Nigeria
How to get to Nigeria: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into Lagos (LOS) for a first trip: it has the most nonstop routes from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and it puts you straight into the country's biggest city. Choose Abuja (ABV) if your trip is government, business or northern Nigeria. Land and sea entry is possible but slow and rarely worth it.
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GuideNigeria
Key facts
- Best airport for most trips
- Lagos — Murtala Muhammed International (LOS)
- Best for the capital
- Abuja — Nnamdi Azikiwe International (ABV)
- Other international airports
- Port Harcourt (PHC), Kano (KAN), Enugu (ENU) — fewer long-haul routes, check
- Nonstop from Europe
- London ~6h30, Amsterdam and Paris ~6h30–7h — check
- Nonstop from the US
- No nonstop from most US cities; connect in Europe, the Gulf or Addis — check
- Entry by land
- Possible from Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon; long, hot and checkpoint-heavy — check
- Entry by sea
- No practical passenger ferry service; cruise calls are rare — check
- Visa first
- Apply online before you fly; see the visa page
Summary: airport, month and cost
Pick the airport by where you are going next, not by price alone. A cheap fare into Lagos costs you a domestic flight or a long drive if your trip is in the north.
Fares swing hard by season. The dry months from November to March are peak for visitors and for Nigerians abroad, so December and the Christmas period are the most expensive weeks of the year.
| Airport | Best for | Typical nonstop from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos (LOS) | First trips, beaches, music and food | London, Amsterdam, Paris, Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Johannesburg | Busiest and best connected; expect heavy traffic into the city |
| Abuja (ABV) | Government, business, central and northern Nigeria | London, Frankfurt, Addis Ababa, Doha, Istanbul | Calmer arrival, easier roads |
| Port Harcourt (PHC) | Oil industry, Niger Delta | Limited regional and a few long-haul routes | Check current schedules |
| Kano (KAN) | Northern Nigeria | Addis Ababa and regional carriers | Check current schedules |
| Enugu (ENU) | South East | Regional and a few international routes | Check current schedules |
Step by step
1. Get the visa or e-visa approved before booking a non-refundable ticket. Nigeria requires most visitors to apply online in advance; the process and the landing card are covered on the visa page.
2. Choose the airport. Lagos for a first trip or anything in the south-west. Abuja if your itinerary is the capital or the north. If you are heading to Calabar, Port Harcourt can save a long drive, but confirm the route still operates.
3. Book the flight. From the UK and Europe there are nonstops to Lagos and Abuja. From the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you will almost always connect, usually through Europe, the Gulf, Addis Ababa or Johannesburg.
4. Plan the arrival. Lagos arrivals can be slow: immigration queues, baggage and the drive into Victoria Island or Ikoyi. Build in two to three hours from landing to hotel, more at night.
5. Sort the money and the phone before or at the airport. See the currency page and the SIM page; a working local number makes ride-hailing and hotel contact much easier.
6. Arrange the airport transfer in advance, especially for a late arrival. Use a hotel car or a ride-hailing app rather than an unbooked taxi.
Notes
Flight times are rough and depend on the route and the connection. London to Lagos is about six and a half hours nonstop. Amsterdam and Paris are similar. From New York or Toronto, count 13 to 18 hours door to door with one connection; from the US west coast, Australia or New Zealand, 20 hours or more.
Land borders with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon are open in principle but the crossings are slow, paperwork-heavy and can close without notice. Check your government's advice and the current security situation before you commit to a road crossing.
There is no useful passenger ferry into Nigeria. Cruise ships call occasionally at Lagos; that is not a way to plan an independent trip.
Domestic connections inside Nigeria are a separate decision: see the getting around page for flights versus road.
Travel insurance is worth arranging before you fly, and check that it covers the states you plan to visit.
FAQ
Sources and verification
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for Nigeria?
Lagos (LOS) for most first trips: it has the widest choice of nonstop and connecting flights and puts you in the country's biggest city. Fly into Abuja (ABV) if your trip is the capital, government business or northern Nigeria.
How long is the flight to Nigeria from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ?
London to Lagos is about 6h30 nonstop, and Amsterdam or Paris similar. From the US east coast or Canada, expect 13–18 hours with one connection; from the US west coast, Australia or New Zealand, 20 hours or more. Check current schedules.
Can I enter Nigeria by land or sea?
Land crossings from Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon exist but are slow, checkpoint-heavy and can close without notice — check advice first. There is no practical passenger ferry service; cruise calls at Lagos are rare.
Do I need a visa before flying to Nigeria?
Most visitors need a visa arranged online in advance, plus a landing card. Apply and get approval before you book a non-refundable ticket. See the visa and entry requirements page for the current process.
Which airlines fly to Nigeria?
Nonstops to Lagos and Abuja run from London and several European and Middle Eastern hubs, plus major African carriers. From North America, Australia and New Zealand you connect, usually in Europe, the Gulf, Addis Ababa or Johannesburg. Check current routes.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel?
Arrange a hotel car or use a ride-hailing app rather than an unbooked taxi. In Lagos, allow two to three hours from landing to a Victoria Island or Ikoyi hotel, and more at night.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNigeria Immigration Service
- officialFederal Airports Authority of Nigeria
- officialNigerian Civil Aviation Authority
- secondaryWikivoyage – Nigeria