Lagos State, Nigeria, has been recognized as the 19th best city to visit in the world, as per a ranking by Time Out, a renowned publisher of guides and magazines. Alongside Lagos, Cape Town in South Africa (ranked second) and Accra in Ghana (ranked 44th) were the only African cities featured on the list.
This ranking was derived from a survey conducted among over 20,000 city residents worldwide, in addition to insights from Time Out’s network of editors. The assessment criteria encompassed various aspects such as the quality and affordability of food, cultural offerings, nightlife, overall ambiance, community spirit, access to green spaces, historical sites, among others.
The report encourages global travelers to explore the vibrant and diverse offerings of Lagos, endorsing it as a must-visit destination.
“Whether you’re a staunch mainlander or from Lekki, there’s something for everyone in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city
“Both the city and its suburbs are expanding – just check out live-work-play concept Eko Atlantic City. Just out of town, Epe, on the north side of Lekki Lagoon, is experiencing a boom.
“When it comes to standard of living, Lagos has a lot going for it, 96 percent of locals are happy, 98 percent would call Lagos beautiful and the city got a 92 percent friendliness rating, too,” the report read.
The report also highlighted Victoria Island’s trifecta of swanky resorts, food haunts, and nightlife, Ikeja’s Kuti’s Bistro, owned by the legendary afrobeat family, for serving up “reliably delicious food”, and Oniru Beach as a relaxation spot.
In 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit declared Lagos as the fourth worst city to reside in globally. Lagos ranked higher than Algiers, the capital of Algeria; Tripoli, the capital of Libya; and Damascus, the capital of the war-torn Syria.
The assessment surveyed 173 cities and considered 30 qualitative and quantitative factors categorized into five broad areas: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
See the full list below.
New York City, United States
Cape Town, South Africa
Berlin, Germany
London, United Kingdom
Madrid, Spain
Mexico City, Mexico
Liverpool, UK.
Tokyo, Japan
Rome, Italy
Porto, Portugal
Paris, France
Mumbai, India
Lisbon, Portugal
Chicago, US
Manchester, UK
São Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles, US
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Lagos, Nigeria
Melbourne, Australia
Naples, Italy
Singapore
Miami, US
Bangkok, Thailand
Lima, Peru
Budapest, Hungary
Beijing, China
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Montreal, Canada
Glasgow, UK
Sydney, Australia
Bueno Aires, Argentina
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Manila, Philippines
Seoul, South Korea
Hanoi, Vietnam
San Francisco, US
Barcelona, Spain
Abu Dhabi, UAE
New Orleans, US
Philadelphia, US
Austin, US
Boston, US
Accra, Ghana
Marseille, France
Taipei, Taiwan
Istanbul, Turkey
Osaka, Japan
Hong Kong, China
Vancouver, Canada
…
