Sightseeing in Lagos Nigeria - what to see. Complete travel guide

When visiting Nigeria, numerous tourists and travelers prefer to make a stop in Lagos. This is a large city in the Lagos Lagoon, the Gulf of Guinea. Nowadays, Lagos is a major tourist destination on the African coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This settlement has one more informal name – the country’s “sea gate” because of its location. It is virtually impossible to get bored in Lagos because this city is incredibly rich in interesting attractions and recreation areas.

Originally, the Yoruba people inhabited the territory of modern Lagos. They called their village Eko which meant “farm” in their language. Some sources say that Eko could also mean “camp”. In 1472, Portuguese naval explorer Rui de Sequeira reached this land. When he saw the beautiful area, “lakes” or Lagos was the first word that came to his mind. This is how the region got its name. Starting from 1704, Lagos turned into a center of the slave trade.

Everything changed only at the beginning of the 40s of the next century when Oba Akitoye became the ruler in the city. He immediately banned buying and selling people. This decision of the king made slave traders furious. They organized a revolt and managed to dethrone Oba Akitoye and make his brother, Oba Kosoko, the king. Akitoye succeeded in regaining his position only in 1851 thanks to the help of the British forces. Slave trade was finally completely abolished. In 1914, Lagos became the center of the protectorate. The city enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 60s of the previous century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

What attractions can tourists see in Lagos? The Iga Idunganran Palace is one of the major landmarks in the city. The construction of the gorgeous building ended at the beginning of the 18th century. The palace was reconstructed several times over the years. This helped to save the building for future generations. The Iga Idunganran Palace is now a residence of the local king from the Oba dynasty. What makes this palace so special? The architecture of the building is unique and original because it combines elements of the modern design and traditions of the ancient Yoruba people.

The palace is home to unique historical landmarks of Lagos. There is a family crypt where members of the Oba family find their last resort. Two ancient statues of Yoruba deities Esu and Ogun are the main cultural treasure of the palace. They are very important for local people, and so the statues are always guarded. Members of the Oba family frequently leave their residence to pray to the deities. This way they try to protect the area from evil spirits. Every sixteen days, sacrificial rituals take place in the Iga Idunganran Palace. These rituals involve killing livestock.

The National Museum of Nigeria opened its doors in Lagos in 1957. British archaeologist Kenneth Murray was the founder of the museum. The venue exhibits several giant collections with findings of archaeologists and various ethnographic artifacts. Moreover, this museum is the right venue to learn more about local art, especially sculptures. Statues crafted by local artisans have a diverse look but all of them are unique.

When observing the exhibition of the National Museum of Nigeria, take a look at the Benin-City gallery and an interesting artifact – a human skull made from terracotta. Surely, the collection of the royal regalia looks absolutely stunning. There are even various crowns made from ivory. These are not all precious items that the museum prepared for its guests. There is an artisan workshop in a separate hall with many interesting wooden souvenirs and textiles. All items in this hall are available for sale.

When you feel tired of exploring attractions in Lagos, it is time to go to Eleko Beach. This is a fantastic place with its own charming beauty. The coastal area is two kilometers long and is covered with soft white sand. The water is crystal clear and has a beautiful turquoise color. It is incredibly pleasant to spend leisure time in Eleko Beach together with friends and family. There are no high waves here, and the coastal water is quite shallow. Visitors can always rent sun loungers and umbrellas right at the beach. One more advantage of Eleko – this beach is perfectly suitable for beginner surfers and fans of scuba diving.

Lagos has an airport that serves international flights from numerous European and African capitals. That being said, residents of many countries might need to make a change at a large airport in Europe. There are also trains to Lagos from Maiduguri and Kano. The journey time is two hours.