Lagos
Lagos, or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan port city in southwestern Nigeria.
As of November 2025, the size of the city's population has been estimated to be between 17 and 21 million residents, making Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world.
Getting to Lagos
- 01Murtala Muhammed International Airport
- 02Lagos-Ebute Metta
The new central railway hub, long-distance trains from Ibadan call here.
- 03Lagos Terminus
- 04Oshodi
The largest bus terminal for intercity buses.
Worth seeing
It is said that Lagos is for tourists like England is for food — bland and boring. It's a stereotype and not really true, but you have to put the effort in to see Lagos. There are also lots of markets to see, although doing so can be very tiring. They are usually safe during the day. There are several parks in Lagos where visitors can enjoy some greenery and nature.
Things to do
There are over a dozen beaches in Lagos (Lekki, Alpha, Eleko, Akodo beaches to the east, and Tarkwa Bay, Ogogoro Island, Atlas Cove, Lighthouse beach, Ilashe Beach, Agaja Beach and Badagry beach to the west), making for a wide array to choose from. More beaches are found outside the city, in places like Badagry. Good for picnics and barbecues. Inside the city, Lekki is about as good as it gets.
Where to eat
There are several restaurants in Lagos. The restaurants are of several types. Sherlaton has outlets in two places. One in the mainland (Hotel Newcastle, Antony Village) and another in VI (Hotel Cumberland, Adeola Odeku St) Mr Bigg's. The ubiquitous Mr Bigg's is Nigeria's version of McDonald's. While western fare such as hamburgers is served, Nigerian delicacies such as jollof rice and moin moin are more popular.
Getting around Lagos the local way
- Get aroundAvoid taking an Okada for long distances, while it's raining and in the night Okadas and kekes (tuk tuks) were banned by the government in Lagos/Victoria Islands, Ikeja, Apapa, Yaba, and certain other Mainland districts of Lagos effective Feb of 2020 for safety reasons.
- Get aroundAvis is your best bet for this; either call or make use of their online services: Lagos Ferry Services Company runs scheduled routes between Lagos Island, Banana island, Mile 2 (Apapa axis) and the mainland.
- Get aroundModern ferries have been assigned to carry both passengers and cargo on the lagoon and on some creeks.
From Wikivoyage: Lagos City, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-08.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Johnbrainyvisuals (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
