In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Nigeria
Zaria
Spend 1–2 days in Zaria to see the historic wall, Emir's Palace and the university campus; longer only if you want extensive market or campus tours.
Zaria is a historic Hausa city in Kaduna State with a compact centre, several colonial‑era sights and Nigeria's largest university. A half‑day covers the wall and palace; a full day adds markets and campus walks. Security is generally stable in the city centre but check current advice before travel.
- Country
- Nigeria
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Sep (heavy rains, occasional flooding)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NGN
- Money
- Currency is the Nigerian naira (NGN, ₦). Exchange rates have moved sharply; change money only at banks or licensed operators.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₦5,000–₦8,000 excl. bed · Mid ₦8,000–₦12,000 excl. bed · High ₦12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile; SIM registration needs a passport and NIN-style biometric capture — foreigners register at company offices (check).
- Emergency
- Police / security 112 · Medical emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Grid power is unreliable; hotels run generators. Bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if service is not added.; Driver day: ₦5,000–10,000.; Hotel porter: ₦500–1,000.; Guide: ₦5,000–10,000 per group.; Parking attendant ('agbero' or official): A few hundred naira; only to official attendants.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Bottled or sealed sachet water ('pure water') from known brands.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; carry tissue and hand sanitiser.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | ₦200–₦400 |
| Street snack (suya, akara) | ₦150–₦300 |
| Taxi (per km) | ₦300–₦500 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | ₦100–₦150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KAD · Kaduna International Airport
- ≈ 60 km (37 mi) north of Zaria, about 1 h by road≈ 37 mi (60 km) north of Zaria, about 1 h by road
Typical fares
- Taxi city centre → Emir's Palace
- ≈ ₦2,500
- Okada ride 5 km
- ≈ ₦1,200
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis and motorbike (okada) are the main options; fares are negotiated. Local minibuses (keke) run on main roads. Walking is feasible in the historic centre.
See and do
Known for
- Queen Amina’s Wall
- Emir's Palace
- Ahmadu Bello University
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kaduna city | Bus or taxi north, about 60 km (37 mi), 1 h 15 minBus or taxi north, about 37 mi (60 km), 1 h 15 min | ≈ 1 h 30 min |
| Kafanchan | Road north‑west, ~80 km (50 mi), 1 h 45 min by busRoad north‑west, ~50 mi (80 km), 1 h 45 min by bus | ≈ 2 h |
| Zangon Kataf | Road west, ~100 km (62 mi), 2 h by carRoad west, ~62 mi (100 km), 2 h by car | ≈ 2 h 30 min |
| Kagoro | Road north, ~120 km (75 mi), 2 h 30 min by busRoad north, ~75 mi (120 km), 2 h 30 min by bus | ≈ 3 h |
Sleep
- ABU Hotels
- Budget hotel, pool, free Wi‑Fi; US$30 per night
- Organo Hotel and Suites
- Budget host with breakfast; US$30 per night
- Zaria Hotel
- Central location, ₦5,750 per night
Language
English runs government, business and the media, so you can organise everything in it. On the street people switch to Pidgin, Yoruba in Lagos and the south-west, Igbo in the south-east and Hausa in the north. Humour, titles and greetings carry a lot of weight.
- Pidgin: 'How far?' (how are you?), 'Wetin dey happen?' (what's up?), 'Abeg' (please).
- Use 'Sir' and 'Ma' with anyone older or in authority.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet with a handshake and a question about family; Yoruba juniors may bow or kneel to elders; avoid: Rushing to business
- Titles: Use Sir, Ma, Chief, Alhaji; avoid: First names with older people
- Hands: Right hand to give, receive and eat; avoid: The left hand for money or food
- Dress: Smart clothes for churches, offices and events; modest dress in the north; avoid: Shorts in the north
- Hospitality: Accept food or drink offered; avoid: Flat refusals
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police, soldiers, airports, government buildings
Scams and watch-outs
- Security can vary; stay in well‑lit areas and avoid night travel outside the city centre.
- Last bus runs around 19:00; plan return trips earlier.
- Rainy season may make some roads muddy; allow extra travel time.
City centre is generally safe by day; avoid night travel outside main roads and stay updated on local security alerts (check).
One and two days
No timed day plan for Zaria yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Queen Amina’s Wall
- Emir's Palace
- Ahmadu Bello University
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Zaria: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Zaria, revision 5205227 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5205227
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/zaria). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.