A Comprehensive Guide to Exploring Ibadan City

By Lilian

26 November 2019

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Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, is located on seven hills (average elevation 200 meters) about 100 miles from the Atlantic Coast. Since its existence in 1829, the city has become one of the best to live in Nigeria. Ibadan has a population of over 3 million. It is Nigeria's largest city by geographical area. Aside from that, Ibadan is one of the most affordable places to live in Nigeria.

The ancient city of Ibadan was the center of administration of the old Western Region since the days of British colonial rule. The city has remained popular since then and developed into a metropolitan city. You can live in Ibadan on a relatively medium budget. Funds spent on housing, feeding, and transportation in Ibadan are cheaper than that of other major cities in Nigeria.

This guide is a simple attempt to acquaint you with the things you need to know about the largest city in West Africa. You are going to learn so many things about Ibadan which include: how to navigate your way through the city, tourist attractions centres, popular malls and hotels, interesting things to do in the city among many other things discussed. Kindly relax, as we enjoy the ride together.

How to get to Ibadan

You can travel to Ibadan through the following means:

Traveling to Ibadan by road

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Road transport is the most employed mode of transportation to Ibadan. Travelling to the city by road gives you the option of choosing a commercial bus from any of the road transport companies in Nigeria, especially if you are coming from a very far distance.


You can find the top 5 road transport companies in Nigeria and their terminal locations here.

https://hotels.ng/guides/road-travel/top-5-long-distance-road-transport-companies-in-nigeria/

If you are coming to Ibadan from a relatively closer state like Lagos, the average travel time is 1hr 13 minutes. (Note that this estimated time is dependent on the intensity of the traffic on the highway).
If you will be going by your private vehicle at an average speed of 112 kilometers/hour (70 miles/h), you should arrive in an hour or less. The average distance from Lagos to Ibadan is 137 kilometers (85 miles).

You can read this guide on Lagos to Ibadan by road for more information.



Traveling to Ibadan by flight

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If you will be travelling to Ibadan from Lagos via flight, you will arrive in Ibadan city in 20 minutes.
The calculated flying distance from Lagos to Ibadan is equal to 73 miles (118 km).
The difference between traveling by plane and by car is 19km. Airlines go from the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) and land at Ibadan Airport (IBA).


Ibadan Airport (IATA code: IBA) currently only serves domestic arrivals and domestic departures to other cities within Nigeria.
There are several airlines traveling to Ibadan depending on your location. Overland Airways and Arik Air are the only airlines serving the Lagos to Ibadan route.

Ibadan Airport is located on the outskirts of Ibadan, approximately 30 minutes from the Ibadan city center. Taxis are available to get you from the airport to your destination. People travelling by air can book local flights from hotels.ng by contacting our customer care through direct call or WhatsApp via 08066192704.

Why should you visit Ibadan

Ibadan is one of the peaceful states in Nigeria. It is an ancient city rich in cultural heritage. Ibadan is known for holding several festivals such as the Oke?Ibadan Festival, mostly attended by visitors, foreigners and indigenes alike from all over the world. Despite being one of the prominent cities in Nigeria, the major city roads experience less traffic when compared to Lagos. Ibadan also has beautiful and amazing tourist attraction centers.

Some of which include:

  • Ibadan National Museum
  • Oke Ibadan Hill
  • Cocoa House
  • Bower's Memorial Tower
  • Mapo Hall

You can read our detailed guide on the tourist attractions and historical places in Ibadan here.

https://hotels.ng/guides/travel-ideas/top-attractions-in-ibadan/

Best time to visit Ibadan

Tourists or visitors can come in at any time of the year and only need to consider dressing for the weather, during the wet or the dry season. 

How to move around Ibadan

You can move around in Ibadan with bikes, popularly called Okada, which can be accessed in most areas except private estates and highways. Ibadan also has a lot of Taxis that can be picked from various Taxi Parks In Ibadan. Buses and Tricycles (Keke) are not left out too. They ply different routes in the city for easy navigation.

Fun things to do in Ibadan

Palms mall, Ibadan

Ibadan may not be as busy as Lagos but trust me, there are so many ways to have fun in the City of Ibadan. Here is a list of the 10 fun things you can do in Ibadan to make your stay worthwhile.

  • Visit the University of Ibadan
  •  Go for a Stroll or a Swim at Agodi Gardens
  •  Go to the Cinemas
  • Visit any of the Stadiums to Watch Football Matches, Play Football, or Exercise.
  • Enjoy the Local Cuisine
  • Go for a Fun Night Out at any Club or Lounge
  • Go Shopping at the Malls or Markets
  • Attend any Owambe Party
  • Visit the Museum
  • Visit historical Places

You can read in detail about fun things to do in Ibadan here.

How to spend 48 hours in Ibadan

If you will be visiting Ibadan for just 2 days and have no idea on what to do while in the brown city, click on this detailed guide to have a fun-filled 48 hours in the city of Ibadan.

Shopping in Ibadan

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Anyone visiting Ibadan can shop for their personal items, groceries and other variety of goods in any of the shopping malls in Ibadan. Stores like Shoprite, Jumlaj Superstore, Ventura Mall and many more. There are also local markets like the Bodija Market, Agbeni Market, Oje Market, Dugbe Market, Alakia Market, Sabo Market, Shasha Market, New Gbagi Market among others. Here is a list of shopping malls in Ibadan

Top hotels in Ibadan

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If you are coming to Ibadan for the first time and you don't have a place to stay, you need not to worry at all. Depending on your location and preference, there are luxury as well as affordable hotels you can lodge conveniently within the city.


