There is a lot about Lagos that you probably have heard, and there are many more people who still don’t know. This article isn’t about unveiling the hidden gems of the underwater in Lagos Lagoon. I don’t think that is a thing, lol, but if it is, this article isn’t about it. Let me take you through a dive into what I call home in Lagos.
What is home in Lagos?
Lagos isn’t Lagos until you see the traffic jams. The hawkers in the streets never get tired. I wish Usain Bolt had a chance to run a race with these people. At times the Lagos occupants complain about the Lagos traffic, but whenever the road is free, we complain, Do you know why? There is a level of dopamine when what we expect is what we meet. Lagos feels a little weird without the hold-ups or the hawkers hawking along the still cars.
Lagos isn’t home without the taskmasters. This time, the taskmasters are dressed in black and have a short hand stick with them. Sometimes they are tagged with a potbelly.
Lagos isn’t home without the hustling and bustling. There is an energy of a Nigerian, there is also an energy allocated to the Lagosians. We call it “street smarts”. Always ready for the day.
Lagos isn’t home without the seafood, beaches, music, and culture. I believe, yet, no city beats its elegance in these categories.
Lagos isn’t home without the slang. You will hear things like “Alaye ji masun” or “Oga ni iya muda”. If you can read these, you probably aren’t 100% a Lagos breed.
Why a tour in Lagos?
There are many places in Nigeria we can go to with great sights, but there are only a few that hold both modern vibes and cultural wind up together. Lagos is that place where history is remembered; it is also that place where history can be written for you, i.e., the landscape, infrastructure, and monuments give a message, a vibe, and a beauty that refines and recalibrates you into a new phase of perceptions.
If I’m to tour Lagos for 5 days, here is what my journey will look like:
To go on this tour, I will definitely have a lot of money, as this is what I call “Explore without thinking of the price”. If this is you, you might want to steal my “travel” recipe. Next time when you want to “cook” a trip, you can always add this to it. Shall we?
Day One: Arrival and Adjustments:
If you’re coming from another state, city, or country, you definitely want to adjust yourself to the atmosphere of this great place. From the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, find a nearby hotel and check-in. Drop off your luggage, and take a good shower. AFTER RELAXING A BIT FROM THE LONG FLIGHT, TRY THE NIGERIAN CUISINE – Preferably, the Nigerian Jollof rice. It tastes fantastic when it is cooked here in Lagos.
It’s your first day; here is a list of what you should do before we hit the road fully. Check out classy restaurants around. One I highly recommend is the “Shiro Lagos restaurant”. It is an exquisite restaurant located in the heart of Lagos that offers an unforgettable dining experience.
They have two dining styles (You can opt for either outdoor seating or vegan-friendly). You can also have varieties that include Japanese, Indian, and most African cuisines. I strongly suggest you go Africa. Take a walk after satisfying your taste buds to admire the light and beauty of Lagos. That is enough for the first day.
Day Two: Arts and Beaches never go wrong:
Lagos is a home of art and beaches. Take day two to explore core art centers and popular beaches in Lagos. To mention a few.
Terra Kulture – For art. In 18 years since it was founded, Terra Kulture has organized 300 art exhibitions, 140 plays, and over 70 book readings. It is on record that more than 30,000 people have visited for school tours, excursions, etc.
It is the best place to have breathtaking views and excellent memories that can be captured for future reference. After a visit to the art, you can take your Uber straight to any of the following beaches – The Tarkwa Bay, Elegushi Beach, and Landmark Beach. These locations, anyone you choose to explore, has enough activities to keep you for the day.
Day Three: Music and Vibes:
The Fela Shrine holds the heritage of what is vastly known as “Afro beats”. Here, you get to experience good live band music, become a part of history from the cup of a well-prepared palm-wine, and get engulfed in the afro expression from the Femi and Seun Kuti’s. If you’re a fan of music both new and archaic, you can stop by at Jazz hole. It is a quaint bookshop somewhere in Ikoyi; it hosts one of Nigeria’s richest record collections.
Day Four: A Nature Adventure:
You’re probably drained of strength from shuffling different locations. I would suggest day 4 is a walk around nature. The best place is to try the LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTER. Here you experience nature and see the beauty of African wildlife as well as the preservation of the region’s ecosystem.
Day Five: Have an Indoor Bowling or Karaoke experience:
To unwind the stress, you probably need something that gets you a little kinetic energy. There are great bowling spots you want to check out. To mention a few Maryland Mall, Rufus & Bee, Let’s go bowling For karaoke experience, you sure want to try out any of these places Terraform restaurant (7 pm Wednesdays)- 14 Wole Olateju Crescent, 102112, Lagos Ahaunz Bar (Tuesdays and Sundays) – 27, Sanusi Fafunwa St, Victoria Island 106104, Lagos.
These are just suggestions from me on designing a 5-day Lagos exploration for yourself. You can use this information to edit to your taste. I would love to know what you come up with. The journey is easier if you have a close place to crash the night after every visit.
Finding a place can be stressful, but to ease the stress, use hostel.ng to check available rooms within your vicinity. To book a room, log on to hostel.ng.
Enjoy your trip
