Stand at the Ori Olokun Roundabout in the middle of Ile-Ife and you are standing at a crossroads of a very old story: the roundabout was once called Mayfair, and it now carries a giant sculpture of Ori Olokun at its centre. This is a city where the sacred and the everyday sit side by side, where a university campus and a king's palace are both part of the same day's walk.
Ile-Ife suits travellers who are curious about Yoruba religion, art history and living tradition rather than nightlife or resort comforts. Devotees still celebrate the deities here, the museums hold relics uncovered from the city itself, and the groves and temples are working places of worship rather than exhibits.
This guide covers the sights named in the source material, with practical notes on when to go and what to combine. It does not list anything that could not be verified, so the list is shorter than a typical city guide and every entry is a real, named place.
Top things to do in Ile-Ife
1. Moremi Statue (Moremi Ajasaro)
The statue of Moremi, also known as Moremi Ajasaro, honours the queen remembered as a symbol of liberty and freedom who delivered the Yorubas from oppression. It was unveiled in 2016 by the present Oonirisa of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and is the tallest statue in Nigeria and the second tallest in Africa. Moremi was married to Oranmiyan, the heir apparent to the throne of Ife and son of Oduduwa, said to be the first King of Ile Ife.
The site is open daily from 8AM to 6PM. Come in the morning for clearer light on the statue and easier movement around the base.
2. Museum Ile Ife (National Museum Ile Ife)
This archaeological museum, beside the Ooni's Palace, displays relics uncovered from Ile Ife, including archaeological excavations, regalia, ancient remains and pictures of parts of Nigerian history. It is a good place to understand the people, the culture and the way of life of the city before you visit the shrines and groves.
It is open daily from 9AM to 5PM and the entry fee is ₦200. Because it sits beside the Ooni's Palace, pair the two in one outing.
3. Ooni Palace
The palace of the Ooni of Ife is described as a picture of splendour and beauty in contrast with the rest of Ile Ife. In former times it was built of enamelled bricks decorated with artistic porcelain tiles and ornaments; today it is a more modern series of buildings. The Ooni is traditionally considered the 401st spirit, the only one that speaks, and is regarded as the chief priest and custodian of the holy city of all the Yorubas.
Go sightseeing here as part of a central-city walk, and combine it with the National Museum next door.
4. Opa Oromiyan (Orayan)
This commemorative stele, known in Yoruba as Opa Oranmiyan, marks the place where Oranmiyan's grandfather died. Oranmiyan was the youngest son of Oduduwa and became the prime heir upon his return to claim his grandfather's throne. The obelisk is 5.5 m tall and about 1.2 m in circumference at its base; during a storm in 1884 about 1.2 m was broken off from its top, and it has fallen down twice and been re-erected on each occasion.
It now stands in a grove in Mopa, Ile-Ife, in the Mopa Area, Arubidi. Radiocarbon tests have shown that this royal marker was erected centuries before the start of the Oduduwa dynasty, so allow time to take in the setting rather than just the stone.
5. Oduduwa Shrine and Groove
This is the shrine of the progenitor of the Yoruba race, in the Ido Area on Oduduwa Street. Worshippers and initiates flood the place seeking blessings and pay obeisance to the originator of their civilisation. It is one of the most direct ways to see the living religious tradition of the city rather than only its history.
Dress and behave respectfully, as this is an active place of worship. Combine it with a visit to the Ooni Palace and the National Museum on the same central route.
6. Agbonniregun Temple (Orunm Ila Barami Agbonniregun Place)
On Oke-Itase Street, this is the grove of Ọrunmila, the Orisha of wisdom, knowledge and divination. This source of knowledge is believed to have a keen understanding of the human form and of purity, and is therefore praised as often being more effective than other remedies.
Visit as part of a circuit of the city's temples and shrines, and keep in mind that these are devotional sites first and visitor sites second.
7. Oluorogbo Temple
On Ilode Street, this temple is one of the named shrines of the city. The phone number listed for enquiries is +234 7037178624.
It fits naturally into a walk that takes in the other Ilode and Oke-Itase area sites, so group it with Agbonniregun Temple rather than making a separate trip.