Here is a list of the top hotels in Ibadan. You can always book any of them on hotels.ng at discount prices.

1. Adis hotel

Adis hotel is a 3-star hotel in Ibadan that provides comfortability in grand style. It is suitable for travelers, visitors, and tourists. The hotel is close to Heritage Mall and the University of Ibadan. They have a restaurant, good parking space, excellent room service, and security.

2. Carlton Gate Hotel

Carlton Gate Hotel is located in Agodi GRA, Ibadan. It is a very spacious hotel with different categories of rooms. They provide quality room services, daily breakfast, poolside and many other things.

3. Owu Crown Hotel

Owu Crown Hotel has a standard room, superior room, deluxe room, executive suite, ambassador?s apartment, and a presidential suite. The hotel takes the security of its guests seriously and so makes adequate security provisions.

4. Premier hotel

Premier Hotel is another 3-star hotel in Ibadan, located on Mokola Hill. It provides excellent services, comfortability, and maximum satisfaction to its guests.

5. Kakanfo Inn

This hotel is appropriate for mini-vacations, business travels, and romantic getaway. They provide top-notch services to their guests. They have a good restaurant, bar/lounge, uninterrupted power supply, and good parking space.

6. Danest Hotel and Suites

 Danest Hotel is a suitable place for relaxation and easy navigation in the city of Ibadan. Its facilities include free WiFi, indoor pool, shared lounge/TV area, restaurant, car-hire, non-smoking rooms, designated smoking area, free private parking, business facilities, luggage storage, daily maid service, etc.

7. La Maison Hotel

This one of the most classy, elegance and amazing hotels in Ibadan. It is close to the famous Cocoa House. It is a great hotel for travelers, visitors, and tourists coming to Ibadan.

8. Golden Tulip

Golden Tulip is a top-class hotel in Ibadan. It provides adequate and quality services to its guests. It has good features including high-class restaurants, Wifi service and parking lots.

You can read about other top hotels in Ibadan here.

Where to Eat in Ibadan

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Ibadan is a home for excellent cooked meals of both local and international dishes. There are so many amazing restaurants where you can get mouth-watering meals to satisfy your appetite. The native food common among Ibadan dwellers is Amala with Ewedu sauce. It has been rumored overtimes that it is one of the best places to enjoy Amala. In fact, a trip to Ibadan is not complete without tasting Amala in Ibadan.

You can check out the best places to eat amala in Ibadan here.

  • Martha's Kitchen

Martha's Kitchen provides everything that has to do with continental and cotemporary dishes, it is a great spot to enjoy tasty meals while in Ibadan.

  • Whimpy's Kitchen

They have dishes from the Nigerian, Lebanese and continental dishes, Their food is excellent and they have mostly visitors and expatriates as their customers.

  • Golden Dragon

It is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Ibadan. They have affordable food, with different Chinese recipes. You should try it out while in Ibadan

Paris bakery is one of the most popular confectioneries in Ibadan, they offer services like birthday cakes, wedding cakes, Nigerian and contemporary dishes.

This is another amazing Chinese restaurant in Ibadan, with mouth-watering dishes, zen restaurant offers you quality and quantity foods.

Nightlife in Ibadan

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There are places in Ibadan that offer a bunch of nightlife fun. Here is a list of the top active nightlife spots in Ibadan

  • GQ lounge
  • Kokodome
  • Option 24/7
  • Hexagon club and lounge
  • Club E-bevande
  • Mauve lounge
  • 411-night club
  • Club 0305
  • Club echo
  • Apollo's lounge

Top things to see in Ibadan

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Ibadan is a great place to visit either as a visitor or tourist. Whether on vacation, holiday or a staycation, the city of Ibadan is an interesting place to visit. Here is a list of the 9 things you will see when you get to Ibadan:

  • Agodi Gardens
  • Mapo hall
  • Irefin palace
  • IITA forest
  • Lake Eleyele
  • National Museum of Unity

Fun places in Ibadan

There are a lot of fun places and cool spots in Ibadan, so if you are looking out to visiting some fun places in the brown city, here is a list of those places in no particular order

  • Agodi Gardens
  • national museum
  • Transwonderland park
  • Topfat Art gallery
  • Ventura Mall
  • Viva cinemas
  • Karpake bar e.g latitude cafe lounge

You can also check out this detailed guide on the fun places to visit in Ibadan.

https://hotels.ng/guides/poi/best-fun-places-you-should-visit-on-your-next-trip-to-ibadan/

Practical Considerations

Safety: Ibadan is one of the safest cities in Nigeria, with a low crime rate and terrorism. Beware of scammers, roadside thieves and walking at night.

Weather: Ibadan has relatively calm weather, it is hot and wet most of the time while it gets dry between November and February.

Police and hospitals: The number for the police station in Ibadan North is 0803-337-3880. The biggest and most well-known hospital is?the University College Hospital located at the University of Ibadan.

Ibadan Postal Code

Ibadan Postal Code is from 200211 to 200285 depending on the city, the zip code is the same as the postal code.

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