Nigeria Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 19:05
Currency: Nigerian Naira (NGN)
Capital: Abuja
Calling code: +234
Drive on the: right

Overview

Africa's most populous country, with Lagos, Yoruba and Hausa cities, rainforest parks and old kingdoms. Canada, the US and the UK warn about travel: read the advice first.

Before anything else: Canada advises against non-essential travel to Nigeria, Abuja included, and asks for a high degree of caution in Lagos and Calabar. The US rates the country Level 3 (reconsider travel). The UK advises against all travel to several northern states and the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, and against all but essential travel to many others. Travel insurance may not cover you if you go against this advice; the safety section below has the details.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with more than 250 ethnic groups and some 500 languages. Muslims live mostly in the north and Christians mostly in the south. The land runs from equatorial forest and the swamps of the Niger Delta in the south to plateaus in the centre and dry plains in the north. Its history is long: the terracotta figures of the Nok culture, the Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Oyo, the Kingdom of Benin and the old walled Hausa cities of the north.

Lagos, the former colonial capital, is the economic centre and the usual way in. Abuja is the capital. The country is also the home of Nollywood, a film industry that shoots in English, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and many other languages, and of Afrobeat music. Its best-known dish is jollof rice.

Osun Sacred Grove: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city of Osogbo.
Lagos: The economic capital, with beaches and the Lekki Conservation Centre's patch of rainforest.
Calabar and Obudu: A harbour city with boat rides and slave-trade monuments, and a cool mountain resort a few hours north.
Yankari: A wildlife park with natural warm springs.
Benin City: The city of the Edo people and capital of the old Kingdom of Benin.
Nollywood: Cinemas in most cities and large towns show the country's own films.

Places to visit

City
Park
Historic site

Cities

Lagos: The former colonial capital, the economic centre of the country and its main international gateway.
Abuja: The capital, on rolling terrain, with Zuma Rock and Millennium Park.
Calabar: A harbour city with boat rides and slave-trade monuments, and the base for Obudu.
Osogbo: Home of the Osun Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ibadan: A big city at the end of the railway from Lagos via Abeokuta.
Benin City: The city of the Edo people, once capital of the Kingdom of Benin.
Port Harcourt: Capital of Rivers State and the largest city of the oil region.
Enugu: The coal city, with hikes to the old mines and cultural events such as atilogwu dancing, in a state where Canada advises against all travel.
Kano: An old walled Hausa city and the commercial hub of the north, in a state where the UK and Canada advise against travel.

Beyond the cities

Yankari Game Reserve (park): A large wildlife park with several natural warm springs.
Okomu National Park (park): Rainforest that shelters many vulnerable plants and animals.
Cross River National Park (park): Moist tropical rainforest inland and mangrove swamps towards the coast.
Old Oyo National Park (park): A large park named after the Oyo Empire, with archaeological and historical sites.
Gashaka Gumti National Park (park): The largest national park in the country, near the border with Cameroon.
Kainji National Park (park): Protected savannah in North Central Nigeria.
Agbokim Waterfalls (site): A waterfall in seven streams, surrounded by tropical rainforest.
Obudu (mountain): A mountain resort with forest walks and a long cable car, a few hours north of Calabar near the Cameroon border.

Regions

South West Nigeria: Lagos and the Yoruba-speaking south-west. The UK lists no state here, but violent crime is common in the larger cities.
South South Nigeria: The Niger Delta and the coast. The UK advises against all travel to the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
South East Nigeria: The UK advises against all but essential travel to Abia, Anambra and Imo states.
North Central Nigeria: Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau State and Kainji. The UK advises against all but essential travel to Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue.
North West Nigeria: Kano and the old Hausa cities. The UK advises against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara.
North East Nigeria: The lands of the old Kanem-Borno Empire. The UK advises against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe.

Things to do

See

Osun Sacred Grove Osogbo: The Sacred Grove of Osun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lekki Conservation Centre Lagos: A small fenced reserve of tropical rainforest inside the city.
Calabar harbour Calabar: Boat rides, and monuments to the slave trade at the Marina Resort.
Zuma Rock and Millennium Park Abuja: Two sights of the capital, among its rolling hills.
Palace of the Alaafin Oyo: The palace in Oyo, with traditional markets and calabash carvers.

Do

Lagos beaches Lagos: Tarkwa Bay, Landmark, Oniru and Badagry. Canada advises going only in daylight and in a group, and riptides are common.
Obudu Mountain Resort Obudu: Forest walks, hiking and a long cable car in cooler mountain air.
Warm springs of Yankari Yankari Game Reserve: Natural warm springs inside the wildlife park.

Shop

Market shopping: Haggling is expected: the first price is often about double the real one. Walking away after agreeing a price is rude.

After dark

A Nollywood film: Cinemas in most cities and large towns screen Nigerian films, in English and local languages.

