Top Tourist Attractions in Nigeria: Where to Spend Your Holiday

Are you looking for places to spend time with family and friends, enjoying a natural view and beautiful atmosphere in the country? Tourist attractions are what you need.

Nigeria packs numerous tourist attractions where you can spend your leisure and still have fun with your family. Yearly, tourists travel from far and wide into Nigeria to visit our tourist attractions.

There are a lot of beautiful places to visit in Nigeria. We have beaches, waterfalls, hills, rocks, museums, and other tourist attractions in the country.

In the last two years, the revenue generated from tourism keeps increasing. Aside from that, it also creates job opportunities for Nigerians. Tourism brings development to all sectors of the country.

So if you want to know the best of all tourist attractions in the country, then this post is for you.

Top Tourist Attractions to Visit in Nigeria

Nigeria has unique and fascinating tourist attractions that you can never get tired of visiting with family and friends.

There are exotic beaches, beautiful waterfalls, amazing springs, magnificent hills and rocks, and lovely museums, among other tourist attractions available in the country.

Let’s check out the tourist attractions in Nigeria, one after the other.

1) Ibeno Beach

Ibeno is the longest beach sand in the whole of Africa, and it is located in Akwa-Ibom state. It is 30 km along the Atlantic Ocean from the beach to Jamestown.

The beach has foliage of mangrove forest, roaring waves, and cool breeze from the water. It gives a lush atmosphere, and it is a perfect spot for sunbathing and gives the tourist allure experience.

 2) Obudu Mountain Resort

Have you ever heard of Obudu Mountain Resort also referred to as Obudu Cattle Ranch? The resort is one of the most popular and beautiful tourist centers in Nigeria. It is a beautiful and pleasant place to be.

Obudu resort is in the northeastern part of Cross Rivers state. It gives you that dazzling experience due to all the fascinating features of the resort.

The tourist center has top-of-the-world facilities like a waterpark, swimming pool, canopy walkways, cable car, and many more. Also, nature endows the mountain with valleys, mountains, and attractive landscapes.

Obudu Resort is in a serene and conducive environment that gives tourists a relaxing and enthralling experience. With the fantastic views from the mountain, the mix of both cold and warm weather, lovely scene, pleasant climate, as well as good ambiance, makes Obudu Mountain Resort a perfect spot for a holiday.

3) The Tinapa Free Zone & Resort

Tinapa is one of the best resorts in Nigeria. It is Calabar, Cross River state. It has facilities for leisure as well as entertainment.

The resort has a casino, a mini amphitheater, a children’s arcade, restaurants, a nightclub, a digital cinema, and pubs. It is a perfect place for both the young and old.

4) Agodi Gardens

Agodi Gardens is a beautiful park in the capital of Oyo State, Ibadan. The park, also called Agodi Botanical Garden, is situated on 150 acres of land.

It is one of the best places to be in Ibadan during holidays and weekends as it is peaceful, calm, and perfect for relaxation as well as hanging out with friends and family.

Agodi Garden houses tropical trees, a mini zoo, a water park, a paintball arena, a swimming pool, clubs, and bars. This garden will give you a lifetime experience if you visit.

5) Osun-Osogbo Grove

Osun Osogbo Grove is not just a tourist center; it is a religious site and also a location for a festival that people come from different countries to witness. Osun Grove is a UNESCO  world heritage site.

It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. Osun Grove is on the outskirts of the state capital Osogbo. The festival is mostly celebrated around August.

The grove is along the banks of the Osun River, and it has sacred shrines, artworks, sculptures, and sanctuaries made in honor of the goddess of fertility referred to as Osun Olomoyoyo.

6) Olumo Rock

The old Olumo rock is a sacred rock in Abeokuta, Ogun state. It is the fortress of the Egba people, and the town is named after the rock. Abeokuta has a massive deposit of rocks, but the Olumo rock is the most magnificent.

