Lagos is a lagoon city of islands, creeks and mainland suburbs, with the Atlantic held back by barrier islands and long sand spits. It is Nigeria's leading financial centre and a cultural hub, home to the National Arts Theatre, the National Museum and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture, the MUSON Centre, Nollywood and an Afrobeats recording scene.
For a visitor, the essential split is between the Islands and the Mainland. The Islands — Lagos Island and Victoria Island — sit in Lagos Lagoon and are joined to the mainland by three major bridges: the Carter Bridge from Iddo Island, the Eko Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge. The Mainland is the larger, denser expanse the city grew into, including areas such as Surulere, Ikeja, Mushin and Agege. This guide covers which of these areas to base yourself in, and what each is like for different kinds of traveller.
Best areas to stay in Lagos
1. Victoria Island
Victoria Island is one of the two major urban islands in Lagos Lagoon, separated from Lagos Island by creeks and connected to it by bridges. It is the area the travel sources single out for visitors, on the basis that a lot of the tourist attractions are there.
It suits first-time visitors in particular, and anyone who wants to be close to the sights rather than commuting to them. You will find a large and growing stock of hotels here, including many four-star properties. The practical point is simply its position: basing yourself on Victoria Island puts you on the island side of the lagoon, within the bridge network that links the islands to each other and to the mainland.
2. Lagos Island
Lagos Island is the other major urban island in the lagoon and the original city of Lagos. It contains the downtown Central Business District, where most of the city's tall buildings and high-rise skyline are concentrated, along with the High Court of the Lagos State Judiciary in an old colonial building.
It suits travellers who want to be in the historic and commercial heart of the city and within easy reach of the island's cultural sights. The Centre For Black And African Arts on Broad Street is here, and the National Museum and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture are in Onikan. Lagos Island connects to the mainland via the Carter Bridge from Iddo Island and the Eko Bridge, and to Victoria Island by bridges across the creeks between them.
3. Surulere
Surulere is a mainland area, part of the expansion of the city west of the lagoon. It is home to the National Arts Theatre, which also houses the National Gallery of Modern Art.
It suits visitors whose priority is the arts and performance side of the city, and those who prefer to base themselves on the mainland. Being on the mainland side, it sits within the bridge network that connects to the islands, so the island sights remain reachable.
4. Ikeja
Ikeja is the state capital of Lagos State and lies within the metropolitan area. It is one of the mainland areas that developed rapidly as outlying towns and settlements grew into the present-day Lagos Metropolitan Area.
It suits travellers who want a mainland base with the administrative and commercial weight of the state capital around them. As with the other mainland areas, reaching the islands means using the bridges across the lagoon.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: expect simpler, smaller places rather than the large international-style properties; the sources note that Lagos has a lot of hotels and that more are being built, so the range is broad.
- Mid-range: the sources note that Lagos has many four-star hotels priced at what you would expect to pay for a three-star hotel, which makes this band good value.
- Splurge: the top end is concentrated where the city's business and cultural life is, with the tall buildings of the downtown Central Business District on Lagos Island and the visitor-oriented hotel stock on Victoria Island.
Best area for a first visit
Victoria Island is the best base for a first visit. The travel sources advise visitors to try to get a hotel there specifically because a lot of the tourist attractions are on the island. It also keeps you within the bridge network that links the islands to each other and across the lagoon to the mainland.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay on the Islands or the Mainland?
The Islands — Lagos Island and Victoria Island — are where the sources point visitors, with Victoria Island recommended because many tourist attractions are there. The Mainland is the larger area the city expanded into, including Surulere and Ikeja, and is connected to the islands by three major bridges.
How do the islands and the mainland connect?
Three major bridges join the island to the mainland: the Carter Bridge, which starts from Iddo Island; the Eko Bridge, formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge; and the Third Mainland Bridge, which passes through densely populated mainland suburbs across Lagos lagoon.
Where are the city's cultural sights concentrated?
The National Arts Theatre and the National Gallery of Modern Art are in Surulere. The Centre For Black And African Arts is on Broad Street, and the National Museum and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture are in Onikan, on Lagos Island.
Where is the downtown business district?
The downtown Central Business District is on Lagos Island, and it is where most of the city's tall buildings and high-rise skyline are located.
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