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

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by Justin Irabor / 16 Oct 2015

lagos skyline

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:

 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

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