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Search Africon Guide To Visiting Lagos

Welcome to Lagos Nigeria!     Africa’s largest and one of the busiest cities,  coming alive with the dreams and hustle of about 21 million people. Lagos serves as the country’s commercial center with a blend of rich diverse culture and history. As Africa’s most populous city, Lagos dazzles visitors with its cultural diversity and the relentless pulse of progress.

Iconic places like the National Museum, Lekki Conservation Centre, and Nike Art Gallery helps visitors learn more about its rich heritage. Areas like Victoria Island and Lekki bring a modern twist, filled with energy and nightlife. The blend of traditional markets and modern buildings truly reflects the spirit of Lagos, making it an exciting place to explore.

Get Ready for SearchAfricon 2025!

The countdown has begun for our highly anticipated conference, returning to Lagos, Nigeria. Relive the unforgettable moments of SearchAfricon 2025 before the magic unfolds again on May 22nd (Virtual) and May 23rd (In-Person), 2026. Join us at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, to learn, connect, and push boundaries in SEO & digital marketing across Africa.

Whether you’re visiting Lagos for the first time or you’re a familiar face, this guide will help you settle in smoothly. Discover the best accommodations nearby, dining options, and cultural experiences with tips on getting around and exploring the vibrant neighborhoods of Lagos.

Arrival and Travel Logistics

As you arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, you’ll be greeted by the warmth and vibrancy of Nigerian people. Lively chatter and resounding conversations follows you from the arrival hall — This display of enthusiasm captures Nigeria’s essence; a joyful spirit animates her people.

However, before meeting the experience awaiting beyond the airport, it’s important we let you know the entry procedures. 

Citizens of ECOWAS nations enjoy visa-free entry to Nigeria, while those from other countries need to obtain visas in advance or apply for e-visas to receive upon arrival for tourist purposes.

Navigating the airport is straightforward,from the tarmac to immigration offices is a direct walk along a straight walkway. If you’re getting a visa on arrival,  find the Visa On Arrival lounge prominently marked at the immigration area. Once you’re done with the stamping, which shouldn’t take long depending on the number of flights on ground at your time of arrival and the number of people ahead of you. Walk through to the luggage pickup area which is just behind the immigration officers, retrieve your luggage and continue to the exit. Please note that you may be intercepted by customs officers for bag check.

 

Note: Tipping immigration officers and airport workers isn’t official in Nigeria, but when you hear words like “find me something,”  “anything for the boys,” or “show your boy love,”  it’s simply a call for a tip, this is optional, you can nicely decline and say you don’t have any cash on you, but if your spirit also feels like tipping go ahead.

Once you step outside the airport, you’ll be greeted by eager taximen offering to transport you to your destination. 

Transportation From The Airport:

 

There are airport taxis and car hires, operated by companies, and independent taxis. While the airport taxis adhere to fixed rates, the independent ones offer negotiable fares. As a local, I’d say they’re generally safe, but for an extra layer of security, you should consider using Uber. With Uber, you can track your location in real time. If you opt for Uber, ensure you set your pickup location to the right terminal to avoid a long walk to the car park. 

 

Making Payments

Upon arrival at the airport, you can exchange your foreign currency (dollars, pounds, or euros) into Naira at the designated Bureau de Change within the terminal building, you’ll find them along the hallway before stepping out of the terminal building to the Taxi area.  With this local currency, you can easily pay for various expenses, including transportation, accommodations, meals, and purchases at local markets and streets.

Alternatively, you can use your international debit or credit card at most establishments. However, it’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand for smaller transactions like transportations or at places that may not accept card payments.

Traveling to Lagos from Other African Countries

Whether you’re joining us from Accra, Nairobi, Abidjan, or anywhere else across the continent, getting to Lagos is more straightforward than you might think. Here’s everything you need to know before you set off.

Getting Here (to Lagos) by Air

Lagos is well-connected to major African cities. Several airlines operate direct or one-stop routes into Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), including Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Peace, RwandAir, and Africa World Airlines. Below are some of the most common routes:

From West Africa (Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal) Flights from Accra (ACC) to Lagos (LOS) are frequent and typically take under two hours. Africa World Airlines and Air Peace both serve this route regularly. From Abidjan or Dakar, expect a short connection or a direct flight, depending on your carrier.

From East Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania) Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Kenya Airways via Nairobi are the most reliable options for East African travelers. Flight time from Nairobi to Lagos is roughly six to seven hours, including a connection. RwandAir also connects Kigali to Lagos with good frequency.

