Five-Day Lagos Itinerary from London

Arrival in Lagos

Fly overnight from London Heathrow or Gatwick to Murtala Muhammed International Airport; the flight is roughly seven hours, followed by immigration, baggage collection, and an airport transfer that can take another one to two hours. Have a hotel car or trusted driver waiting rather than arranging transport at the terminal. From the airport, use the airport road toward Ikeja, then the Third Mainland Bridge or Eko Bridge toward Victoria Island; traffic is unpredictable, so keep valuables discreet and avoid changing money with informal touts. Expect a late-morning or early-afternoon arrival, depending on your flight.

Late Afternoon

Check in at Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, then keep the first afternoon deliberately light. After a shower and some rest, use the hotel pool or gardens and take care of practicalities such as Nigerian naira, a local SIM or eSIM, and confirming tomorrow’s driver. Hotel facilities and pool access can change with events, so check reception for current hours and any guest charges. If you need a small snack, the hotel’s restaurants and cafés are the easiest option without adding another car journey.

Evening

Have dinner at Shiro Lagos, a polished pan-Asian restaurant on Victoria Island, allowing about 1½ hours. Budget approximately ₦30,000–₦60,000 per person before drinks; reserve ahead and confirm the evening’s dress expectations, as Lagos venues often enforce smart-casual clothing. Afterwards, continue by pre-booked car to Landmark Beach for an easy Atlantic-side sunset walk. Allow roughly 20–40 minutes from the hotel or restaurant, depending on traffic. Entry fees and closing times can vary, so check the same day; stay within the lit, active areas, follow beach staff directions, and arrange your return ride before walking down to the waterfront.

Morning

Leave your hotel around 7:30–8:00am by pre-booked car or Uber/Bolt for National Museum Lagos in Onikan. From mainland Lagos, the route over Third Mainland Bridge usually takes 30–60 minutes, but weekday traffic can stretch that considerably; ask your driver to drop you near the museum entrance, as parking around Onikan can be tight. Allow about 1½ hours for the archaeological, cultural, and historical galleries. Confirm opening hours before setting out—museum hours can change—and carry small naira notes for entry or donations. From the museum, it is a short drive or roughly 15–20-minute walk to Freedom Park Lagos, the former colonial prison site. Spend about an hour wandering its shaded gardens, historic walls, and exhibition spaces; the park is generally most pleasant before the afternoon heat.

Afternoon and Evening

Take a short ride toward Lagos Marina waterfront for an early-afternoon stroll of around 45 minutes. Walk along the central waterfront and look back toward the dense historic commercial district, but keep valuables discreet and stay on busier paths. For lunch, choose a reliable nearby restaurant recommended by your driver or hotel rather than wandering far in the midday heat; budget roughly ₦10,000–₦20,000 per person. Afterward, allow 20–40 minutes by car toward Victoria Island, depending on traffic, for Terra Kulture. Give yourself two hours to browse its Nigerian art and cultural displays, and check the theatre programme in advance—performances and opening times vary. Finish at Yellow Chilli, a short ride away, for dinner: expect about ₦20,000–₦40,000 per person excluding drinks. Try a Nigerian dish such as jollof rice, seafood, or a well-prepared soup, and arrange your return ride before dinner since evening traffic on Victoria Island can be slow.

Morning

Leave Lagos Island around 7:00am in a pre-booked car or Uber/Bolt, taking Ahmadu Bello Way and Adetokunbo Ademola Street toward Lekki Phase 1. The drive is usually 20–45 minutes, though weekday traffic can be unpredictable; ask the driver to wait or arrange a return pickup, as short rides around Lekki can be patchy. Start at Nike Art Gallery, where two hours is enough to browse the lively collection of paintings, textiles, sculpture, and traditional crafts. Entry is generally free, but confirm on arrival and set aside money if you would like to buy a piece. Continue by car along the Lekki–Epe Expressway to Lekki Conservation Centre—roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic—for shaded boardwalk trails and the canopy walkway. Wear comfortable shoes, bring insect repellent and water, and check same-day opening arrangements before setting out; allow about two hours.

