It is no longer news that Nigeria is one of the most populated countries in the world and the most populated country in Africa. However, that is not all there is to the country.
The country Nigeria is blessed with numerous diverse resources such as fertile soils for good agricultural produce, good weather conditions, human resources as well as beautiful sites which can be used for tourism.
Although Nigeria is still considered as a third-world country, however, she can be regarded as one of the most beautiful sites for tourist attractions in Africa. Not only does she have beautiful cities, but she also has good road networks that can allow you to access these beautiful cities.
One thing people underestimate about Nigeria is her people. The Nigerian people are very hospitable and friendly. According to a recent world survey held in 2017, the Nigerian people are considered as one of the happiest people in the world.
In contrast to what is often aired about Africans especially Nigeria, there are a lot of cities that are considered to be very beautiful with a mixture of both ancient and modern buildings which add to their allure.
This article will highlight some of these beautiful cities in Nigeria and also give you reasons why you should add them to your list of tourist cities when next you plan on going for a tour. They include:
1. Lagos city
It is no longer news that Lagos city is one of the fastest rising economic centres in the world. However, what you probably may not know is that Lagos is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria.
Lagos city is a major metropolitan state in the country and is well on its way to becoming a megacity. Some of the recent structures that have been put in place are elegant buildings which have been constructed to serve as areas for relaxation, business, commerce, fun and also make you feel at home.
Lagos is, without a doubt considered as the most industrialized state in Nigeria and one of the most beautiful cities you can ever see in Nigeria.
Another reason why Lagos is seen to be number one on the list of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria is that Lagos offers you a good road network, several tall buildings (some which are skyscrapers), alongside a fine mix of the highbrow areas with the slums.
If you are one who enjoys the nightlife, then your go-to place should be Lagos. This is because, in Lagos, the nightlife is equally as busy as the day. Lagos offers you a lot of clubs, malls, bars and restaurants which operate on a 24-hour basis, just perfect for your needs.
If Lagos isn’t among your list to stop when next you are touring, then you are missing a lot. Little wonder why it is number one on the list of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria.
2. Abuja
Abuja is another city that you shouldn’t miss when touring around Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Abuja easily slides into the second spot on our list of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria with reasons which aren’t far-fetched.
Among tourists, Abuja has been seen to have gotten a high reputation in terms of security and having a standard road network. Apart from all these qualities, one thing that makes Abuja one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria are the numerous places it has as centres for tourist attractions.
Some of these places include the Abuja National Mosque, Aso Rock, Jabi Lake, Benue River, the Jabi boat club, several international shopping malls, many 5-star hotels, museums, the presidential complex and so on.
This city is one of the leading cities in Nigeria as well as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria because it is neat, clean and organized.
Asides being one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria, it is also considered as one of the most expensive cities to live in because most of the rich people, e.g. politicians, state heads as well as other government officials have buildings, hotels and firms in Abuja.
3. Calabar
Calabar is another city that is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria. This city is often considered to be endowed with natural beauty. This city holds one of the largest tourist carnivals in the world.
Calabar is the capital of Cross River state, and she is often referred to as the Canaan city of Nigeria. Often, Calabar is considered as the best cities to live in when you come into Nigeria; as such, it is incredibly famous for its tourist attractions.
All year-round, the city is always fillers with tourists who come from all over the world just to behold the beauty of this city. In addition to the beautiful sites this city offers, Calabar offers you different festivities and carnivals which are always very colourful and gives you an insight into their traditions and way of living in the city.
Some of the sites to behold which quickly makes Calabar one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria include the Calabar Museum, drill monkey ranch, Duke town, Calabar cemetery, Tinapa Island, only to mention a few.
Calabar is also considered to be well organized as well as one of the safest and cleanest cities in Nigeria. Unlike Abuja that offers you the affluent lifestyle, Calabar is a city you can choose if you are on a small budget.
For you to enjoy Calabar as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria, the best time to visit is in December when the ever famous Calabar Carnival is held.
4. Warri
The city of Warri is one of the beautiful cities in Nigeria that is not widely known; however, tourists tend to visit this city frequently. Although it is not as big as Lagos and Abuja, it is still one very beautiful cities we have in Nigeria.
One of the reasons why it is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria is because it has so many beautiful buildings, hotels, resorts, among other infrastructural facilities.
Asides being one of the beautiful cities in Nigeria, this state is considered to be one of the rich states in Nigeria, as it is an oil state and many wealthy and influential people reside in Warri.
When visiting Warri, you should see some of these places; Effurun golden park, Abraka golf course, Delta ports, Nana Living, History Museum, Udu bridge, the primary Warri market, Warri city stadium and so on.
These are some of the spots in Warri that makes Warri be one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria.
5. Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt is the capital of Rivers state, one of the extremely oil-rich states in Nigeria. This state is considered to be a money-generating state in Nigeria due to a large amount of oil found on it.
This state, like Lagos, is one of the fastest-growing economic states in Nigeria. Port Harcourt enjoys the perks and privileges of being a metropolitan state, and this makes investors be much more interested in the state.
If you are someone who enjoys being on the water, then Port Harcourt is a place you should consider visiting. This city has terrific slashes and waterfronts as well as a vast amount of agricultural hub to offer you.
Like Lagos, this city is also quite famous for its nightlife which comes with various entertainment stages and scenes. One thing that is note-worthy about this state is that it offers you various cuisines and state-of-the-art restaurants.
If you are looking for something cheap and classy or expensive and luxurious, then Port Harcourt should be your stop. This city contains both the costly and cheap accommodations making it suitable for anyone who comes into it.
6. Abeokuta
One of the notable most beautiful cities in the southwestern region of the country is the famous Abeokuta.
Abeokuta is the capital of Ogun state. This state is one of the cities in the southwestern region that contains beautiful tourist attractions.
Among these varieties is the famous Olumo Rock. This rock is one of the most important rocks in the history of the Yoruba culture that holds great historical importance. This rock is made up of a collection of small and medium granite rocks, and it provides an endless beauty of nature which one can’t deny.
Once you reach the peak of the rock, you get to appreciate the beauty it brings. From the top of the rock, it is easy to see the whole city of Abeokuta at a glance. Another place you can consider visiting is the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL) wide-life which is situated just within the library.
This wide life is said to contain more than 150 animals, including the native and foreign breeds. Other places of interest which make this city one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria includes the Funaab Zoo, June 12 cultural Venter, The Oyan Dam, the Hilltop Golf resort, the Adire Market among others.
7. Akure
Akure is another beautiful southwestern city of Nigeria. Akure is the capital of Ondo state. This city is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria because of the major tourist attractions it brings.
One of the major towns in this city is the Deji Akure. Deji Akure houses one of the most famous places for marvellous arts, frescoes as well as monuments and statues that one can ever think of.
Another beautiful town in Akure is the Igbo Olodumar. This town is famous for her thick forestry which houses large green plants and trees which are enough to bring your eyes a soothing feeling.
The green ambience that this town provides is best for you if you love capturing beautiful green photos and also for relaxation purposes with your loved ones. Akure also provides you with an allure of the traditional lifestyle. You can enjoy beautiful native festivals such as that of the masquerades festival in Egungun and so on.
If you love fishing, Akure will dazzle you with the numerous amounts of fishes found in Igbokara Waterfront. You can also get a place to cook and enjoy your catch provided you go along with your cooking utensils.
Asides all these, Akure also offers you the nightlife allure if you enjoy moving in the night. The signature club is one of the choices that most tourists enjoy in Akure. Here, you get to see live bands, enjoy dance parties, have great drinks (both local and foreign) as well as meet with great people.
Another landmark that adds to the beauty of Akure is the Akure Central mosque which has been built over a couple of years ago, but it’s beauty still stands till date. Little wonder why Akure is one of the most beautiful cities in Akure.
8. Uyo
Another beautiful city you should visit in Nigeria is Uyo city. Uyo is located at the very heart of Akwa-Ibom. This city is blessed with numerous scenic attractions, beautiful infrastructures, hotels, as well as unique foods to blow your mind away.
One thing that makes this city to stand out among the most beautiful cities in Nigeria is that it is one of the most secured cities to live in, in Nigeria. If you are looking for the cool, calm, classy, beautiful, and serene cities to visit in Nigeria, then Uyo should be one of the cities on your list.
9. Kaduna
Kaduna is one of the most beautiful cities you would find in Northern Nigeria. This city is home to one of the few castles in Nigeria- Kajuru Castle. This castle was built far back in the 70s, and it has a semblance of the European castles.
This castle is, in fact, one of the numerous tourists’ sites that we have in Nigeria today. Although, Kaduna is known for its may insecurities, however, there are places there that are very safe for tourists to visit.
Kaduna is the third-largest city in Nigeria based on the landmass, and it is home to numerous short trees, shrubs, and grasses that makes this city to stand out as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria.
10. Jos City
Jos City widely known as the city of the captivating landscape, is undoubtedly a place of natural beauty. Jos has beautiful sceneries, museums, a wildlife park, games reserve (ever heard of the Pandam Games Reserve?), beautiful waterfalls as well as breathtaking hills and rocks.
Jos is considered to be another beautiful city in the Northern part of Nigeria and a beautiful place to start a family. Sometimes, snow is said to fall in this part of Nigeria, making the beauty of this state one of a kind.
