Lagos weekend tour: Culture, markets, Fela Kuti's home

Two days, nine stops, one guide who knows Lagos inside out

A 48-hour private tour of Lagos covering the National Museum, Makoko community, West Africa's largest art gallery, Lekki Conservation Centre, New Afrika Shrine, Kalakuta Republic Museum, art markets, and Lagos beaches. The guide speaks English, French or Arabic. Hotel pickup and all entrance fees are included. You choose between Tejuosho Market's organized shopping or Balogun Market's street-level energy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Lagos culture and nature

• Visit National Museum of Lagos
• Explore Makoko community by canoe
• Visit West Africa’s largest art gallery
• Walk Africa’s longest canopy walkway

Day 2: Experience Lagos music and markets

• Visit New Afrika Shrine for live music
• Tour Kalakuta Republic Museum
• Shop at Lagos art market
• Relax at Lagos beach
• Choose between Tejuosho or Balogun Market

The experience

The tour starts at the National Museum of Lagos, where you walk through ancient sculptures, archaeological relics, and ethnographic exhibits that map Nigeria's civilizations. From there, the itinerary branches into moments that define the city: a canoe ride through Makoko, the "Venice of Africa," where you see how an entire community lives on stilts; the five-storey gallery holding over 25,000 African artworks; the Lekki Conservation Centre's canopy walkway strung across wetlands where monkeys and crocodiles move through the trees. These are not quick photo stops. Each one is built in so you can absorb what you're seeing.

The second half pulls you into Lagos's creative and commercial heart. The New Afrika Shrine is where live music and Afrobeat culture still pulse. The Kalakuta Republic Museum is Fela Kuti's former home, his instruments and final resting place preserved inside. You'll visit an art market for handmade souvenirs and African prints, then choose your market experience: Tejuosho, rebuilt and organized for comfortable browsing, or Balogun, the chaotic, energetic heartbeat of Lagos commerce. The tour ends at a beach on the Atlantic coast where you can sit with the ocean after two days of moving through the city.

A private vehicle picks you up from your hotel and stays with you both days. The driver navigates while your guide (fluent in English, French or Arabic) explains what you're seeing and answers questions as you move. Entrance fees to every site, bottled water, and air-conditioned transport are all included. The whole experience runs between 18 and 23 hours across the two days, which means you're not racing through Lagos but you're not idle either.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup both days.
• a live guide fluent in English, French or Arabic.
• entrance fees to the National Museum, Makoko, the art gallery, Lekki Conservation Centre, New Afrika Shrine, and Kalakuta Republic Museum.
• bottled water throughout.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 88 years) · Child (7 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Samap Travels & Tours LTD

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, French or Arabic. Choose the language when you book so the two days of commentary and cultural context flow in whichever one you think in. This tour works for anyone with a couple of days and the stamina to move between nine different sites. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with young children.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 15 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Kalakuta Republic Museum and why does it matter?

Kalakuta Republic Museum is the former home of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, preserved with his personal rooms, musical instruments, memorabilia, and final resting place. It's a window into his revolutionary life and the music that shaped Lagos and Africa's cultural identity.

What is Makoko and how do you experience it on this tour?

Makoko is a waterfront community where homes, schools, and daily life exist on stilts above the water: locals call it the "Venice of Africa." You glide through the waterways by canoe with a local guide who explains the community's fishing culture, history, and resilience.

Which market should I choose? Tejuosho or Balogun?

Tejuosho Market is a modern, organized shopping complex ideal if you want to browse African prints, fabrics, and fashion comfortably. Balogun Market is the raw, fast-paced heartbeat of Lagos commerce: energetic and chaotic, perfect if you want to feel the city's street-level energy and endless variety.

What can I see at the Lekki Conservation Centre?

Lekki Conservation Centre features Africa's longest canopy walkway stretched across lush wetlands where you can spot monkeys, crocodiles, and exotic birds. It's one of Nigeria's most famous eco-destinations and offers quiet space for photography and relaxation between city stops.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and entrance fees?

Yes, the tour includes hotel pickup both days, air-conditioned private transportation throughout, and entrance fees to every site. Bottled water is provided, and all taxes are covered in the price.