Visiting Lagos For The First Time? Here's Everything You Need To Know

As a first-time visitor to Lagos, you probably have heard different things about the city – the opportunities that abound in the city, the relentless pace and the sheer number and diversity of Lagos inhabitants. Cheap flights to Lagos Nigeria may seem possible in specific ways. Coming into Lagos for the first time, here are the various forms of transportation into Lagos and the best/easiest ways to get in and around this bustling city.

GETTING INTO LAGOS

There are three major means of getting into Lagos from other cities in Nigeria and outside Nigeria namely: Road, Air and Rail.

Road:  There are two major routes into Lagos by road and they are: through the Ibadan-Lagos expressway and through the Ogun-Lagos route. Buses to Lagos can be boarded from every major city in Nigeria and while relatively cheap, this method of transportation is slower than air travel mostly due to the terrible state of Nigerian roads.

Air: Lagos has an international airport – the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) which serves both local and international flights. The local flights also come in from every major city in the country and likewise, the international flights into the country are from almost every major city in the world directly. You can always get cheap flights to Lagos Nigeria from specific airlines.

Rail: While these are the cheapest means of getting into Lagos, they are still the most time consuming and unreliable due to the relatively low quality of trains and rails in the country. This is advisable only when cash-strapped or out of a desire to take the scenic route.

 TRANSPORT INSIDE/AROUND LAGOS

Now the real challenge: getting around Lagos after you’ve gotten in. At the airport, you can get taxis to get you to your destination. However, if you’ve already booked a room/suite in any of the wonderful Hotels in Lagos, a shuttle bus will most likely be provided for you at the airport. If however you haven’t made Hotel reservations, you can easily charter a taxi to drive you to your destination (these are usually in the #7000- #12000 range, $35- $60 for international travelers)

After you have settled in and (probably the next day) want to go out for an engagement or just to see the city, there are several means of transportation available around Lagos namely:

BRT Buses: these are the fastest means of transportation around Lagos due to the fact they have a private lane to move around in. All you have to do is buy a ticket, board the bus and away you go to your destination.

Explore The City of Lagos Here

Danfo Buses: These are the popular yellow buses that have plied the Lagos roads as far back as I can remember. They are cheaper than the BRT Buses but tend to get stuck in the notorious Lagos traffic congestion.

Taxis: These are easily the most costly means of transport and can be gotten after first approaching a taxi driver, stating your destination and haggling to settle on a price that suits both parties.

LAGOS HOTELS

There are countless hotels in Lagos a traveler can stay at and some of them are:

• Lakeem suites, Surulere
• Hotel Ibis royale, Ajao estate
• Maria suites limited, Isolo
• The hardley apartments, victoria island
• Glonik hotels, Ikeja
• The regent luxury suites, Ikeja
• Victoria continental hotels, Victoria island
• Sheraton hotel, Ikeja
• Eko hotels and suites, Victoria Island.
• Unilag guest house, Yaba
• Duckland hotels and suites, Ikorodu

 THE CITY OF LAGOS

Lagos is generally accepted to be divided in two parts namely: the Island and the mainland.

Lagos Island: this is where most of the wholesale markets, businesses and entertainment centres are located in Lagos. It’s also known as the more exclusive part of Lagos and the popular areas here are Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

The Mainland: This is where the majority of Lagos residents live and also where the majority of the industries in the city are located.

SAFETY TIPS IN LAGOS

• When you arrive at the airport/bus park/railway terminal and want to arrange for transportation to whichever destination you choose, avoid touts when you want to hire a taxi/bus
• Pay attention : keep your wallets in front or side pockets for men and if you’re a woman, carry your handbags in front of you
• If you’re going out, leave the original of your passport( if you’re an international visitor) in the hotel/house safe and go out with a copy
• When talking to people outside (taxi drivers and the like), be careful not to give out too much information about yourself
• Be confident and avoid looking unsure or confused on Lagos streets – Lagos is truly the city of the “sharp” and any sign of weakness is usually ruthlessly exploited
• Do not carry anything beyond maybe a can of mace in the name of self-defense. Such behavior is frowned upon by the Nigerian police and you’ll have a tough task explaining what certain things are needed for if found on you

• Bring only items you can easily manage when going out in the city.

In conclusion, Lagos is a wonderful city to visit and I hope you have a wonderful stay here.