Book your Lagos shortlet on the side of the city where you will spend most of your days. If your meetings, events and nights out are in Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Lekki, stay on the Island. If you need the airport, Ikeja, Yaba or Surulere, stay on the Mainland.
That one choice matters more than the flat itself. Lagos is split by water, and the bridges between the two sides can be very slow at busy times. A lovely flat on the wrong side can cost you hours in traffic every day.
Island or Mainland: the quick answer
In Lagos, “the Island” usually means Lagos Island itself, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and the areas further along the Lekki corridor. “The Mainland” is everything on the other side of the lagoon, including Ikeja, Yaba, Surulere, Gbagada and Magodo.
| Your trip | Usually the better side | Places to start |
|---|---|---|
| Business meetings in the big office districts | Island | Victoria Island, Ikoyi |
| Beach trips, restaurants and nightlife | Island | Lekki, Lekki Phase 1 |
| Late arrival or early flight | Mainland | Ikeja |
| Visiting family on the Mainland | Mainland | Surulere, Gbagada |
| Tech hub, university or exam trip | Mainland | Yaba |
| A long stay on a tighter budget | Often the Mainland | Ikeja, Yaba, Gbagada or Magodo |
If your plans are spread over both sides, read on. The next sections help you decide where to base yourself, or whether to split the trip.
Where you need to be each day
Start with a simple list. Write down every place you must visit, and how many days you will go there. Then count which side of Lagos wins.
- Work trips. Many head offices, banks and consulates are in Victoria Island and Ikoyi. Others are in Ikeja and around the Mainland. Check the address of every meeting, not just the company name.
- Holidays and celebrations. Beaches, many restaurants, lounges and event centres are along the Island and the Lekki coast. Plenty of weddings and parties happen on the Mainland too, so check each venue.
- Family visits. Stay near the family you will see most. A short drive to them each day beats a cross-city trip, even if the Island flat looks nicer.
- Airport days. Murtala Muhammed Airport is in Ikeja. Stay near it on the night you land late, or the night before an early flight.
- Study, exams and interviews. The University of Lagos is in Akoka, next to Yaba. Some exam and interview centres are on the Mainland too.
If one side wins clearly, book there. If it is close, choose the side of the day that starts earliest. Being late on the first morning is harder to fix than a long drive home in the evening.
Traffic and timing
Lagos traffic is hard to predict, so treat any travel time as a guess. A trip that is quick late at night can take several times as long in the morning or evening rush. Rain, events and road works make it slower still.
- The bridges are the pinch point. Trips between the two sides usually cross a bridge, such as the Third Mainland Bridge. When the bridges are busy, there is no short cut.
- Rush hours run both ways. In the morning many people head towards the Island for work. In the evening they head back. Plan your crossings against that flow when you can.
- The Lekki corridor has its own traffic. Staying far along it, towards Ajah, can mean a long ride into Victoria Island at peak times.
- Weekends are calmer, but not always. Big events, weddings and the December season can fill the roads on any day.
- Check a map app on the day. Look at live traffic before you leave, and leave early for anything that matters.
A good rule: if you must cross the bridges twice a day, you are probably on the wrong side. Move your base, or split the trip.
Why prices differ between the two sides
We do not quote average prices here, because they change with the season and with each home. Instead, here is what pushes a Lagos shortlet price up or down, on either side of the city.
- Demand. Areas full of offices, hotels and nightlife, such as Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki, have more visitors competing for homes. That usually means higher night prices.
- The season. December is one of the busiest times of year in Lagos, and some hosts charge more for it. Big events and public holidays can do the same.
- The building. Newer blocks with a lift, a gym, a pool or 24-hour security ask more. So do homes with sea or lagoon views.
- Power and water. Steady backup power and running water cost the host money, and the price reflects it. They are often worth paying for.
- Size and finish. A large, freshly finished Mainland flat can cost more than a small, older Island one.
- Length of stay. Some hosts give a discount for a week or a month. A long stay can cost less per night than a weekend.
In general, homes on the Island ask more per night than similar homes on the Mainland. It is a tendency, not a rule. The only way to know is to compare real homes for your dates. Remember to add any cleaning fee and caution deposit, because the night price is not the whole bill.
