Lagos Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
- For other places with the same name, see Lagos (disambiguation).
Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria. It is a massive city of somewhere between 10 and 20 Million people. Really, nobody can tell you accurately because the last census was in the mid 80's, although a new census was undertaken in March 2006.
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Understand
Originally, the city was ruled by kings, which were conquered by neighbouring Benin. After this, the Portuguese and English colonies successively made puppets of these locally revered leaders, to further their trading needs.
Lagos was famous for being the trading hub of many spices and metals. For a long period, it functioned as a slave trading post too, although it's hard to find remnants of this history in contemporary Lagos.
Currently, Lagos is the major business centre in Nigeria, although it is no longer the capital city. This is because the new 1994 civilian government found corruption endemic and decided to start afresh in Abuja. 10 years later, it looks like Abuja is going the same way.
Lagos still serves as the main area of activity because of it's convenient location, and cosmopolitan culture. Most of the business is located on the islands, although the majority of the popluation live on the mainland.
Lagos is best traveled at dusk or in the evening when traffic is low. However, please express caution in the night if you decide to go for a walk as armed robbery and mugging is very common. Keep an eye out for "Area Boys," as the local thugs are called.
Get in
You can fly in from most European cities, and from South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Get around
Use busses to move around the city. During the day, they are safe (in terms of crime) and cheap. Taxis cost a lot more, and are safer at night.
For moving around a single area, use Okada. These motorbikes are quick and save a lot of walking. You can safely halve their first price, and usually there are lots to choose from. Choose an older driver as the younger ones are cowboys.
See
Do
Lagos is for tourists like Germany is for humour. It's a sterotype and not really true, but you have to put the effort in to see it.
There are a lot of great beaches. Especially if you make the effort to get outside the side (like Badagari). Inside the city, Lekki is about as good as it gets.
There are also lots of markets to see, although it can be very tiring. Usually safe during the day.
Buy
Eat
Ikoyi also has a lot of good places to grab a bite such as Double 4 and Albasha. (no longer there) On VI (Victoria Island) you will find a clean and nice lebanese restaurant - Lamia. Also on VI, in Picolo Mondo, is the only thing in Lagos that reminds a real espresso coffee.
Make sure not to miss the nigerian traditional "Pepper Soup" - the strongest can be found in Da Grotto bar, on VI.
Il Sirriso is great for Italian and Saipan is the best Chinese, plus has a great nightclub. Both are on VI.
Drink
A few good clubs are on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, Baccus being one of them and Eleven 45 another.
- Africa's Shrine. With Femi Kuti, son of the legend Fela Kuti.
- Lagbaja, Oyingbo Road (in Ikeja).
- 'La Casa' on VI
Victoria Island (popularly called VI) should also be another port of call. It has a vibrant night life, with cool clubs like Planet 44 and good places to eat as well.
Sleep
Tourism's not big in Lagos. Unless you are very rich, hotels are really not an option. They're either very expensive or not too safe. The best thing to do is stay with people you know, which is fairly easy since Nigerians are very hospitable.
Budget
Mid range
Splurge
Stay safe
Contact
You will hardly be able to find your way in Nigeria especially the busy environ of Lagos unless you have been provided earlier direction. However, there is Nigerian Yellow Pages both in print and on the internet at NigerianYellowPages.com www.NigerianYellowPages.com to help those engaging in various business endeavours in Nigeria, and to any interested business/individual wishing to do business with Nigerians [at home or overseas]. Nigerian Yellow Pages is a handful resource or directory to help you find exactly what you are looking for, and for Business Organisation to be reached easily. Also there is a website; www.johnniejust.com www.johnniejust.com, that offers help to anyone seeking help to live and enjoy in Lagos.
Get out
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