Highlights
Lagos
A sprawling megacity spread across lagoons and islands. Lekki Conservation Centre has one of Africa's longest canopy walkways, Nike Art Gallery fills four floors with Nigerian art, and Victoria Island and Ikoyi are where the city's restaurants, music venues and nightlife are concentrated.
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
A UNESCO World Heritage forest on the edge of Osogbo, filled with shrines and sculptures to the Yoruba river goddess Osun. Much of the modern artwork was created by the Austrian-born artist Susanne Wenger and local artists working with her.
Abuja and Aso Rock
The planned capital, built from the 1980s onwards, is greener and calmer than Lagos. The granite monolith of Aso Rock towers over the government district, and Zuma Rock, a giant inselberg just outside the city, appears on the old 100-naira note.
Sukur Cultural Landscape
A UNESCO-listed hilltop settlement in the Mandara Mountains near the Cameroon border, with terraced fields, stone paved paths and the remains of an iron-smelting culture. Access is remote, so check current conditions and travel advice before planning a visit.
Obudu Mountain Resort
On a plateau in Cross River State close to 1,600 metres up, Obudu has a cooler climate, rolling grassland, cable car and walking trails, a very different landscape from the humid south.
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
A granite outcrop that sheltered the Egba people during nineteenth-century wars. Guides lead visitors up past caves and shrines to views over the rooftops of Abeokuta, an easy day trip from Lagos.
Yankari National Park
Nigeria's best-known wildlife reserve in Bauchi State, home to elephants, baboons and antelope. Its Wikki Warm Spring, a clear, constantly warm pool, is the park's most popular spot for a swim.
Interesting facts about Nigeria
- Nigeria has more than 200 million people and over 500 living languages, with Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo the largest after English.
- Nollywood produces more films each year than almost any other film industry in the world, most of them made quickly and on small budgets.
- The Nok culture of central Nigeria produced terracotta sculptures more than 2,000 years ago, among the oldest figurative art in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The name Nigeria was coined in the 1890s by the British journalist Flora Shaw, after the River Niger, which flows through the country to its delta on the Atlantic.
- Lagos was the capital until 1991, when the government formally moved to the purpose-built city of Abuja in the centre of the country.
Best time to visit
The dry season, roughly November to March, is the most comfortable time to visit most of the country. From December to February the Harmattan wind blows dust in from the Sahara, bringing hazy skies and cooler nights, especially in the north. The rainy season runs from around April to October in the south, with heavy downpours and flooding in parts of Lagos; the north has a shorter, later wet season. December is busy, as many Nigerians abroad return home for Christmas and the Lagos concert and party season.
Practical information
| Capital | Abuja |
|---|---|
| Currency | Nigerian naira (NGN) |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type D, G |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz (power cuts are common; many buildings run generators) |
| Emergency | 112 |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Appreciated rather than required. Round up in restaurants if no service charge is added, and tip drivers, porters and guides a small amount in naira. |
Getting around
Domestic flights are the practical way to cover long distances, linking Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and other cities. Road travel can be slow, with heavy traffic in Lagos (the 'go-slow') and long journeys between states. The Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna railway lines offer an alternative on those routes, and Lagos has a growing light-rail network. Within cities, ride-hailing apps are the most straightforward option for visitors. Many travellers hire a car with a local driver rather than driving themselves.
Staying connected in Nigeria
Mobile data is how most Nigerians get online, and 4G coverage is good in Lagos, Abuja and other large cities, with 5G in parts of the main urban centres. Coverage thins out in rural areas, forests and the far north, and power cuts can occasionally affect signal. Public Wi-Fi is limited to hotels, some cafés and airports, and is often slow. Since you will rely on ride-hailing apps and maps from the moment you arrive, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Nigeria eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Nigeria
- Bolt: Widely used ride-hailing in Lagos, Abuja and other cities, with the fare agreed before the trip.
- Uber: Operates in the main cities and is a familiar option for booking cars with tracked routes.
- Google Maps: Navigation and traffic in Lagos; download offline maps before trips outside the cities.
- XE Currency: Quick naira conversions, useful as the exchange rate can move quickly.