You can compare prices right now on the Ikeja shortlet page and the Victoria Island shortlet page. For a wider view, see short let apartments in Lagos.
Areas to look at on each side
These are good places to start your search. Each link shows shortlets listed in that area now.
On the Island
- Victoria Island: close to many offices, hotels and restaurants. Busy and central.
- Ikoyi: quieter streets, close to Victoria Island and Lagos Island.
- Lekki Phase 1: a popular choice for visitors, with many restaurants and shops.
- Lekki: a long corridor with a wide choice of homes, from studios to large houses.
- Ajah: further along the corridor. More space for the money, but longer trips into Victoria Island.
On the Mainland
- Ikeja: the state capital, home to the airport and many offices and shops.
- Yaba: the tech hub, near the University of Lagos. Lively and central on the Mainland.
- Surulere: an older, well-connected area with lots of family homes.
- Gbagada: handy for the middle of the Mainland and the Third Mainland Bridge.
- Magodo: gated estates and quieter streets, further north.
For more detail on each neighbourhood, read our guide to the best areas for a short let in Lagos.
Splitting your trip between both sides
On a longer trip, two shorter stays can beat one long one. A common pattern is to start near the airport, then move to the Island for the rest of the trip.
- Book one or two nights in Ikeja for the day you land.
- Rest, then cross to the Island late in the morning, after the rush.
- Book the rest of your stay near your main plans on the Island.
- Near the end, check how early your flight is. If it is very early, move back to the Mainland for the last night.
Check each home’s check-in and check-out times before you book. Our guide to shortlet check-in and check-out times explains how to plan the gap between two stays.
Five questions to settle it
- Where is my first and most important place each day?
- How many times will I cross the bridges in a normal day?
- Am I landing late or leaving early?
- Do I need steady power and Wi-Fi to work from the flat?
- Is the full price, with the cleaning fee and caution deposit, inside my budget?
If you can answer those, you know your side of Lagos. Then pick the home that fits the trip.
Booking your shortlet on Cabans
Some shortlets on Cabans can be booked online. Open one of them, pick your check-in and check-out dates, and the booking box shows the full price, with any cleaning fee and caution deposit. It also shows until when you can cancel for free. Press “Reserve” and the dates are held for 30 minutes while you pay.
You pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is added and shown before you pay, and it is not refunded. If you cancel in time, refunds reach you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.
Find your shortlet
Find a shortlet you can book, or go straight to an area: Lekki, Yaba or Ikeja. Own a furnished flat on either side of the city? You can list your Lagos short let and reach guests looking for your area.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay on Lagos Island or the Mainland?
Neither is better for everyone. Stay on the Island if most of your plans are in Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Lekki. Stay on the Mainland if you need Ikeja, the airport, Yaba or Surulere. The best side is the one where you will spend most of your days.
Which areas count as the Island in Lagos?
When people in Lagos say “the Island”, they usually mean Lagos Island itself, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and the areas further along the Lekki corridor, such as Ajah. Ikeja, Yaba, Surulere, Gbagada and Magodo are on the Mainland.
Are shortlets cheaper on the Mainland?
Often, but not always. Homes on the Island tend to ask more per night than similar homes on the Mainland. A new, well-finished Mainland flat can still cost more than an older Island one. Compare the full price for your dates, not the area name.
Which side is best if I am flying in or out of Lagos?
The airport is in Ikeja, on the Mainland. For a late arrival or an early flight, a Mainland shortlet near Ikeja saves you a long drive over the bridges at a bad hour. If your days are on the Island, you can move across once you have rested.
How do I get between the Island and the Mainland?
By road, you cross one of the bridges, such as the Third Mainland Bridge. Traffic on the bridges can be heavy in the morning and evening rush, so plan to cross outside those times when you can.
Can I split my trip between the Island and the Mainland?
Yes. You can book two shorter stays: one near the airport or Mainland offices, and one on the Island for the rest of the trip. Check both hosts’ check-in and check-out times so the move fits into one day.
Related guides
Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Shortlets near Lagos airport · Short let in Ikeja · Check-in and check-out times · Short let in Lagos: the complete guide
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