The rock is not just a tourist attraction, but a religious center as the rock is worshipped by some people in the town.  The tourist center is so astonishing as you will see small rocks carrying bigger ones.

Olumo houses a garden of rocks, natural tunnels, broken pathways, unusual trees, natural cantilevers, monuments, museums, and many more historical pieces. This is truly one of the wonders of God on earth.

7) Idanre Hill

Idanre Hill is another great wonder of God sitting pretty in Oke-Idanre, Ondo State. The site is also one of the UNESCO sites.

The hill gives tourists a beautiful view of the town, houses, and valleys surrounding the gigantic hill. On the top of the hill are Omi Aopara; the thunder water, shrines, Arun river, unreadable letters, Agbooogun footprint, the Owa’s palace, and burial grounds,

Idanre Hill has a lovely ecosystem loaded with beautiful flora and fauna. It is undoubtedly a place to be as it gives you that lifetime experience.

8) Yankari National Park

If you are a nature lover, then the Yankari game reserve is undoubtedly a place for you to visit. Is it the vibrant ecosystem, wildlife park, warm spring, Wiki camp, museum, among others.

Yankari Park formerly known as Yankari Game Reserve is in the south-central part of  Bauchi State. The wildlife park has over 50 mammal species,350 bird species, and over 200 elephants among other animals there.

The park’s initial inhabitants were farmers, herdsmen, and blacksmiths. There are monuments in the park like Dukkey Wells, Marshall Caves, and Tunga Dutse. Also in the park are warm and cold springs, Kalban Hill, Kariyo Hill, Paliyarama Hills, and Tonlong Gorge.

The largest historic industrial complex in West Africa is in the park, and it was for iron smelting.

9) Bar Beach

Nigeria has a number of exotic beaches and Lagos state houses most of them. The most popular of them is the bar beach which is along the shorelines of Lagos, and it is a beach on the Atlantic Ocean located on Victoria Island, Lagos state.

This tourist center attracts people from within and outside of Nigeria. The cool breeze, welcoming atmosphere, sights of people playing around, horse riding, and other activities taking place there give a relaxing feel to tourists.

The bar beach is a beach without a single tree but the sight is still as beautiful as that of every other beach, tourist intending to enter the water must be careful of the waves from the ocean.

10) Erin-Ijesha Waterfall

Another mind-blowing tourist center in Erin-Ijesha Osun State. The waterfall, also called Olumirin Waterfall, is a tourist site with a historical background.

The waterfall was discovered in 1140 AD; then it was worshipped by the people of the village as they believed it was a sacred altar that purified them.

However, the place is now a tourist center where people from different walks of life visit yearly for sightseeing and relaxation. Erin-Ijesha waterfall is enclosed inside hills with a vibrant ecosystem loaded with trees and flowers.

The waterfall is a result of seven different cascades pouring over a cliff. The seven stages of the waterfalls have different outlooks with different rocks splashing soothing water in a calm atmosphere.

Erin-Ijesha waterfall is home to sweet nature and the experience from the visit is one of a kind.

11) Ikogosi Warm Spring

Ikogosi is a warm spring located in Ikogosi, Ekiti state. The site is a wonderful one as two different water with different temperature flows.

In the spring we have the warm spring which sparkles but the amazing part of this site is that right beside the warm spring is a cold spring. The two meet at a confluence and each still maintains its thermal properties.

The Old Baptist initially developed the tourist attraction before the government took over. Ikogosi’s warm spring has facilities for tourists aside from the spring there are restaurants, guest houses, swimming pool to serve the needs of the tourists.

12)Awhum Waterfalls

Awhum is one of the numerous waterfalls we have in Nigeria, and it is in the eastern part of the country, Amaugwe village, Awhum Enugu State.

The tourist site is not just for tourism as it also serves a religious purpose because it is close to Awhum Monastery. The waterfall is a result of water cascading on top of a gigantic granite rock which splashes 30 meters down massively, thereby forming a stream.

