Lagos has been ranked as the 19th best city to visit in the world. This was according to Time Out, which publishes guides and magazines.
Apart from Lagos, South Africa’s Cape Town (ranked second) and Ghana’s Accra (44th) were the only African cities featured.
Time Out said its conclusions were based on a survey of more than 20,000 city dwellers worldwide and its network of editors.
The criteria used to rate cities include food (quality and affordability), culture, nightlife, how the city makes people feel, strong community vibes, access to green space and historic sites, and much more.
The report encouraged global citizens to visit the city.
“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 the live-work-play concept in Eko Atlantic City. Just out of town, Epe, on the north side of Lekki Lagoon, is experiencing a boom.
“When it comes to the standard of living, Lagos has a lot going for it per cent of locals are happy, 98 per cent would call Lagos beautiful, and the city got a 92 per cent 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 said Lagos was the fourth-worst city to live in the world.
Lagos was ranked above the capitals of Algeria, Tripoli, Libya, and Damascus, the capital of war-torn Syria.
The report surveyed 173 cities and used 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
See the full list.
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
