A First-Timer’s Guide to Nigeria: What to Know Before You Go
Nigeria doesn’t ease you in. From the moment you land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the energy hits — loud, unapologetic, and completely addictive. This is the most populous country in Africa, and it moves like it knows it. Here’s everything you need to know before your first trip.
By Amina Mamaty | Published on May 19, 2026
Getting There
Murtala Muhammed International airport in Lagos. Photo: Shutterstock
Major airlines including Delta, British Airways, KLM, Qatar, Emirates, and Air France fly into Lagos. All international arrivals land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja. Budget extra time at immigration — clearing customs and passport control can take anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours depending on the day, time, and how busy the airport is. If it’s your first time, keep a friendly aura with overeager airport officials and walk on by.
Visas
You will need a visa before visiting Nigeria, valid for up to 90 days, and must enter within 60 days of it being issued. If you’re a citizen of an ECOWAS member country — which includes Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Benin, Togo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Burkina Faso — you can enter without a visa. Everyone else should apply through their nearest Nigerian Embassy or consulate well in advance.
Vaccinations
Photo: Lekki Conservation Centre
Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended before visiting Nigeria — and while enforcement at the airport varies, it’s not worth the risk. Skip it and you could be turned away or face complications on arrival. Beyond yellow fever, Hepatitis A and B and typhoid are also worth discussing with your doctor before you go. Nigeria is a malaria-endemic country, so pack antimalarial medication and insect repellent. Always stick to bottled water — no exceptions.
Best Time to Visit
Lagos nightclub event
Nigeria’s dry season runs from November to March, making it the most comfortable time to explore. But timing your trip around what’s happening in Lagos matters just as much as the weather. December — known locally as Detty December — is when the city truly comes alive with concerts, parties, events, and an electric atmosphere unlike anything else. Lagos Fashion Week, typically held in October and November, draws designers, creatives, and travelers from across the continent and beyond. Both periods mean more traffic and higher prices, but if you want to experience Lagos at its most vibrant, that’s your window. Just come prepared — ATMs run dry fast around the holidays, so bring more cash than you think you’ll need, ideally in $100 bills for the best exchange rates.
Getting Around
Lagos traffic
Uber and Bolt are your best friends in Lagos. Reliable, safe, and far less stressful than negotiating with airport taxis. For travel between cities, domestic airlines like Air Peace and Ibom Air connect Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and more — flights are typically under an hour. Lagos traffic is legendary — plan for it, laugh about it, and never schedule anything time-sensitive right after a cross-town journey.
Where to Stay
Victoria Island skyline. Photo: Shutterstock
Lagos is divided into two main areas — the mainland and the island — and for first-time visitors, the island is where you want to be. It’s safer, better connected, cleaner, and home to the best restaurants, beaches, and nightlife the city has to offer.
Within the island, two neighborhoods stand out. Victoria Island is Lagos’s commercial and social hub — think rooftop bars, international restaurants, boutique hotels, and easy access to everything. It’s busy, it’s vibrant, and it puts you right in the middle of the action. Ikoyi sits just next door and offers a quieter, more residential feel — tree-lined streets, upscale apartments, and a more relaxed pace while still being close to everything VI has to offer. If you want energy, go Victoria Island. If you want calm with easy access to the action, Ikoyi is your base.
Beyond traditional hotels, short-let serviced apartments have become increasingly popular in Lagos — they’re often better value, more spacious, and give you a more authentic sense of how the city actually lives. Platforms like Airbnb have solid options across both neighborhoods.
Money
Nigerian Naira
Bring cash. $100 bills get you the best exchange rates, and bring more than you think you need — especially if you’re visiting during the holiday season when ATMs run out fast. For the most part, cards work at hotels and restaurants and shops, but cash is always king.
What to Expect
Lagos by night. Photo: Shutterstock
Nigeria will surprise you — almost certainly for the better. The food is extraordinary, the music is everywhere, and the people are some of the warmest you’ll encounter anywhere in the world. Come curious, come flexible, and come ready to have your expectations completely dismantled.