Top Ten Must-Visit Places in Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos may not feature in your bucket list of probable travel destinations, but it has many attractions that can keep you busy for several days. Here are top ten must-visit places in Lagos in case you are there for holidaying with family.
Fun seekers at Lagos Bar Beach
- Bar Beach: Located on Victoria Island, Bar Beach takes its name from the sand bars that characterize the coastline of Lagos. Ease of accessibility is a prime factor in its being the most popular beach in the city.
- Badagry: A historic town, Badagry still preserves the buildings, sites and relics that remind the dark era of slavery. Among the places of interest include the Palace of the Akran, cannons of war, the Vlekte slave market, the slave port and the relics of slave chains kept in the mini museum of slave trade.
Tarkwa Beach
- Tarkwa Beach: Enjoy a one-day picnic at the isolated Tarkwa Beach, which can only be accessed by a boat. There are no hotels or restaurants on it, but you can find vendors selling good paintings and handcrafts. Swimming as well as many water sports, such as surfing, jet skiing and water skiing, are possible at Tarkwa Beach.
Coconut Beach
- Coconut Beach: The postcard-perfect Coconut Beach enchants visitors with its miles of blue waters and rows of coconut trees. Located in the coastal town of Badagry, the pleasant and fascinating beach can easily be accessed through the Lagos-Badagry expressway, making it a perfect holiday destination for travelers taking flights to Lagos from London.
National Museum of Nigeria
- National Museum of Nigeria: Among the prized possessions of the National Museum include some of the finest bronze sculptures and ivory carvings produced by the Kingdom of Benin. Besides, the museum displays information about the country’s post-colonial generals, presidents and military rulers, including the bullet-ridden black Mercedes in which the former president Murtala Muhammad was assassinated in 1973.
- Didi Museum: A kind of its own, Didi Museum offers a seamless blend of antiquities and contemporary African art. Among the fabulous collection includes rare Jibunoh antiquities, Obalufon Bronze Head, wood carvings from Ife, Nok Terracotta from the original excavations and bronzes and wood carvings from Igbo Uku.
- National Theatre of Arts & Culture: Noted for its distinct architecture that resembles a military hat, the National Theatre of Arts & Culture, as the name suggests, endeavors to preserve, present and promote arts and culture in Nigeria. The three galleries contain exhibits of modern Nigerian art and crafts and other African arts. Visitors can also enjoy international music concerts, dramas, film shows, exhibitions and sports.
Lekki Conservation Center
- Lekki Conservation Center: A dreamland for wildlife enthusiasts, Lekki Conservation Center can allow them to see animals like crocodiles, Mona monkeys, bushbucks, Maxwell’s duikers, giant rats and mongoose. The 21-meter-high tree platform can offer you a panoramic view of the reserve, located on Lekki Peninsula and consists of swamp and savannah habitats.
- Nike Art Gallery: See an enormous collection of contemporary and traditional Nigerian arts in the four-storey building housing Nike Art Gallery. Visitors can book London to Lagos flights and also can enjoy many cultural activities, such as drumming and dancing, upon visiting the art gallery.
- Ikeja Shopping Mall: Shop until drop at one of the finest shopping malls in Lagos. Ikeja Shopping Mall is noted for 5-screen Silverbird Cinemas and Shoprite Supermarket. Check out this popular place for many departmental stores, cafes, bars, restaurants, beauty shops and international brands.