Owo travel guide

Owo, Nigeria

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Owo

Introduction

Owo is a city and local government area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Between 1400 and 1600 CE it served as the capital of a Yoruba city-state, and that history shapes the character of the place you will encounter today.

Before you go

Owo sits in Ondo State, in a part of Nigeria whose oral tradition links its founding to Ile-Ife and to the sons of the Yoruba deity Oduduwa. That heritage shows in the town's long association with Ife culture and in its ivory carving, which was prized at the court of Benin and which drew Owo's artisans into the royal workshops there. The town kept a degree of independence from Benin while sometimes paying tribute, and courtly culture moved in both directions between the two kingdoms. Later it came under British rule, then formed part of the Western Region and Western State before becoming part of Ondo State.

Expect mostly cloudy skies and intermittent rain, with high humidity that makes the air feel warmer than the temperature alone suggests. Light wind arrives from the southwest. Pack for damp, sticky conditions and plan around spells of rain rather than a dry, clear season.

Getting there

You can reach Owo by bus from various parts of the state, with fares varying depending on where you start your journey. Buses also bring people to Owo directly from other parts of the country, again at prices that depend on your location.

Flying is another option, particularly from Lagos. A plane journey from Lagos to Owo takes about 1½ hours, and ticket prices vary depending on your location.

Getting around

Getting around Owo means relying on private carriers rather than a scheduled public network. Buses are the main way people move around the city and reach all parts of it, with yellow minibuses — the danfo familiar across Nigeria — running along the major routes as the cheapest but busiest option, and shared minibuses covering short hops within town. Shared taxis run from Owo to regional destinations such as Akure and Benin City. Fares are paid in cash directly to the driver or conductor, so keep small notes on you, and agree the price before boarding any shared or negotiated service. For regional travel, the transport hub in the market district is the gathering point for buses and taxis heading out of town. Motorbike taxis, known as okadas, are popular, fast and maneuverable, able to slip past traffic jams on central roads, and they are the practical way to reach places far from the road or where the surface is too rough for buses — though they are generally considered less safe than taxis, so ask the rider to go carefully. Registered taxis are the recommended choice for comfort and for evening movement between guesthouses and other establishments. There is no rail link to Owo and no metro or tram network, so buses, minibuses, taxis and motorbikes are your only options. Owo is not a walking city for covering meaningful distances; walking is fine for short errands near where you are staying, but plan on using buses, taxis or okadas to get between districts, and avoid travelling to the outskirts after dark.

Where to stay

Owo’s accommodation is concentrated along the main routes into town, with the Best Western Mydas Hotel on Ikare-Owo Road among the established options for travellers arriving via the Sagamu-Benin Expressway. The Chancery Hotel Owo, on Owo-Ute-Uhen Road, is a three-star property with air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, a garden and terrace, and leisure facilities including a gym and lawn tennis court. Rooms there also include a seating area, satellite TV and DVD player, and practical extras such as a coffee machine, microwave and dishwasher, along with laundry and valet services, parking and security. Both hotels follow the same check-in and check-out pattern, with rooms generally ready from mid-afternoon and departure by midday, so plan your arrival accordingly. The Chancery offers a paid airport shuttle, useful if you are flying in, while the Best Western Mydas provides a straightforward base on the road toward Ikare. Book ahead if your visit coincides with a busy period, and confirm current rates and inclusions directly with the property before you travel.

Food & drink

Owo's eating options lean heavily toward local dishes and fast food, with most places offering dine-in, takeaway or delivery. For Nigerian staples, try Triple Tee on Ikare-Owo Road, which serves various local dishes and fast food, or La cuisine palace, where the menu includes catfish pepper soup, fried rice, porridge yam, vegetable soup, white rice and assorted meats. Honesty Restaurant at Ado junction on the Akure-Benin road covers both local and continental dishes, soups and cafe fare, while De Elegance Restaurant on Itare Express serves continental cuisine, fast food and local dishes. Several kitchens specialise in takeaway, including Kemi kitchen on Okedogbon Road, Femcy Kitchen on Oke Ogun Street and Burgerland Pastries, also on Oke Ogun Street, which adds delivery. Chicken Republic at Ijebu, just after the Ijebu-Owo roundabout on the Owo-Akure road, and 21 Ages international both offer dine-in and takeaway, as do Laide Restaurant on Ikare-Owo road, Isale-Oro Restaurant on Ishokun-Odo street and Wana Restaurant along Ososo Grammar school. For drinks, Omoskla cafe sits opposite Chicken Republic on Ododasa Street, with dine-in and takeaway service.

What to see and do

The Olowo of Owo's palace is the focal point of any visit. Built in 1340 and covering a vast area of land, it is the largest palace in Yoruba land and was declared a national monument by the Federal Government in 2000. Over 100 ancient courtyards once existed within its walls, each dedicated to a particular deity and serving its own function, though only 17 remain intact. The Owo Museum, founded in 1968, preserves antiquities formerly kept in the palace and, thanks to the city's proximity to Ile-Ife and Benin City, offers an introduction to the history and people of Owo. The Igogo Festival is the city's great annual event, lasting seventeen days and beginning with Upeli proceedings led by the Iloro chiefs. The Upeli procession runs for twelve days and includes activities such as Utegi, Ugbabo, Uyanna and Ugbate, alongside celebrations of new yams and masquerade dances. The festival commemorates the king's wife who turned into a tree while being pursued, and it carries distinctive rules: drums are forbidden, with metal gongs (agogo) used instead, and the firing of guns, the wearing of caps by men and head ties by women near the Olowo are all prohibited. The Olowo dresses in a coral beaded gown and plaits his hair like a woman, while the chiefs also plait their hair, dance round the town and visit loved ones who give them gifts in return. Bare-chested men of the Iloro Quarter, known as Ighares, wear white caps and carry two horns of buffalo, striking them together as they dance around the town and visit sacred places. The festival's prime aim is to draw the youth of the community more deeply into Owo's cultural norms.

Three days in Owo

Day one: Arrive in Owo, a Yoruba town in Ondo State, Nigeria, and settle into your base. The town sits between the Yoruba heartland of Ile-Ife, home of Oduduwa, and the old Benin kingdom, so expect a place shaped by both. Light clothing is what you pack, because the weather is warm. Buses from Lagos get you here, and shared taxis from Akure or Benin City are another way in. Fares are negotiable. For a bed, look at the Best Western Mydas Hotel on Ikare-Owo Road, The Chancery Hotel Owo, or a registered motorbike to get around. Spend the rest of the day walking the centre and getting your bearings.

Day two: Go deeper into Owo's Yoruba character and its links to Ile-Ife and Benin. Later history left its mark too, through the British and the Western Region and Western State eras, and you can read that layer in the town's layout and institutions. Move around by registered motorbike or shared taxi, and keep fares in mind. Ute and Uhen Road are among the places to pass through as you explore. Expect warm, light conditions, so carry water and pace yourself.

Day three: Use the day for the wider area before you leave. The Sagamu-Benin Expressway and the Ikare-Owo Road are your main routes, and shared taxis or buses connect you onward to Akure, Benin City or Lagos. If you are flying, Lagos is the usual departure point. Fares vary, so agree them first. Pack light, expect warm weather, and leave time for one last look at Owo before you go.

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