Jan. 25, 2024

From the beaches to the night life and its food, Lagos State has been ranked 19th of 50 best cities in the world in 2024 ahead of Dubai, Abu Dhabi.

In a latest ranking report released on Tuesday, Timeout magazine said whether you’re a staunch mainlander or from Lekki, there’s something for everyone in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city.

According to the report, the Posh Victoria Island continues to deliver a trifecta of swanky resorts, food haunts, and nightlife. “Lekki is for the brunchers – make Maple Lagos your first stop”.

The report further lists some spots in Lagos that gives that gives life to the State.

On the mainland, Kuti’s Bistro in Ikeja, owned by the legendary afrobeat family, serves up reliably delicious food and hosts parties, karaoke and games nights.

And then there are the beaches – hit up Oniru Beach for some fun in the sun, but be sure to bring naira for this private beach. For those who live for the night, Hard Rock Cafe Lagos provides a massive indoor-outdoor playground with top artists including DJ Obi (‘Obi’s House’ on Mondays), who set a Guinness World Record in 2016 for a 240-hour marathon set.

Why to visit 

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. The town is home to the legendary Oluwo Fish Market, the biggest in Lagos state, where almost all traders are women. Fittingly, there’s a giant two-fish statue in the centre of town.

The big numbers

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.

“What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes.

“We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities in 2024.”

The top 50 best cities in the world, according to Time Out
New York
Cape Town
Berlin
London
Madrid
Mexico City
Liverpool
Tokyo
Rome
Porto
Paris
Mumbai
Lisbon
Chicago
Manchester
São Paulo
Los Angeles
Amsterdam
Lagos
Melbourne
Naples
Singapore
Miami
Bangkok
Lima
Budapest
Beijing
Dubai
Montreal
Glasgow
Sydney
Buenos Aires
Kuala Lumpur
Manila
Seoul
Hanoi
San Francisco
Barcelona
Abu Dhabi
New Orleans
Philadelphia
Austin
Boston
Accra
Marseille
Taipei
Istanbul
Osaka
Hong Kong
Vancouver