Free things to do in Lagos
No-spend weekends in Lagos — free museums, parks, markets and walks that don't cost a dollar.
Top spots in Lagos
Ikeja City Mall
FamilyIkeja
Mainland's flagship mall — cinema, food court and Shoprite under one roof when the rain hits.
Lekki Leisure Lake
FamilyLekki Phase 1
Jet skis, banana boats and lagoon-side palm bars — easy half-day with kids or friends.
Novare Mall Sangotedo
FamilyAjah
Ajah's anchor mall with Shoprite, Game and a Filmhouse cinema — handy escape from Lekki-Epe traffic.
Freedom Park
FamilyLagos Island
Former colonial prison turned arts park — live highlife on Friday nights.
Lufasi Nature Park
OutdoorsAjah
20-hectare conservation park on the Lekki-Epe expressway — kob antelope, ostriches and forest trails.
Murtala Muhammed Airport Gardens
OutdoorsIkeja GRA
Quiet, tree-lined GRA streets — colonial bungalows, embassies and easy morning walks.
Lekki Conservation Centre
OutdoorsLekki
401-metre canopy walkway through swamp forest with monkeys overhead.
Tarkwa Bay Beach
OutdoorsLagos Island
Sheltered cove reached by boat — calm water, beach bars and surf school.
Ajah Market
CultureAjah
Sprawling roadside market off Addo — fresh fish, peppers and the cheapest fabrics on the peninsula.
Computer Village
CultureIkeja
West Africa's largest tech bazaar — phones, parts and repairs in a few crowded blocks of Otigba.
Lekki Arts & Crafts Market
CultureVictoria Island
Wood carvings, adire textiles and bronze — bargaining expected.
Nike Art Gallery
CultureLekki Phase 1
Five floors of contemporary Nigerian art curated by Nike Davies-Okundaye.
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Tarkwa Bay Beach, Lekki Conservation Centre, Nike Art Gallery. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Lagos and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.