Lagos is synonymous with culture and commerce, thereby making it perhaps the most central and visited city in Nigeria because of tales of its heritage, energy, and ability to combine business with pleasure through various day and nighttime activities. Two weeks is a rather short time to spend in Lagos, but here’s how to make the most of it.
Day 1 – Landing in Lagos
Day
One quick piece of advice: try to arrive at LOS (Murtala Muhammed International Airport) around noon for two reasons: firstly, irrespective of the day of the week, you should certainly beat traffic going to your hotel, whether on the Mainland or Island and secondly, you can catch your breath, rest for a while, and be ready to begin your holiday immediately.
Evening
For the purpose of this itinerary, we’ll say you landed on a Sunday and are staying on “the Island.” Now, depending on how much rest you need, you can have lunch at Terra Kulture, or just settle for “dinner and chill” at Radisson Blu Hotel. Here you also enjoy a beautiful view of the lagoon.
After, take a drive along the famous Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue and Adeola Odeku Street (and its immediate environs) and catch glimpses of some of the places you might visit in the coming days.
Locations:
Day 2 – Begin Your Romance With the City!
Day
From noon, take advantage of the fact that most people are at work and there will be less traffic. Visit the art galleries, Freedom Park, or the Muson Centre to drink in some of the city’s artistic atmosphere.
Because these places are fairly quiet on Mondays, you can pace yourself and maybe find out about upcoming events. Who knows, you may just climb high on a guest list.
Evening
Head to Lekki Phase 1 for another relaxing evening by the waterside with cool music. Explore the waterfront for options such as Bay Lounge, Sailors, or Farm City. You can stay at these venues as late as 00:00 hours.
Locations:
Day 3 – Explore the Mainland
Day
Some popular venues on the mainland are the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Yaba market, Yaba, Computer Village, Ikeja, and the National Theatre, Iganmu. At UNILAG, you can befriend young and hip Lagosians, then shop for “grade one” secondhand clothes and food and household wares at Yaba market. Computer Village lives up to its name, and at the theatre you might catch a rehearsal, or have a picnic in its parks.
Mind your watch though—you want to be on the side of the traffic heading towards the island once it’s after 4 p.m. if you have appointments later.
Evening
Once you’re back on the island, visit The Jazzhole. Everything about this place will please you—books, music, food (limited options, however), and vintage collections.
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Day 4 – Experience Various Nigerian Foods and Food Cultures!
Day
While the variety of popular restaurants in Lagos are great places to try the local cuisine, only bukas can offer the total Nigerian food experience package. Fantastic options abound on both the mainland and island, including Amala Shitta (Shitta, Surulere), Amala Phase 1 (Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi), White House (Yaba), and Yakoyo (Ilupeju). Just ask.
Evening
Get ready for an evening at Bottles. Bottles is not just about the Mexican food and margaritas they are renowned for, it’s simply a great place to hang out with people from all walks of life while jiving to live music. Don’t expect to have conversations in there though, it’s not called “Wild Wednesdays” for nothing.
Location:
Day 5 – Tour Eko Market and Unwind Later
Day
Take a guided tour of the magnificent Eko (also Balogun or Idumota) market in the Marina area of Lagos Island. This mammoth of a market has everything, including local textiles and designs, clothing, hair extensions, jewelry, and household items. This tour also helps you to understand navigation of the market and have an idea of price comparisons for later.
Evening
On to Bogobiri for open mic night. It is firmly suggested that you book a table at least one day in advance, and arrive early. Bogobiri tends to fill up quickly, despite the N500 gate fee, so arriving early—say around 19:00 hours—is even more advisable for those without tables. Hopefully, once the performances start you forget the squeezing and nudging. Remember to put your name down to perform.
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Day 6 – Enjoy Nature at the Conservation Centre. Party After.
Day
The Lekki Conservation Centre is a fantastic ecotourist center. Go bird watching, take long walks, lounge in the tree house, and play games.
Evening
Going clubbing in Lagos is definitely something you should do. Remember Adeola Odeku street (and its immediate environs) and Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue? Well, you will find Escape, Quilox, Rumours, Sip, Vellvett, and many more in these areas.