From Southern Africa (South Africa and beyond) Johannesburg (JNB) is well-connected to Lagos via South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. Expect a flight time of around six hours direct.

Booking tip: May is a busy travel period across Africa, so book your flights as early as possible to get the best fares and avoid last-minute stress.

On arrival: All international flights land at the MMIA International Terminal. Follow the signs for immigration, we’ve described the processesl in the Arrival section of this guide.

Visa Requirements

Your visa requirements depend on where you’re traveling from:

ECOWAS citizens do not need visa. If you hold a passport from a West African country (Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and others), you enjoy visa-free entry into Nigeria. Simply show up with a valid passport, and you’re good to go.

East and Southern African travelers If you’re coming from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, or most other countries outside the ECOWAS region, you’ll need to obtain a visa before traveling or apply for a Visa on Arrival. 

We strongly recommend applying at least two to three weeks before the conference date to avoid delays. You can apply here: Nigeria Immigration e-Visa Portal

The Visa on Arrival lounge is clearly marked at the immigration area in MMIA.

A Note on Currency for African Travelers

If you’re arriving from outside West Africa, your local currency (Kenyan Shillings, Rwandan Francs, South African Rand, etc.) is unlikely to be directly exchangeable to Nigerian Naira at the airport. 

The simplest approach is to convert your local currency to US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros before you travel, then exchange to Naira at the Bureau de Change inside MMIA on arrival. The Payments section of this guide covers everything else you need to know about spending money in Lagos.

How to Access the Internet as a Foreigner

As a digital marketer attending Search Africon, the last thing you want is to be offline. The good news is that staying connected in Lagos is easy and affordable, you just need to know your options before you land.

Option 1: Get an eSIM Before You Travel (Most Recommended)

This is the smoothest option for most international travelers. An eSIM is a digital SIM you activate on your phone before you even board your flight, meaning you’ll have internet access the moment you step off the plane in Lagos.

Popular eSIM providers that cover Nigeria include Airalo, Holafly, and Ubigi. A data plan typically costs between $10 and $20 for a few gigabytes, which is more than enough for a few days in Lagos.

Before you go this route, check two things:

  • Your phone must support eSIM (most flagship smartphones from 2020 onwards do)
  • Your device must be unlocked, check with your carrier if you’re unsure

If your phone supports it, buy and activate your eSIM a day or two before departure so you can troubleshoot any issues while you still have your home connection.

Option 2: Buy a Local SIM at the Airport (Budget-Friendly)

If you’d rather not pay for an eSIM, buying a local Nigerian SIM card at the airport is your next best option. MTN, Airtel, and Glo all have SIM card kiosks inside MMIA’s arrival area.

Of the three, MTN is generally recommended for the best coverage across Lagos Island and Victoria Island, where the conference and most recommended hotels are located.

A few things to know before you go this route:

  • Bring your passport. SIM registration is a legal requirement in Nigeria. You cannot buy a SIM without valid ID
  • Data is very affordable. You can get 10GB for roughly ₦3,000 to ₦5,000, depending on the bundle
  • Your phone must be unlocked to accept a Nigerian SIM. If it’s locked to your home carrier, this option won’t work, plan for an eSIM instead

Option 3: International Roaming (Last Resort)

Roaming works in Lagos, but it can get expensive very quickly. If you do use roaming, turn off background app refresh and automatic updates to avoid surprise charges. Check your carrier’s Nigeria roaming rates before you travel as some carriers offer day-pass add-ons that make it more manageable.

Use roaming only as a backup while you sort out one of the two options above.

At the Venue

SearchAfricon 2026 will have WiFi available at Lagos Oriental Hotel for all attendees. That said, having your own mobile data is always a good backup. Lagos traffic on a shared conference WiFi network can slow things down, especially during peak session times.

Making Payments

Upon arrival at the airport, you can exchange your foreign currency, dollars, pounds, or euros, into Naira at the designated Bureau de Change within the terminal building. You’ll find them along the hallway before stepping out to the taxi area. With Naira in hand, you can comfortably pay for transport, meals, accommodation, and purchases at local markets.

Sending Money Before or During Your Trip

If you need to transfer money to Nigeria ahead of your visit or top up while you’re here, a few apps make cross-border transfers within Africa quick and straightforward:

  • Chipper Cash: widely used across East and West Africa for peer-to-peer transfers
  • Flutterwave Send: reliable for sending money across African countries into Nigerian accounts

Both are available on Android and iOS and don’t require a Nigerian bank account to send from.

Using Your Card in Lagos

International Mastercard and Visa cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and most established businesses on Lagos Island and Victoria Island. American Express is rarely accepted, so avoid depending on it as your primary card.