The waterfall has its own peculiar features as dignified peace and miracle. The people believe so much in the healing power of the water. Surrounding the waterfalls are lakes, caves, hills and valleys.

The fantastic thing about this waterfall is that during the dry season, it dries up and when it’s raining it comes back to life to visit this site there must be prior knowledge by the management. Around the site are hotels to stay during your visit.

13) New Afrika Shrine

New Afrika Shrine is an open entertainment center in Lagos that has grown into a tourist attraction that people from far and wide visit. It is the location for the annual music festival “Felaboration.’

The legendary afro-beat singer Fela Anikulap-Kuti originally built the shrine in the early 70s, but it was burnt down before being rebuilt by the legend’s children Femi and Yeni Kuti.

This tourist site showcases photos of the legend Fela, quotes from Fela, as well as the music of Fela, Femi, and Seun Kuti. In the shrine are relaxation centers: clubs, bars, eateries, restaurants, and other relaxation spots.

Last year, the shrine hosted the President of France Emmanuel Macron which was visiting for the second time after his visit as a student in 2002.

So if you want entertainment in a lively environment then this New Afrika Shrine is where you should be.

14) Zuma Rock

It is not possible for you to ply the Abuja-Kaduna road off Madala without being stunned by the gigantic Zuma Rock. The great Zuma Rock is standing gallantly in Niger State, and it rises 725 meters (2,379 ft) above the ground level as well as 3.1km in circumference.

The rock stands as the gateway to the FCT through Suleja so you cannot but notice it. Zuma Rock is on the ₦100 note of the Nigerian currency.

This tourist center serves as a hideout for the people of the village during inter-tribal wars. The structure of this rock is amazing as it has a  human face with the eyes, nose, and mouth visible on it. The people believe that face is that of a deity which results in people worshipping it.

Another fantastic thing about this rock is that it catches fire at the top when it rains heavily and it is said to be standing on an enormous amount of water.

If you have yet to visit Zuma Rock, you need to see all these dazzling things about the igneous intrusion yourself.

15) Lekki Conservation Centre

Lekki Conservation Centre is one of the best nature parks in Nigeria which homes diverse species of plants and animals. The park managed by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is located along the Lekki-Ajah expressway, Lagos state.

The place was created mainly by NCF to house animals and plants as well as to protect them from encroachment by man due to urbanization. This tourist attraction offers a peaceful and tranquil feel. It serves as an escapade from the urban life.

LCC has in stock amazing features that will make you visit the place multiple times. It is the longest canopy walk in Africa. Also at the tourist center is a 96-year-old tortoise and a lot of games. The wildlife park has animals like crocodiles, beautiful peacocks, snakes, and many more.

So if you want to have a clearer view of Lagos, enjoy the feel of nature, see different animals, and play fun-filled games with family and friends then LCC is the place to visit.

16) Kainji National Park

Kainji national park is a big park that stretches across two states Niger and Kwara state. The part is in three major parts. Firstly there is the Kainji lake where fishing is prohibited. Also, there is the Borgu Game Reserve and lastly the  Zugurma Game Reserve.

The park contains a good number of plants and flowers as well as animals of different species. The wildlife part of the park houses animals like hippos, elephants, antelope, Nile crocodile lions, patas,  buffaloes, hunting dogs, monkeys, lions, and pythons, among others.

This tourist center is a good spot for camping, sightseeing, boat riding, gaming, and other things. For education, Kainji National Park is perfect due to the presence of a Hydropower station and conservative education happens there.

17) Ancient Kano City Walls

Ancient Kano city walls also referred to as “‘the most impressive monument in West Africa” were built in the years 1095 to 1134 but later completed in the 16th century.

The wall was built as a defensive mechanism, thereby shielding the people of Kano. The third King Sarki Gijimasu laid the foundation of this great wall, but it was completed during the time of Zamnagawa.

