Travellers exploring the Lagos waterfront by boat with a local guide

Hand-picked by Benjamin · Lagos & beyond

Things to do in Nigeria

From Lagos markets and lagoon communities to heritage day trips and once-a-year festivals — an honest, curated guide to what is genuinely worth your time, and how to do it well with someone local.

Plan your Nigeria trip Explore experiences

11
Curated experiences: 5+
Cities & regions: 2
Major festivals: 1
Trusted local guide

The big city

Lagos, unfiltered

Loud, creative and relentless — Nigeria's biggest city rewards anyone who shows up curious. These are the Lagos stops worth your time, and the local know-how that makes them work.

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Lagos

Lagos City Tour

Lagos is Nigeria's biggest and most intense city: crowded, energetic, commercial, creative and sometimes overwhelming. A guided day in Lagos can include markets, local food, neighbourhoods, art, waterfront areas, music culture and everyday street life.

Lagos is much easier with a local guide who understands timing, traffic, transport, photography etiquette and which areas are worth visiting on the day.

Good for: first-time visitors, culture, food, markets, city life
Best with: private guide and driver
Allow: full day

Plan a Lagos day with Benjamin

Wooden boats on the water in Makoko, Lagos

02 Lagos Lagoon

Makoko by Boat

Makoko is one of Lagos's most memorable and sensitive places to visit. The community is built around the lagoon, with homes, boats, schools and daily life connected to the water. It should be visited respectfully, ideally through someone with real local contacts.

This is not a place for casual poverty tourism. The best visits are arranged carefully, with permission, sensitivity and a clear understanding of where visitor payments or donations are going.

Good for: community visits, photography with care, understanding Lagos beyond the surface
Best with: a guide who knows the community
Important: ask before taking photos

Photo: boellstiftung, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped/resized from original.

03 Lagos / Abuja / Nigerian art context

Nike Art Gallery

Nike Art Gallery is one of Nigeria's best-known cultural stops and gives visitors a strong introduction to Nigerian art, textiles, sculpture and contemporary creativity. It is an easy way to add colour, craft and context to a Lagos itinerary.

It works well as part of a Lagos day tour, especially when combined with food, markets or a quieter stop after a busy morning. The image here shows the Abuja branch, so Benjamin can help you choose the right Nike Art Gallery stop for your route.

Good for: art, culture, Nigerian textiles, relaxed sightseeing
Best combined with: Lagos food stops, Lekki, Makoko or city highlights
Allow: 1-2 hours

Photo: Turizimpressions, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

04 Lagos Island

Balogun Market

Balogun Market is dense, loud, hot, crowded and full of energy. It is not a polished tourist market, but that is exactly what makes it interesting. For travellers who want to feel the scale and rhythm of Lagos, it can be one of the most immersive stops in the city.

A local guide is strongly recommended. Photography should be discreet, and visitors should avoid using large cameras openly in crowded market areas.

Good for: street life, textiles, local commerce, immersive Lagos
Best with: a guide who knows the layout
Important: be careful with photos and valuables

Photo: Yellowcrunchy, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

A plate of Nigerian jollof rice and fried plantain

05 Lagos

Lagos Food and Restaurants

Nigeria is a good country for food, from simple local meals to modern restaurants serving Lagos's middle and upper-class dining scene. A guide can help visitors choose places that are clean, reliable, interesting and practical for their route.

Before sitting down, it is worth checking whether the restaurant accepts cash, Nigerian cards or international cards. Payment can be less straightforward than visitors expect.

Good for: Nigerian food, casual meals, modern Lagos dining
Best with: local advice
Important: confirm payment method before ordering

Photo: Lyndadelz, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

Beyond the gridlock

Beyond the city

Trade traffic for granite hills, heritage towns and the planned calm of Abuja. Each of these sits a drive away from Lagos and reveals a different Nigeria.

The Point of No Return site in Badagry, Lagos State

01 Badagry, west of Lagos

Badagry Slave Route

Badagry is one of the most important historical day trips from Lagos. The town has several sites connected to the transatlantic slave trade, including museums, colonial-era buildings, barracoons, the lagoon crossing and the Point of No Return.