ATMs are plentiful in the areas around the conference venue. Banks like GTBank, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank all have branches and ATMs in Ikoyi and Victoria Island that reliably accept international cards.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

  • Some POS terminals add a small card processing fee, typically around 1 to 1.5%. It’s minor, but worth knowing
  • Occasionally, international cards decline on the first attempt due to bank security flags. If this happens, try again or contact your bank before traveling to let them know you’ll be in Nigeria

Always Keep Some Cash Handy

Even with card acceptance improving across Lagos, cash remains king for smaller transactions, transport, street food, tips, and purchases at open-air markets. Having between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 in cash at any time will keep you comfortable and flexible throughout your stay.

Search Africon Venue

SearchAfricon 2026 will be held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, in Victoria Island, Lagos Island.

Lagos Oriental Hotel:

Lagos Oriental Hotel is located at No. 3 Lekki Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Situated in the heart of Victoria Island, the hotel offers a unique blend of business and leisure, with easy access to Lagos’ commercial hubs, vibrant social scene, and waterfront views along the Lagos Lagoon.

Travel Distances (approximate, without traffic):

  • Murtala Muhammed International Airport – 25–30 km (30–45 minutes)
  • Landmark Center– 5–7 km (10–15 minutes)
  • Lekki Phase 2 / Ajah – 20–30 km (30–50 minutes)

Additional Notes:

  • The hotel features a distinctive Asian-inspired design, spacious conference facilities, and panoramic views of the Lagos skyline and lagoon—making it a popular venue for conferences, corporate events, and upscale gatherings.

How to Get to the Search Africon Venue

Navigating to the venue is much easier if you use ride-hailing apps such as Bolt, Uber, or InDrive. The driver can follow real-time directions, saving you a lot of stress — especially given Lagos traffic.

Getting to the Venue with Public Transport

From the Mainland Oshodi/Ikeja: Take a bus to Obalende, then transfer to a bus headed towards Lekki. Tell the driver to drop you off at Lagos Oriental Hotel on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

From the Island Ajah/Lekki: Take a bus along the Lekki-Epe Expressway towards Obalende or Victoria Island and drop off at Lagos Oriental Hotel.

Use Google Maps or ask locals for directions to Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

Accommodation Around The Event Venue

Attendees traveling from outside Nigeria, Lagos or who prefer to stay closer to the venue  can choose from our recommended accommodations.

Fun Places to Explore and Things To Do In Lagos

While visiting Lagos for Search Africon 2025, seize the opportunity to explore Lagos. We’ve made a list of activities you can enjoy within the conference location environs:

Walk in nature

Archery

Indoor climbing

   Upbeat recreation center

 The upside down building

Escape Room Challenge

Boat Cruise 

   Lekki boat cruise

   Boat cruise Lagos

   Fiki Marina

    My salt beach (we’ll review this one before posting)

Jet Skiing

  Jetcar Water race

 Lekki beach club

Karaoke

Shaunz bar

The backyard grill

Terraform

Boardroom rooftop

Live music

Paintball 

Salsa Dance and Nightlife

Arts, Sip and Paint

Bowling

Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR) Experiences. 

NOTE: Don’t forget to do your homework before heading out! Give the business a call or shoot them a message on social media to make sure you’re all set

Food & Drink in lagos

Although your ticket to SearchAfricon covers feeding, including assorted buffet lunch, you may want to explore the Lagosian lifestyle by savoring some of the delicacies while here.

It’s almost impossible to list all the amazing places to eat in Lagos as the options are inexhaustible, however, here are some of the recommended places within the Island that you can explore:

Eat Local Nigerian dishes around you

Waterfront restaurants

Buffet

Restaurants Offering Continental Dishes

American/European

Mediterranean

Thai

French

Lebanese

Grocery Shopping and Souvenirs

Need groceries or anything else? Here’s a list of supermarkets, online stores, and pharmacies where you can easily order what you need.

Lagos Weather in May

Nigeria has a tropical climate with three distinct climatic zones, two seasons, and an average temperature between 21 °C and 35 °C. In May, the average daily temperature in Lagos ranges from 24°C (75°F) to 30°C (86°F). Likewise, it’s common for temperatures to reach around 34°C (93°F) on some days. 

Evenings and nights tend to be slightly cooler, with average lows of 22°C (72°F). As a result,  lightweight, breathable fabrics are recommended to stay cool and comfortable. Cotton and linen are recommended. Overall, focus on light-coloured clothing that reflects the sun’s rays.