Tours and tickets in Nigeria PartnerGuided tours, day trips and attraction ticketsSee activities

Climate and best time to visit

Abuja
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max °C	35	37	37	36	33	31	29	29	30	32	34	35
Min °C	20	26	24	25	20	18	22	18	18	21	16	16
Rain mm	2	5	11	63	134	164	218	263	253	103	4	1

The climate changes from south to north: equatorial on the coast, tropical in the centre and arid in the north. In Abuja, the reference city, almost no rain falls from November to March, while the wet months run from April to October, with about 260 mm in August and 250 mm in September. Canada notes that the rainy season generally lasts from May to October, when flash floods make roads much worse.

November to January are dry, with average highs of about 34 to 35 °C and cooler nights, around 15 to 16 °C in November and December. February and March are the hottest months, with average highs near 37 °C.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
3 April 2026 · Good Friday
6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
1 May 2026 · Workers' Day
27 May 2026 · Children's Day
12 June 2026 · Democracy Day
1 October 2026 · National Day
1 November 2026 · National Youth Day
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
28 December 2026 · Boxing Day

Getting around

Main airports	LOS, ABV, PHC, KAN

Flying is the usual way to cover long distances: most states have an airport and domestic flights are common. In Lagos the domestic terminals are about 4 to 5 km by road from the international terminal, so you need a taxi to change. A railway runs from Lagos via Abeokuta to Ibadan.

Roads are poor across the country, accidents are frequent and armed robberies and carjackings happen on highways. The UK and Canada advise you to avoid travelling after dark, keep windows up and doors locked, and consider travelling in convoy outside the cities. Checkpoints are common, some official and some set up to extort money: slow down, stay calm and show a certified copy of your ID rather than the original. A UK licence is valid for 3 months; for longer stays the UK says you need a 1968 international driving permit.

Taxis and buses are often poorly maintained, and the UK and Canada advise against public transport. Major hotels and the car-hire desks at the airports of Abuja, Kano and Lagos offer cars with drivers, the option both governments suggest. Canada advises against motorcycle taxis (okada). If you take a taxi, book it through your hotel, check the driver and the plate, and agree the fare in advance.

Flying to Nigeria? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flights

Where to stay

Hotels: From international chains such as Sheraton and Hilton to local hotels. In Lagos, Canada advises choosing places with adequate security.

Almost every hotel asks you to pay before you get the key, often a deposit of 125% of the room rate that is settled when you leave; if you stay longer, you have to keep the credit topped up. Paying the deposit by card exposes you to card fraud, a common problem in Nigeria, so keep an eye on your statements.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Jollof rice: The famous rice dish of West Africa.
Suya: The Nigerian kebab.
Pounded yam: Called iyan in Yoruba.
Egusi soup
Pepper soup
Isi ewu: Goat's head stew.
Afang soup: One of the soups of the Niger Delta, with okra soup and owo soup.
Gbegiri: A bean soup.

Drinks

Zobo: A red drink made from dried roselle flowers.
Palm wine
Beer and malt drinks: Star, Gulder, Harp and a Guinness brewed in Nigeria, plus non-alcoholic malt drinks.

Fresh products and western-style restaurants are quite expensive. Avoid unlicensed local gin: the UK and Canada report deaths from drinks containing methanol, which you cannot detect by taste or smell, so buy alcohol only from reputable places. Most northern states apply Sharia law and ban alcohol, though some restaurants in Kano serve beer.

Drink bottled water with the NAFDAC registration printed on it, ideally from a shop rather than the roadside; cheaper water in sachets is not as reliable.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	At least 6 months beyond the date you leave Nigeria (Canada); the UK asks for 6 months after the date you arrive

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
United Kingdom	Visa required		Apply online before you travel through the Nigeria Immigration Service; visa on arrival is no longer available.
Canada	Visa required		A tourist visa is required; check that the length of stay on the entry stamp matches the visa.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

UK and Canadian citizens need a visa, and the UK says visa on arrival is no longer available: apply online before you go. You must also fill in online landing and departure cards and the Nigeria Health Declaration Form, which sends you a QR code to show the port health officer on arrival. Dual Nigerian citizens must enter and leave on their Nigerian passport.

You need a yellow fever certificate: the UK says it is required for entry, except for infants aged 8 months or younger and adults aged 61 or older; the CDC and Canada say it is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. Customs rules are strict: importing beer, mineral water, soft drinks, fruit, vegetables, eggs, fabrics or jewellery is illegal, and exporting African art needs written permission from the Department of Antiquities. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check with the Nigerian embassy or high commission before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	Nigerian Naira (NGN)
Cards	Limited

The currency is the naira (NGN). Nigeria is pushing to go cashless, and more and more of the bigger hotels, restaurants and shops accept cards: Visa above all, then Mastercard, while Amex and Diners Club are almost useless. Ask first. ATMs of banks such as GT Bank, UBA, Zenith and Standard Chartered take Visa cards, and some Zenith and GT Bank machines take Mastercard.

Card and ATM fraud is common. The UK and Canada advise you to keep your card in sight, cover the keypad, use ATMs inside banks or in well-lit places and take extra care around banks, especially at night. Banks change foreign currency into naira but rarely the other way, so change leftover naira at the airport before you leave. At markets you are expected to haggle.