It is a serious and emotional visit rather than a light sightseeing day. The route is best done with a guide who can explain the history clearly and arrange transport between the different stops.

Good for: history, heritage, serious cultural travel
Best as: a full-day trip from Lagos
Allow: a long day because of traffic and distance

Photo: Agbebiyi Adekunle (Tadek Photography), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

A wide view of Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State

02 Ogun State

Abeokuta and Olumo Rock

Abeokuta is a worthwhile trip outside Lagos for travellers who want to see a different side of southwest Nigeria. Olumo Rock is the main landmark: a granite outcrop with historical and spiritual significance, plus views over the city.

Abeokuta can also be combined with the Obasanjo Presidential Library, local religious or cultural experiences, and a slower look at life outside Lagos.

Good for: short hikes, history, city views, culture outside Lagos
Best as: day trip or overnight from Lagos
Transport note: train travel may be possible, but ticket payment can be difficult for foreign visitors

Photo: Adedayo Adesilola, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

03 Abeokuta

Obasanjo Presidential Library

The Obasanjo Presidential Library is one of Nigeria's more unusual modern historical attractions. It gives visitors a way to understand part of Nigeria's political history through the life and travels of one of the country's best-known leaders.

It works best as part of an Abeokuta itinerary rather than as a standalone trip from Lagos.

Good for: Nigerian history, politics, modern Africa
Best combined with: Olumo Rock
Allow: 1-2 hours

Photo: AVA MULTIMEDIA, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

04 Abuja

Abuja City Tour and National Mosque

Abuja feels very different from Lagos. It is more spacious, planned, quieter and easier to move around, with wide roads and large government districts. It does not have one obvious superstar attraction, but it can be a pleasant contrast after Lagos.

A guided Abuja day can include the National Mosque, National Christian Centre, city viewpoints, local restaurants, markets and selected neighbourhoods. Visits to religious or government-adjacent sites may require permission, and photography can be sensitive.

Good for: calmer city experience, architecture, modern Nigeria
Best with: private transport
Important: dress respectfully and ask before photographing sensitive sites

Photo: ola2unjee, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

Once-a-year spectacle

Festivals & spectacle

Few things on earth match a Nigerian festival in full flow — horses, royalty, colour and sound. Time your trip right and these become the centrepiece.

Horsemen riding during the September 2016 Durbar in Kano

01 Kano, Northern Nigeria

Kano Durbar Festival

The Kano Durbar is one of Nigeria's great cultural spectacles, with horsemen, traditional dress, royal ceremony, music and large public gatherings around Eid celebrations. UNESCO lists Durbar in Kano as intangible cultural heritage.

This is not a casual last-minute trip. Festival travel in northern Nigeria needs careful planning, reliable local arrangements, conservative dress and up-to-date safety advice.

UNESCO Durbar in Kano listing

Good for: major cultural festivals, photography, traditional ceremony
Best for: experienced travellers with local support
Plan ahead: dates follow the Islamic calendar

Photo: DonCamillo, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

02 Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

Ojude Oba Festival

Ojude Oba is one of southwest Nigeria's most colourful cultural festivals. It is held in Ijebu-Ode after Eid al-Kabir and brings together age groups, families, riders, music, fashion and homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland.

For travellers already in Lagos or southwest Nigeria at the right time of year, it can be a standout cultural experience. Transport, seating, timing and local etiquette should be planned in advance.

Ojude Oba festival background

Good for: Yoruba culture, festival photography, traditional dress
Best with: advance local arrangements
Plan ahead: festival dates change each year

Photo: Smilesnmore Digital Photography, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped/resized from original.

How a Lagos day comes together

You do not book individual tickets and hope it flows. Here is how the right stops can stack into one well-paced day — adjusted entirely to your interests and energy.

