Get to know the creative city of Lagos with these free things to do 漏 Alucardion / Shutterstock
Lagos can be anything you want it to be.
If luxury is your language, rest assured that Lagos speaks it well. If, however, you鈥檙e on a tight budget and want to experience this bustling Nigerian city without spending anything, you鈥檒l be welcomed with open arms by the city鈥檚 creative arts community, whose vibrancy is attracting attention around the world.
Here鈥檚 a lineup of local activities without breaking the bank, the top free things to do in Lagos.
YouTube video player
1. Get your groove on at the New Afrika Shrine
The New Afrika Shrine is a must-visit destination in Lagos. Every Sunday night, Femi Kuti 鈥 son of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti 鈥 performs with his band to a packed hall during 鈥淪unday Jump鈥 鈥 with an admission fee of around N1000. And every Thursday evening, the rehearsal for the Sunday show is free.
Planning tip: If you鈥檙e around in mid-October, be sure to attend the nightly concerts, which run for a week in memory of Fela 鈥 all free of charge.
2. Go to a reading at a local book store
A wave of creativity is blowing across Lagos. On their own or with independent publishers, authors are writing more fiction and nonfiction books and getting them to a steadily growing number of bookshops, which host frequent book readings and conversations for the literary community. These small and thoroughly enjoyable gatherings of 50 or so are free to attend. The best three places to meet authors and the Lagos literati are in Ikeja, in Surulere and Bookstore on Victoria Island.
Planning tip: In October and November, you can mix and mingle with a bigger assembly of book lovers at the (QFest) and (LABAF), both also free to attend.
3. Get the royal treatment at Nike Art Gallery
If you鈥檙e in the Lekki area, head to the Nike Art Gallery 鈥 possibly the biggest gallery space in Lagos (and all of Nigeria). Staff will welcome you warmly and (if you don鈥檛 mind) make you feel like royalty by dressing you up in local Yoruba costumes. It鈥檚 an experience you won鈥檛 get anywhere else.
Its four floors showcase beautiful paintings, beads, fabrics, handcrafts and furniture; older, more traditional pieces are on the uppermost floor. Pop into its crafts shop to pick up a souvenir. And if you鈥檙e not in a hurry, feel free to linger in the front yard, dotted with a fine collection of sculptures crafted from metal, tire and stone.
Planning tip: Preschool and elementary school-age children are not allowed in the gallery. It's open every day of the week, with shorter hours on Sundays.
4. Escape the humid weather in the city鈥檚 public parks
Thanks to more than 300 parks and gardens across Lagos state鈥檚 five divisions, city dwellers have plenty of green outdoor spaces to spend their time. A few charge around N500 (children) and N1000 (adults) as entry fees, but many of these parks are free and open every day of the week.
Nearly all of them have park benches, children鈥檚 play areas, snack-and-drink kiosks and multiple trees offering shade. Sports fans will love the Ndubuisi Kanu Park (in Alausa) and Ikorodu Recreational Park, both of which have basketball courts.
Planning tip: If you're looking for some peace and quiet, head for the parks on weekdays. They are fairly busy on weekends and packed during public holidays.
5. Take the kids to Didi Museum鈥檚 creativity classes
At least one Saturday a month, the hosts a creativity workshop for children. Led by experienced facilitators, these sessions help youngsters explore subjects like craft-making, sketching, painting, writing, poetry and music. The workshops cost a token price, which usually goes toward the materials to be used by participants. While the kids are busy with their tutors, you can sit in a quiet corner of the main gallery and read a book from the gallery鈥檚 library.
6. Engage with contemporary artists at gallery and exhibition openings
Like writers, artists in Lagos are busier than ever. It鈥檚 almost impossible to keep tabs on all the exhibitions launching nowadays, while month after month new galleries are opening their doors. Exhibition or gallery openings are occasions usually enlivened by hearty chatter, cocktails and small bites.
Planning tip: A good place to begin your search for what鈥檚 next on the calendar is the helpful of the Lagos branch of the Society of Nigerian Artists.
7. Go birding in the mangroves of Lekki
Once a month, the organizes a bird-watching outing, giving bird lovers a chance for sightings all around town. Locations in the past have included the University of Lagos, Lekki Conservation Center and . These trips offer a great opportunity to explore some of Lagos鈥 disappearing mangrove forests and wetlands, and spot their winged residents.
Planning tip: Check the club鈥檚 social media feeds for announcements of upcoming trips, news of which usually gets posted a week in advance.
8. See a movie outdoors at Muri Okunola Park
Outdoor movies are becoming a big thing in Lagos, with three open-air venues (all on Lagos Island) offering frequent screenings. , which curates some of the city鈥檚 alternative events, hosts a standing screening in the Ikoyi neighborhood. The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency has introduced a 鈥淢ovie in the Park鈥 series at Muri Okunola Park on the last Saturday of the month. Another collective takes patrons to Tarkwa Bay, where they can binge on games and movies all night long.
9. Enjoy an evening of classical music at MUSON Center
The (MUSON) Center in Onikan has been the home of classical music in Lagos since it first opened in 1995. Every October, the venue hosts the annual MUSON Festival, a weeklong feast of drama, jazz, art exhibitions and opera. The festival is a good time to watch its symphony orchestra perform; at other times of the year, the organization puts on a variety of performances, many of which are free.
Explore related stories
- Wildlife & NatureLagos' parks are underrated 鈥 here are 9 of the best the city has to offer
Jul 10, 2022 鈥 6 min read
Activities鈥淭here are 21 million Lagoses. Choose your own adventure鈥 - Eloghosa Osunde on her hometownJan 10, 2022 鈥 7 min read