May falls within the rainy season in Lagos, so it’s a good idea to pack a light rain jacket or compact umbrella for short afternoon showers

Health & Wellness Tips

A little preparation before you travel goes a long way. Here’s what to keep in mind before and during your stay in Lagos.

Malaria Prevention 

Lagos is in a malaria-endemic zone. If you’re traveling from a non-endemic region, consult your doctor about antimalarial medication before your trip. Regardless of where you’re coming from, pack a good mosquito repellent and apply it in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active. Light, long-sleeved clothing at dusk also helps.

Yellow Fever Vaccination 

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your country of departure. Check the requirements for your specific country well in advance and carry your vaccination card, your Yellow Card,  when you travel, as it may be requested at immigration.

Pharmacies 

Medplus and Healthplus are well-stocked pharmacies with branches easily accessible neighborhoods within the conference area, you can find common medications and personal care items if needed during your stay.

In Case of a Medical Emergency 

Should you require urgent medical attention, there are several reputable private hospitals nearby, including Coptic Hospital, Reddington Hospital, and Evercare Hospital Lekki.

You can also search “hospital near me” on Google to find the closest option. Most locations around Victoria Island are easily accessible and can be reached quickly via ride-hailing services like Uber or Bolt.

Security & Cultural Tips

Lagos, particularly the Island surroundings, where our conference venues and recommended accommodation are located, is considered safe. However, individuals need to take intentional security responsibilities for maximum safety. Here are some highly advisable security measures to consider:

  • Be aware of your environment and be cautious at all times
  • Travel in groups at night.
  • Please take care of your personal belongings.
  • Use Uber or Bolts as these private transportation services are comfy and give you more privacy.
  • If you decide to tour the city, stay vigilant about crowds or strange attitudes.

 

Local & Cultural Tips

Lagos is a city that rewards curiosity. A little cultural awareness goes a long way in making your experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Language

English is Nigeria’s official language and is spoken everywhere in Lagos, so attendees from across Africa won’t face any language barrier. That said, Lagos is predominantly pidgin,Igbo and Yoruba-speaking, and locals absolutely light up when visitors make even the smallest effort. Here are a few phrases to get you started:

  • E kaaro — Good morning in Yoruba
  • E kaasan — Good afternoon in Yoruba
  • E kaale — Good evening in Yoruba
  • E se — Thank you  in Yoruba
  • Bawo ni? — How are you? in Yoruba
  • How you dey- How are you in pidgin

Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation. The warmth you’ll get in return is well worth the attempt.

Bargaining at Markets

If you visit any of Lagos’s open-air markets, bargaining is expected and very much part of the experience. Start below the asking price and negotiate with a smile. It’s a social exchange, not a confrontation. At malls and established restaurants, prices are fixed, so bargaining doesn’t apply there.

Photography

Lagos is visually rich and endlessly photogenic. However, always ask for permission before photographing people, particularly at markets, religious sites, and busy street scenes. Most people are happy to oblige — asking first is simply good manners.

Road Safety

Do not assume drivers will stop at pedestrian crossings. Always look carefully in all directions before stepping onto the road, even when the crossing appears clear.

Food Allergies

Lagos cuisine is bold and layered. If you have any food allergies, always ask about ingredients before eating, especially at local restaurants and street food spots where dishes may contain groundnuts, seafood, or palm oil that aren’t immediately obvious from the menu description.

We Can’t Wait to See You in Lagos!

We wish you a pleasant journey and an unforgettable time in Lagos with SearchAfricon 2026.

Do you still have a specific question about SearchAfricon, visiting Lagos, or know something that should be included in this guide? Please reach out to us at support@searchafricon.com.

We look forward to meeting you in person at Lagos Oriental Hotel, 3 Lekki-Epe Expressway, Victoria Island, Lagos, on May 23rd for SearchAfricon 2026.

 

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket, you should do it now. Click to view available tickets.

 

Resource:

https://nigeria.tortoisepath.com/place/alliance-francaise-de-lagos-mike-adenuga-centre/

https://guardian.ng/life/clothing-choice-when-visiting-a-destination-in-nigeria/ 

https://instagram.com/choplyfe/

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Ebere Cecilia Jonathan

Founder of Search Africon | SEO & Digital Marketing Consultant

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Deborah Oyewole

Deborah Oyewole - SEO Analyst & B2B Content Writer for SaaS

Deborah is an SEO Analyst who also crafts highly engaging and informative SaaS and Cybersecurity content. Her passion for exploring new ideas fuels her dedication to SEO, constantly pushing her to discover innovative strategies and insights.