If you’re on the mainland, Club Vegas, The Place, and Rumours are some of your best choices. Altogether, these clubs play fantastic world music, as well as the best of Nigerian Afropop music.
Location:
Day 7 – Resort to a Getaway
Depending on your budget, choose between La Campagne Tropicana, Kamp Ikare, Grand Inagbe Resort, Whispering Palms, and more. These resorts have great beaches, awesome food and accommodations, and fun activities for guests.
Day 8 – Enjoy the Activities at the Resort
Day
Ardent planners might have a barbecue or brunch or party at the beach. If not, continue with the resort’s flow. In the evening, it’s time to head back for another week ahead.
Evening
If you’re not tired, head straight to the Mainland to catch Femi Kuti and his band at the New Afrika Shrine for a night unlike no other anywhere else in the world.
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Day 9 – Get More Local
Day
Immerse yourself more in local culture: more Nigerian cuisine and snacks, street art exhibitions, or a local wrestling game at Rowe Park in Yaba.
Evening
In the evening, you can repeat the activities of Days 1 and 2, or head to La Vida Bella for beers and games on a Monday night.
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Day 10 – Explore Lagos’ and Nigeria’s History
Day
Visit the city’s museums. Also, with enough time and energy to spare, a visit to the Badagry Slave Museum would do you a lot of educational good.
Evening
Revisit Bottles for “All you can eat and drink,” AKA Texas Tuesdays in the evening.
Day 11 – Shopping: Eko Market
Day
It’s time to buy the things you fancied while window shopping days ago. You may not find the exact same things from before—perhaps because they’re sold out—but you’ll be alright. You’re likely to spend several hours at Eko, so best be prepared.
Evening
For evening plans, opt for suya from either Glover Court Suya spot or—if you can still handle a trip to the Mainland—Awalu suya spot. Both venues are famous for providing assorted choices in beef, chicken, or innards. You can choose to enjoy your suya there or take it away for a more quiet evening in.
Locations:
Awalu Suya Spot. 1-5, James Robertson Str, Akerele, Surulere
Day 12 – Shopping: Lekki Arts and Craft Market
Day
This arts and craft market offers visitors a range of such items from different parts of Nigeria and West Africa. Items gotten from here can be used as souvenirs or decoration, or to give to family and friends back home. The shopping days are split because it is highly unlikely that you can cover two Lagos markets in a day, especially if they’re offering you two distinct sets of commodities.
Evening
Whether you’re on holiday alone, with a romantic partner, or friends, a dinner at Vellvett can suit most plans. Their menu offers an appetizing array of intercontinental food and cocktails, both classic and customised.
Locations:
Lekki Arts and Crafts Market. Oba Elegushi Street, off Lekki-Epe expressway
Day 13 – Line Up the Best Last-Minute Activities
This is practically your last active day in Lagos, thus you need to make the best last-minute plans that are both as memorable and hassle-free as possible.
Day
Therefore, you can either decide to spend this day nursing probably sore muscles back to life with a massage, or keep the momentum going and head to either Get Arena for go-karting or Kayak Lagos for kayaking. For those who love the beach, you can use this opportunity for another visit. Just take a boat from Fiki Marine to Tarkwa Bay, or drive to Elegushi beach.
Evening
Get ready to be a famous musician for one night at karaoke at Shaunz Bar. Also, try to arrive here a bit early to get in as many songs as possible before people start to troop in. After singing to your heart’s content—and if your flight is not in the wee hours of the next morning, or if you can handle this—choose from the selection of nightclubs in the vicinity to finish off your night.
Locations:
Kayak Lagos. 17, Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi
Day 14 – Getting Set to Go
If you’re like us, you probably already started packing the night before. This also depends on what time you’re scheduled to fly.
Ensure all your previous and latest personal belongings are neatly and safely arranged in your box(es). If you have a few hours to spare in the morning, head to Cactus for a lovely breakfast. Then it’s on to LOS for your return trip.
Location:
General tip for transportation – If you don’t have acquaintances here, ride-hailing apps are your best friend throughout your trip.
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