Africa
Nigeria
Lagos - the African mega-city: Lekki, Victoria Island, Yoruba art and Afrobeats. Calabar Carnival in December.
Plan it right
Before you book the flight
Quick checks that decide whether a Nigeria trip actually works on your dates.
Find it on the map
Open Nigeria in Google Maps and drop a pin on your base before you lose signal.
Open in Google MapsCheck the visa policy
Rules for Nigeria change with your nationality and current advisories. Confirm before booking anything.
Read entry rulesGet help with a visa
A reputable visa service can handle paperwork and invitation letters if you'd rather not deal with the consulate.
Compare services- 1 EUR ≈ 1576 NGN
- 1 USD ≈ 1380 NGN
- 1 GBP ≈ 1849 NGN
Exchange Rates Updated Daily. Last updated on 11/Jul/2026.
Big Mac® benchmark: approx. 1470 NGN
Checked: January 2026. Prices vary by city and branch.
Approximate McDonald's Big Mac® price where available. Prices vary by city, branch, tax, delivery channel, and date checked. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by McDonald's.
Source: The Economist Big Mac Index country-level data
Country-level Big Mac price from The Economist Big Mac Index
Prices Researched at May 2026
Where to stay
8+ rated stays near Nigeria
Booking.com opens filtered to an 8+ guest score so you can compare photos, prices and recent reviews before choosing a base.
When to go
Best: Nov-Feb. Dry season is more reliable; north is cooler/drier, south less rainy than wet season.
Avoid: Apr-Oct rains; Mar-Apr hot/humid
Why it is difficult
Status, May 2026: Boko Haram and ISWAP active in north-east (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa); bandit/kidnap problem in north-west and middle belt; Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Calabar, Port Harcourt all functional with normal megacity precautions. Independent travel possible across most of the country. Police and immigration bribery is the everyday friction, not violence.
Why it is worth visiting
Lagos - the African mega-city: Lekki, Victoria Island, Yoruba art and Afrobeats. Calabar Carnival in December. Olumo Rock in Abeokuta. Idanre Hills. Yankari and Cross River national parks. Slave-trade heritage at Badagry. Nollywood. The Nigerian energy is its own attraction. Visa (with archive notes) E-visa at evisa.immigration.gov.ng. Most nationalities require it; for some (e.g. Singapore) it is free. Requires: passport, photo, hotel booking, flight tickets, 6-month bank statement (USD 2,000+ recommended in account). Often issued within 3 hours but can be inconsistent. Landing card - apply online up to 72 hours before flight; approval instant. Yellow fever certificate required and checked. Immigration warning (from a March 2026 trip report) Port Harcourt airport - multiple immigration officers and customs ask for bribes. From the archive: “I would advise against landing there, they’re not used to seeing tourists and I got asked for bribes by 4 different immigration officers.” Strongly prefer Lagos (MMA-2) or Abuja (ABV) for arrival. If asked for “something from your country” - act blur, repeat that everything is paid, do not pay any bribe, stay polite, eventually they wave you through. Drivers and guides (from the archive) In-country tour operators with EPS reputation: Soft Roads, Naija Nomads, Travelmoor Tourism.
Practical travel notes
Currency: naira (NGN), heavily devalued post-2023. Cash is hard to come by - branch ATMs cap at NGN 20,000-40,000 per withdrawal and run out daily. Carry USD and exchange on the parallel market through hotels. SIM: MTN or Globacom. Registration with passport. Photography: Bolt and Uber drivers cannot pick up at Port Harcourt airport - order them outside the terminal. Don’t photograph uniformed people or government buildings. Bribery script: smile, repeat “no I have nothing”, walk away when no one is actively blocking you. The archive author succeeded by simply ignoring the persistent extorters.
Access and logistics
Lagos (LOS): British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Turkish, Qatar, Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya, RwandAir. Many. Abuja (ABV): similar long-haul carriers; quieter. Overland from Benin (Seme), Niger (Birnin Konni), Cameroon (Mfum) and Chad - functional but heavy police friction. Lagos - Lekki Conservation Centre canopy walk, Nike Art Gallery (largest in West Africa), New Afrika Shrine, Tarkwa Bay, Lekki Market. Abeokuta - Olumo Rock, Adire textile studios. Abuja - Aso Rock viewpoint, Millennium Park, Zuma Rock day trip. Calabar - December Carnival, Slave History Museum, Cross River NP (rare gorilla habitat). Ibadan, Osogbo (sacred grove UNESCO), Olumo Rock, Idanre - Yoruba cultural heartland. Kano, Sokoto - northern Hausa cities; verify security.
Safety considerations
Treat security as the core planning constraint. Avoid improvising routes, keep a conservative schedule, and re-check local conditions immediately before travel.
Visa or permit notes
Visa and permit rules can change quickly. Confirm current requirements with official sources and allow extra time for letters, permits, or regional approvals where needed.
Local guides, drivers and fixers
These contacts may help with guiding, transport, permits, logistics, translation, or local arrangements. Always confirm prices, availability, safety conditions, and exact services before booking.
Confidence (visa fixer)
Visa on Arrival FixerNigeria
Professional, $300 all in, no need to book tour
Captain Henry (boat fixer Calabar)
Boat Fixer (Calabar-Idenao Cameroon)Nigeria
Did what he promised, checked in
On the ground
10 practical tips
The decisions that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.
Choose the strongest season
Use Nov-Feb as the first planning window for Nigeria, then check weather, access and local conditions again before booking.
Avoid the hardest months
Be cautious about Apr-Oct rains; Mar-Apr hot/humid, because the wrong season can make transport, outdoor access and backup plans much harder.
Confirm entry rules first
Verify current entry rules through official channels before booking; recent planning notes suggest Visa and permit rules can change quickly, but this should not be treated as final.
Plan the access route
Build the itinerary around the real access route: Lagos (LOS): British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Turkish, Qatar, Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya, RwandAir.
Check local constraints
Check the practical constraints before booking Nigeria, especially limited transport, thin infrastructure and weather-sensitive plans.
Plan cash and payments
Carry a realistic payment backup for Nigeria, especially for drivers, small hotels, local fees and situations where cards or ATMs may not work reliably.
Secure scarce accommodation
Book the first night and trusted transfers before arrival in Nigeria, then avoid relying on last-minute local arrangements in sensitive areas.
Use local support selectively
Shortlist a reputable local operator for Nigeria before departure, then confirm route, permissions, security expectations, inclusions and cancellation terms in writing.
Build in buffer days
Treat 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints as a planning range for Nigeria, but add buffer time if the route depends on flights, boats, permits, road conditions or security checks.
Decide if the trade-off fits
Choose Nigeria for Lagos — the African mega-city: Lekki, Victoria Island, Yoruba art and Afrobeats, but only if you are comfortable with the main trade-offs: political instability, health or safety concerns, difficult permits.
Good to know
Nigeria FAQ
Honest answers, including the ones that might change your plans.
Can tourists visit Nigeria?
Tourism may be possible in parts of Nigeria, but conditions can change quickly. Check current government travel advisories, embassy guidance, local contacts, and recent traveller reports before booking.
What visa do you need for Nigeria?
Visa and permit rules vary by nationality and can change without much notice. Use this guide as a starting point, then confirm current requirements with official government, embassy, or consulate sources.
What is the best time to visit Nigeria?
The usual planning window is Nov-Feb. Weather, access, holidays, security conditions, and transport schedules can still affect the final route.
How long do you need for Nigeria?
A realistic first plan is 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints. Add buffer days for permits, route changes, weather delays, and unreliable transport.