Health

Required vaccines	Yellow fever certificate: required for all arrivals according to the UK, with exemptions by age; the CDC and Canada say only if you come from a country with yellow fever risk
Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR) and diphtheria, Polio: a single adult booster if you were vaccinated as a child, Yellow fever, for all travellers aged 9 months or older, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, for most travellers, Meningococcal, for the meningitis belt in the dry season (roughly December to June), Rabies, for some travellers, Cholera, to be considered
Malaria	Widespread

The CDC says malaria is present throughout Nigeria and recommends prescription medicine to prevent it, so talk to a travel health professional at least a month before you go (Canada suggests 6 weeks). Protect yourself from mosquitoes day and night: dengue and Zika are also present. Other risks named by the CDC include Lassa fever, spread by rats, schistosomiasis in fresh water and cholera.

There is no national ambulance service. Public hospitals charge for treatment, can be crowded and short of supplies, and private hospitals cost more. Pharmacies are easy to find. Get insurance that covers medical evacuation, and call 112 in an emergency.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (2026-10-20)
Canada: Avoid non-essential travel (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: Advises against all travel to parts of the country; Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (2026-10-20)

Canada advises against non-essential travel to the whole country, Abuja included, except Lagos and Calabar, where it asks for a high degree of caution. It advises against all travel to most northern states and to most Niger Delta states, except Port Harcourt, where it advises against non-essential travel. The UK advises against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara and to the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, and against all but essential travel to many other states. British government staff are asked to stay broadly within the Abuja metropolitan area.

Both governments describe a high risk of kidnapping anywhere in the country, a threat of terrorism, intercommunal violence and violent crime, including armed robbery and carjacking, especially on highways and at night. In Lagos, take care particularly on the mainland and on foot after dark, and visit beaches such as Lekki and Bar Beach only in daylight and in a group. Avoid regular routines, arrange meetings in secure places and do not wear valuables.

Curfews can be imposed at short notice, and mobile networks have been suspended in the past. Avoid demonstrations. Scams are common, including romance and business scams that start online: be wary of anyone you have met only on the internet. Carry a certified copy of your passport and visa, as police can ask for ID at any time.

Customs and etiquette

Respect for elders runs deep. Show respect when you greet older people: kneeling for women and prostrating for men is the norm, especially among the Yoruba, and in villages outside Igbo areas shaking an elder's hand is seen as rude. Never hand something over with your left hand, and do not step over the legs of someone sitting down. In the cities people are less traditional.

Dress and behave modestly, especially in the Muslim north and at religious sites. In the north, let your hosts know before you visit a home so the women can prepare, and wait at the door. During Ramadan, in Muslim areas do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the day, including in cars. Same-sex relations are illegal, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison and harsher ones in some northern states. Drug penalties are severe, and photographing government buildings, military sites or airports can lead to arrest.

Language

Official languages	English
English	Common

White person (Yoruba)	Oyibo
White person (Hausa)	Bature
Motorcycle taxi	Okada
Long-distance taxi and bus station	Motor park

What to pack

Passport, visa and the health declaration QR code: You show the QR code to the port health officer on arrival.
Yellow fever certificate: The UK says it is required to enter Nigeria.
Antimalarial tablets and insect repellent: The CDC recommends medicine to prevent malaria everywhere in the country.
Certified copies of your passport and visa: Police can ask for ID at any time, and Canada advises not to hand over originals.
Small banknotes: Canada suggests them for paying taxis.
A power bank and your own USB charger: Power cuts are common, and Canada suggests your own adaptor or battery pack to protect your data.
Insurance that covers medical evacuation: There is no national ambulance service and care varies widely.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Abuja
Population	237,527,782 (2025)
Area	910,770 km²
Time zone	Africa/Lagos (UTC+1)
Calling code	+234
Driving side	right

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Four networks: MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile. Your SIM must be linked to a Nigerian Identification Number, so ask the operator how to register.
Wi-Fi	Use secure networks: Canada warns that public Wi-Fi can be compromised. Mobile networks and Wi-Fi have been suspended at short notice in the past.

Staying connected in Nigeria PartnerMobile data on your phone, without a local SIM cardGet an eSIM

Emergency numbers

Emergency	112

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to travel to Nigeria?

Canada advises against non-essential travel except to Lagos and Calabar, the US rates Nigeria Level 3 (reconsider travel) and the UK advises against all or all but essential travel to many states. Read the official advice before making plans.

Do I need a visa for Nigeria?

Yes, UK and Canadian citizens need a visa, applied for online before travel; visa on arrival is no longer available. Check with the Nigerian embassy before you book.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?

The UK says a yellow fever certificate is required to enter, and the CDC recommends the vaccine for all travellers aged 9 months or older.

Is there malaria in Nigeria?

Yes, throughout the country. The CDC recommends prescription medicine to prevent it; ask a travel health professional before you go.

Can I pay by card in Nigeria?

In larger hotels, restaurants and shops, usually with Visa. Card and ATM fraud is common, so keep your card in sight and carry some cash.

When is the best time to visit Nigeria?

November to January, the dry season, when Abuja sees almost no rain. The rainy season runs from about April or May to October.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

Nigeria