8. Igbo Olokun Shrine
Igbo Olokun was a forested, sacred grove housing shrines at which the goddess Olokun was worshipped. It is known for a history of glass makers with unique manufacturing techniques in West Africa; glass beads and associated production materials were found there during excavation, and analysis puts the main timing of glass-working between the 11th and 15th centuries AD. The results suggest that glass bead manufacture here was largely independent of glass-making traditions documented farther afield, and that Igbo Olokun may represent one of the earliest known glass-production workshops in West Africa.
The location is not divulged except on request and with permission of the keepers of the shrine, because it is a sacred grove. It sits adjacent to the outermost earthen city wall. Ask permission before planning a visit and do not attempt to find it on your own.
9. Igi Nla (Asorin the Mysterious Tree)
At Oke Oora Mokuro, this tree is said to have medicinal healing powers and to be esoteric. Legend holds that it grows so big and spreads its leaves so wide that they cast large shadows, and that other trees around it do not expand or spread their leaves in the same way. It is claimed that nothing grows under or within the area its leaves cover, that no grass grows underneath it, and that any bird or reptile that perches on any part of its branch dies immediately. Its leaves are said never to touch the ground, and cobwebs are woven around the top where its dead leaves drop.
Treat this as a site of local belief and go with a guide or someone who knows the area. Combine it with the Mopa area visit to Opa Oromiyan if you are already heading that way.
10. Obafemi Awolowo University (QAU)
Established in 1962 as the University of Ife and renamed in 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of its founding fathers, the campus is said to be the most beautiful in Nigeria and possibly Africa. It was designed by Bauhaus graduate Arieh Sharon together with a team of Nigerian architects including Lagos-based architect A.A. Egbor between the 1960s and 1980s.
The campus is open from 8AM to 5PM. Several other sites on this list sit on or beside the campus, so plan a half day here rather than a quick stop.
11. Natural History Museum (A.G. Leventis Museum)
Opposite the Computer Building at Obafemi Awolowo University, this museum grew out of an endowment fund launched by the university in 1973, one objective of which was a standard repository for scientific material. The idea of a natural history museum, intended to be a leading one on the west coast of Africa, took shape in January 1974. When the endowment funds did not work out as planned, the university sought support from A.G. Leventis, and the project was supported by a large grant from the A.G. Leventis Foundation. The design was by Jame Cubitt Adenuga Coy.
It is open daily from 8AM to 4PM and the entry fee is ₦600. Pair it with the Biological Garden on the same campus.
12. Biological Garden
At Obafemi Awolowo University, this garden was created by the department of botany in 1962. In it are diverse species kept in places in their natural state and habitat.
It is open from 8AM to 5PM. Visit it directly after the Natural History Museum, since both are on campus and share similar hours.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Museum Ile Ife (National Museum Ile Ife) when it opens at 9AM, then walk to the Ooni Palace beside it. From there, head to the Moremi Statue (Moremi Ajasaro), open from 8AM, to see it in morning light.
Afternoon: Move on to Obafemi Awolowo University and spend the early afternoon at the Natural History Museum (A.G. Leventis Museum), open until 4PM, followed by the Biological Garden, open until 5PM.
Evening: Close the day at the Oduduwa Shrine and Groove in the Ido Area, and if time and permission allow, arrange in advance to visit the Igbo Olokun Shrine, whose location is given only on request and with the keepers' permission.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of day to see the Moremi Statue?
The statue site is open daily from 8AM to 6PM, so a morning visit gives you the clearest light and the most time before other stops close.
Do I need permission to visit the Igbo Olokun Shrine?
Yes. The location is not divulged except on request and with permission of the keepers of the shrine, because it is a sacred grove.
Can I visit the shrines and temples as a visitor?
These are active places of worship where devotees and initiates come to seek blessings and pay obeisance. Visit respectfully and follow local guidance at each site.
What does it cost to enter the museums?
The Museum Ile Ife charges ₦200 and the Natural History Museum charges ₦600. Both have daily opening hours listed in this guide.
Use this list to sketch your route, check the opening hours that matter to you, and start planning your days in Ile-Ife.