Afternoon and Evening

After the conservation centre, take a relaxed ride back toward Ikoyi for The Jazzhole, usually around 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. This is a good place to slow down rather than add another major attraction: browse the books and records, then take a café break. Keep some flexibility here, since Lagos traffic can easily turn a short cross-town transfer into an hour. In the early evening, continue to Hard Rock Cafe Lagos on Landmark Beach Road, Victoria Island, allowing roughly 20–40 minutes by car. Book ahead if possible, particularly for a Friday night, and request an outdoor or waterfront table if available. Budget approximately ₦25,000–₦50,000 per person, excluding drinks; the restaurant’s live-music atmosphere makes it a fitting final stop, but use a trusted ride home rather than walking after dark.

Morning

Leave Victoria Island around 7:00am in a pre-booked car or Uber/Bolt, heading east along the Lekki–Epe Expressway toward Sangotedo. Allow 45–90 minutes for traffic, tolls, and the possibility of a slow stretch around Ajah; confirm the driver has the correct entrance for Lufasi Nature Park, as it is easy to pass the turn. Spend about 2½ hours on the forest trails and around the wetlands, keeping the pace unhurried while looking out for monkeys, birds, and the park’s rescued animals. The park generally operates in daylight hours, but confirm same-day opening and entry fees before leaving; wear closed shoes, bring insect repellent and water, and avoid wandering off marked paths.

Early Afternoon

Take a short drive back along the expressway to Novare Lekki Mall in Sangotedo, allowing roughly 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. This is a useful one-hour stop rather than a major sightseeing visit: get a cold drink or quick meal, use the facilities, and pick up sunscreen, cash, or snacks before heading farther toward the coast. Prices vary by outlet, but budget around ₦5,000–₦12,000 per person for refreshments. Keep a little cash available for smaller vendors later, since card terminals and mobile signals can be inconsistent near the beach.

Afternoon and Evening

Continue by car toward Eleko Beach, usually another 30–45 minutes, and plan around two relaxed hours by the Atlantic. Pay the local access or gate fee on arrival and agree prices for chairs, umbrellas, horse rides, or other activities before committing; a rough allowance of ₦5,000–₦20,000 for access and optional beach arrangements is sensible, depending on the day and what you choose. The beach is quieter than central Lagos, but conditions can be rough, so swim only where locals indicate it is safe, keep valuables locked in the car, and leave before dark. For dinner, return toward Lekki Phase 1—typically 45–75 minutes in evening traffic—and settle in at Food Shack for Nigerian and international comfort food. Budget approximately ₦15,000–₦30,000 per person, excluding drinks; calling ahead is wise, and arrange the return ride before dinner if surge pricing becomes an issue.

Morning

Leave Lekki by 6:30am in a pre-booked car or Uber/Bolt, heading west along the Lekki–Epe Expressway and across Third Mainland Bridge toward Ikeja. Allow 1½–3 hours, depending on traffic, and keep cash or a card ready for tolls. Start at Jhalobia Recreation Park and Gardens in Ikeja, where you can spend about 1½ hours among the landscaped gardens, ponds, and quiet shaded paths. It is a gentle final morning in Lagos; confirm the day’s opening time before leaving, as hours can change, and expect roughly ₦2,000–₦5,000 for entry.

Late morning, take a short car ride to Kalakuta Republic Museum, Gbemisola Street, the former home of Fela Kuti. Allow around 1½ hours for the rooms, photographs, instruments, and rooftop views, and consider arranging a guide on arrival for more context about Fela’s music and activism. The museum typically opens during daytime hours, but verify locally before setting out; budget approximately ₦5,000–₦10,000 per person, depending on the current admission and tour arrangements.

Afternoon and departure

Continue by car to Ikeja City Mall in Alausa for lunch and a relaxed final browse. This is the easiest place to combine a meal, air-conditioning, toiletries, gifts, and any last-minute shopping without taking on another long cross-city journey. Allow about 1½ hours and budget ₦15,000–₦30,000 per person for lunch and shopping. Keep your airport transfer waiting or arrange a firm pickup time rather than relying on a new booking at the mall.

From Ikeja City Mall, continue to Murtala Muhammed International Airport; the drive is usually around 20–45 minutes, but allow much longer if traffic is building. For an international flight to London, aim to reach the airport at least four hours before departure—earlier if you need check-in assistance, have bags to drop, or are travelling on a busy evening. Keep your passport, flight confirmation, and any remaining Nigerian naira accessible, and allow time for traffic, terminal access, check-in, security, and immigration.