1
Morning

Markets & street life

Start at Balogun or Lekki Market while it is still cool, with a guide who knows the layout and keeps photography discreet.
2
Midday

Art, then a real lunch

Cool down inside Nike Art Gallery, then a reliable local spot for jollof, grilled fish and plantain.
3
Afternoon

Makoko by boat

Head to the lagoon for a respectful, pre-arranged visit to the waterside community — Lagos beyond the surface.
4
Evening

Waterfront & music

Wind down by the water and ease into Lagos nightlife or live music, at your own pace, with a driver handling the traffic.

Every itinerary is custom. Tell Benjamin your dates, group size and interests and he will shape a realistic plan around them.

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Know before you go

Nigeria can be warm, generous and memorable, but it works best when the practical parts are handled early.

Money and payments

Nigeria uses the naira. Visitors should not assume that every place will accept international cards, and some businesses may not accept cash either. Digital payments from Nigerian bank accounts are very common, which can make payment awkward for foreign travellers. A local guide can help with exchanging cash, understanding fair prices, choosing restaurants, arranging transport and avoiding unnecessary overcharging.

Airport arrival

Lagos airport can be easier than many visitors expect, but arrival is still smoother with help arranged in advance. A guide can assist with transport into the city, SIM card advice, money exchange guidance and first-day orientation.

Photography

Photography can be sensitive in Nigeria, especially in Lagos markets, around monuments, government buildings, communities and crowded public places. A phone is usually less intrusive than a large camera. Always ask before photographing people closely.

Best time to visit

The dry season is usually easier for travel, though Lagos and southern Nigeria can still be hot and humid. November can be a good month because the landscape may be greener after the rains, while February is often dry but hazy.

Visa basics

Keep visa planning separate from sightseeing planning. Visa rules can change, so check official sources before booking travel. Benjamin can help with practical visa preparation and invitation letter support where relevant.

Why use a local guide?

Nigeria rewards travellers who are flexible, curious and realistic. It is not always a simple country to explore independently, especially on a short trip. A local guide helps with transport, timing, money, safety, cultural etiquette and choosing the right stops for your interests.

Want help planning your Nigeria itinerary?

Benjamin can help you build a realistic Nigeria plan based on your dates, group size and interests. He can help with Lagos day tours, airport arrival support, markets, food, Makoko, Badagry, Abeokuta, Abuja planning and custom Nigeria itineraries.

Suggested WhatsApp message

Hello Benjamin, I am planning a trip to Nigeria. My dates are [dates]. We are [number] people. I am interested in [Lagos / Makoko / Badagry / Abeokuta / Abuja / festivals / food / markets]. Can you please help me plan what is realistic and give me a guide price?

Message Benjamin on WhatsApp Ask about visa information

Also see Lagos private guide services or the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nigeria sightseeing, Lagos planning and private guide support with Benjamin.

What are the best things to do in Lagos with a guide?

Good Lagos guide experiences include local markets, Nigerian food, Nike Art Gallery, Makoko by boat, neighbourhood drives, beaches, music culture and practical orientation for first-time visitors. Lagos is much easier with someone who understands traffic, timing and local etiquette.

Can Benjamin help outside Lagos?

Benjamin is based in Lagos and can help with Lagos tours, arrival support and custom Nigeria planning. For places outside Lagos, message him with your dates and interests so he can explain what is realistic and what support he can provide.

Is Makoko suitable for visitors?

Makoko should only be visited respectfully and with local contacts. It is a real community, not a tourist attraction. A good visit should be arranged with care, permission and sensitivity.

Is Badagry worth visiting from Lagos?

Badagry can be a worthwhile day trip for travellers interested in history and the transatlantic slave trade. It is a serious, reflective visit and works best with a guide who can explain the different sites clearly.

Is Nigeria easy to travel independently?

Some experienced travellers do explore Nigeria independently, but it can be challenging because of traffic, payment issues, transport, local customs and photography sensitivity. A local guide makes a short trip much easier and more productive.

How do I contact Benjamin?

The easiest way is WhatsApp at +234 906 510 2421. Send your travel dates, number of travellers, where you arrive in Nigeria, and what you would like to do.