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Ibadan
Capital city of Oyo State, Nigeria

Ibadan

Ibadan is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria.

Plan a trip to Ibadan→From Lagos

It is one of the largest cities by population in Nigeria with a population of 4.3 million within its metropolitan area. At 3,080 square kilometres (1,190 mi2) it is the country's largest city by land area. At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country, and the second-most populous in Africa behind Cairo. Ibadan is ranked one of the fastest-growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the UN Human Settlements Program (2022). It is also ranked third in Nigeria and fifth in West Africa in the tech startups index. Ibadan joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016. During the 19th century, Ibadan was the capital of the Ibadan Republic, one of the most powerful states of contemporary Yorubaland.

Get in

Getting to Ibadan

Shared cars and buses are available to Ibadan from multiple bus terminals in Lagos for about ₦2,000 and above (naira). The journey takes about three to four hours along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and buses arrive in the southern part of the city. Private taxis can be hired from Lagos for USD 30-50.

  1. 01
    Ibadan Airport

    The higher-speed Lagos-Ibadan Railway line connecting Ibadan to Lagos via Abeokuta opened in January 2021.

  2. 02
    Obafemi Awolowo railway station Moniya
  3. 03
    Old Ibadan
  4. 04
    Ladoke Akintola

    Omi Adio, Abeokuta Road.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    National Museum of Unity

    Better than most of the regional museums in Nigeria, the museum at Ibadan has a large collection of art, drums, and Egungun costumes.

  2. 02
    Agodi Gardens
  3. 03
    Bower Memorial Tower

    Here you can get some inspiring views over Ibadan, particularly from the top of the tower.

  4. 04
    The University of Ibadan

    Nigeria's oldest university (established in 1948), and a centres of collegiate learning in Africa.

  5. 05
    Mapo Hall

    This is another site where you can get good views of Ibadan, particularly of all the brown roofs everywhere.

  6. 06
    Cocoa House

    This is the first building in Nigeria with over 20 floors, it is the first skyscraper in West Africa.

Do

Things to do

For some outdoor touring and hiking, you could try:

  1. 01
    Ado Awaye Mountains and Suspended Lakes
  2. 02
    Old Oyo National Park

    Iseyin - Oyo Rd, Isokun, Oyo (park office 57 km north of Ibadan, actual park is like another 40 km north), josephassam@rocketmail.com.

  3. 03
    Trans-Amusement

    Attractions include roller coasters, electronic bumper cars, panoramic wheels, Ferris wheels, merry-go-round horses, space station, flying chain chairs, dragon boats, and funky basket circles.

  4. 04
    Viva Cinema

    The Palms Shopping Mall, MKO Abiola Way,.

Eat

Where to eat

For meals, you could try Kokodome Plus, Marthas Kitchen, Latitude Cafe & Lounge, Ibachi, or the Wimpy Ibadan.

  1. 01
    Bitemore Moniya

    Moniya.

  2. 02
    Chicken Republic

    An outlet of the restaurant chain Chicken Republic where meals such as rice, chips, chicken and Soda drinks are sold.

  3. 03
    Ose Olorun Food Canteen
  4. 04
    Dominos Pizza

    Abiola way, ring road, Ibadan (from Challenge Bus stop, Approach M.K.O Abiola way, the outlet is close to Mobil Filling Station, at Ring Road),.

  5. 05
    Mr Biggs

    Mr Biggs franchise is a chain restaurant that sells rice, chicken, burger and other take-away foods.

How locals move

Getting around Ibadan the local way

  • Get inShared cars and buses are available to Ibadan from multiple bus terminals in Lagos for about ₦2,000 and above (naira).
  • Get aroundThere is an extensive network of minibuses and shared cars.

From Wikivoyage: Ibadan, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.