic stop.

Must-Haves

• Drill Ranch (Calabar)
  The Pandrillus sanctuary for the rare drill monkey, doing vital conservation work.

Fun for Everyone

• Marina Resort (Calabar)
  A waterfront complex with a museum, cinema and river views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Watt Market (Calabar)
  The city's main market, full of the fresh greens used in Efik soups.
• Marian Market (Calabar)
  A busy local market for food and everyday goods.

Must-Haves

• Transcorp Hotels Calabar (Calabar)
  A large, central hotel with a pool, a solid base in the city.

Must-Haves

• Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove (Osogbo)
  A UNESCO listed forest of shrines and sculptures sacred to the river goddess Osun.

Off the Beaten Path

• Adunni Olorisha Trust (Osogbo)
  The art filled former home of Susanne Wenger, who helped restore the grove.
• Ataoja's Palace (Osogbo)
  The palace of the town's traditional ruler, at the centre of Osogbo life.

Fun for Everyone

• Nike Centre for Art and Culture (Osogbo)
  An art centre and workshop where you can learn adire and batik.

Must-Haves

• Osun Osogbo Festival (Osogbo)
  A huge annual festival each August with a procession to the river.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Oja Oba Market (Osogbo)
  A local market by the palace, good for crafts, cloth and everyday life.

Must-Haves

• Olumo Rock (Abeokuta)
  A granite outcrop used as a refuge in war, with sweeping views from the top.

Must-Haves

• Itoku Adire Market (Itoku)
  The best place in Nigeria to buy adire, the city's indigo dyed cloth.

Off the Beaten Path

• Centenary Hall (Ake)
  A colonial era hall built to mark the centenary of the town.
• Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (Oke Mosan)
  A large library and museum complex on modern Nigerian history.

Fun for Everyone

• Ake Palace (Ake)
  The palace of the Alake of Egbaland, with historic buildings.

Must-Haves

• Cocoa House (Dugbe)
  One of the first skyscrapers in tropical Africa, built from cocoa wealth.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mapo Hall (Mapo)
  A colonial hall on a hilltop in the old city, with views across Ibadan.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bower's Tower (Oke Are)
  A hilltop tower with sweeping views over Ibadan's rust roofed sprawl.

Fun for Everyone

• University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (University of Ibadan)
  A small zoo on Nigeria's oldest university campus.

Fun for Everyone

• Agodi Gardens (Agodi)
  A park with pools, gardens and a small zoo, ideal for families.

Off the Beaten Path

• IITA Forest (IITA)
  A quiet forest reserve on a research campus, good for birdwatching.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bodija Market (Bodija)
  A big, busy market famous for food and fresh produce.

Must-Haves

• Kakanfo Inn (Ibadan)
  A well established hotel with gardens and a calm atmosphere.