The wall at the time it was built had a height of 30 to 50 ft and about 40 ft thick at the base with 15 gates, but now it’s encroached on by man.

History has it that each gate of the wall has a guard protecting it and the guard lives around the entrance. Eight hundred years after the foundation of the wall was laid, it was captured by British forces under the leadership of Lord Fredrick Lugard.

The Ancient wall of Kano which used to be outside the city of Kano is now inside as the city has grown more significant than what it was. Presently the Great Wall is no more in shape as it is getting ruined due to human activities around it.

18) Badagry Slave Port

Badary town itself is full of historical places and monuments. Your visit to Badagry is not complete without visiting the slave route, the point of no return, the museum, and the beautiful coconut beach.

The town borders Lagos, Nigeria, and Seme, Benin Republic. The story of the slave trade cannot be complete without a mention of Badagry. The town is a city to many firsts( story building, clean water, Yoruba Bible, missionaries, and church).

The museum houses many monuments the chief exchanged his people for. Mirrors, umbrellas, and other things are the. The graveyard of the Chief Sunbu Mobee is also there as well as artworks showing Nigerians captured as slaves by their colonial masters.

Also, the point of no return shows the place where the ship that takes slaves is docked. After crossing the lagoon, they pass the Spirit Attenuation Well where they take water that causes loss of memory before proceeding to the point of no return, and that’s their end.

Your visit to Badagry should be topped by visiting the exotic coconut beach.

19) Millennium Park

Millennium Park is the largest park in Maitama right in the heart of the federal capital territory Abuja. The park was commissioned in 2003 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

The park has an Italian layout as an Italian architect Manfredi Nicoletti designed it. Millennium Park attracts thousands of tourists from within and outside the country as it provides a perfect spot for relaxation, picnics as well and games with family and friends.

Millennium Park is a beautiful landscape with flora and fauna, it has different birds singing melodious songs in a relaxed, serene, and conducive environment not for adults alone but for kids as well.

20) Ancient Nok Settlement

The Southern part of Kaduna houses the Nok Settlement in Jaba local government. The Nok people are known for breathtaking figurines, paintings, sculptures, stone works, and different artworks.

In the village called Nok is a Museum which hosts unique terracotta carvings and antique objects. Museums around the world also have pieces from the Nok artworks.

So if you love artworks, figurines, and carvings, the Ancient Nok Settlement is the place to visit.

21) Oba Of Benin Palace

Oba of Benin is the traditional leader of the Edo people, the leader of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire.

The royal palace is home to the Oba of Benin and his family. This palace is one of the UNESCO heritage sites. The palace was first built in 1255AD – 1280AD by Oba Ewedo in the art of the ancient town but it was destroyed during the British rule in 1897.

It was then rebuilt (1914–1932) by Oba Eweka II before being declared in 1999 as a UNESCO heritage site. As a tourist, if you visit the palace, you will learn about the fascinating culture of the Edo people, and the history of the Benin empire and learn about historical monuments as well as artifacts.

If you are a lover of history, then the Palace of Oba of Benin is a perfect place to be.

22) Omu Resort

Thinking of the perfect place to spend your holiday with family and friends, Omu Resort is a suitable place to be. Omu Resort is a recreational center sitting beautifully in Ajah, Lagos State.

The resort houses the first purpose-built race track in Nigeria with different karts for all ages, the first wax museum in Africa, darts, archery, amusement park, quad biking and horse riding spot, and a zoo with over 400 animals from different parts of Africa.

The resort is a perfect place for a picnic, and it has the capacity to host people for events in its ultramodern hall.

Conclusion

Tourism is a very fertile sector in Nigeria as the country is blessed with numerous parks, waterfalls, zoological gardens, rocks, hills, rivers, museums, and resorts among other tourist attractions in the country.

So as a tourist, you now have a broader view of some of the tourist attractions spots in the country!