Unique Date Ideas To Try In Nigeria

Part of the ritual of bonding with a new partner is the rush and excitement of spending quality time together. Whether your date is a foodie, an outdoorsy type, or an art lover, Nigeria has a way of giving you wanderlust no matter where you go or what you do. For those special days and nights with that special someone, here are some top date ideas to try out in Nigeria.

Go on a road trip

Take a weekend off and plan a road trip! Drive around off the beaten track and let your adventure unfold. Try different dishes from the various places you visit, learn more about the history of the people and make new memories on the road.

Try fishing or snorkeling

If your date is the adventurous type, particularly if you live near the ocean (Port Harcourt, Calabar or Lagos), you could rent a boat and spend a day at sea. You could try your luck at fishing (a romantic dinner can follow with your fresh catch), or go snorkeling and discover the beauty under water.

Have a picnic

No matter where you live in Nigeria, there are many picturesque places where you can enjoy a picnic. For people in Abuja, the Jabi Lake is fantastic; you can even enjoy a boat ride on the lake. A little further south of Abuja is also Oguta Lake. Other dreamy places to unpack your hamper are the Agodi Gardens or the University Gardens in Ibadan, or Freedom Park in Lagos, where you can also often catch an art event.

Watch a play or catch a concert

After a dry spell, stage plays are making a big comeback in Nigeria. Most universities with Theatre Arts departments hold one or two plays a week. You can also take your date to an open-air concert and hear some of Nigeria’s best Afrobeat tunes.

Catch the wind on a motorcycle

From Lagos and Benin to Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt and even good old Abeokuta, there are several biking groups in Nigeria that you and your date can join and have a wild ride on the roads of Nigeria.

Critique art and coffee

Many coffee houses are popping up all over big cities in Nigeria. Paired with some of the country’s top art galleries, it’s a stimulating combination of caffeine and culture. You and your date can spend a couple of hours exploring some of the many cafés and comparing coffee roasts, then use that energy boost to hit the exhibits and art shows and discuss what you saw.

Go on a karaoke date

Nigeria is famous for its vibrant nightlife and bustling music scene. Aside for drinks and cocktails, most clubs and lounges offer karaoke services as well. What better way to have a laugh and explore each other’s fun side than by enjoying a few drinks and singing your favourite songs at top volume?

Learn a new craft

A lot of galleries offer art lessons where you can get creative and learn new arts and crafts, like pencil drawing, batik making, applique art and more. There are several art lessons you can book, and you’ll leave with new skills and the art pieces you created.

Join a masquerade group

Although a lot of the people on the floats of Nigerian masquerades and festivals are initiates, strangers are always welcome. You can join a masquerade group and enjoy the music and dancing, and learn one or two things about African spirituality.

Learn a traditional dance

Most dance studios in Nigeria, aside for fitness services, offer classes during which you can learn the steps to different traditional dances from around Nigeria. You’ll learn more about the country’s many, diverse cultures and you’ll get closer to your partner.

Go kayaking

If you’re in Lagos, this is a particularly great idea because not many people are familiar with kayaking. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and learn something new together.

Explore Nigeria on a weekend getaway

There are different groups springing up across the country whose sole aim is to explore different parts of Nigeria. You can book a weekend away with any of the groups and learn more about Nigeria, its cities and culture, the environment and, of course, the person you’re dating.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.