For a Sallah holiday getaway, book a family-size shortlet early, close to the praying ground and the relatives you plan to visit. The exact Sallah day depends on the moon, so choose a stay you can cancel or change, or add a spare night. Then check the guest limit, the kitchen and the house rules on visitors before you pay.
This guide covers how the dates are announced and where families go. It also covers when to book, what a family stay needs, and the checks to make before you pay.
When Sallah is, and how the dates are announced
Nigeria has two Sallah holidays each year:
- Small Sallah (Eid-el-Fitr) marks the end of the Ramadan fast.
- Big Sallah (Eid-el-Kabir) is the festival of sacrifice, when many families slaughter a ram. It comes about two months after Small Sallah.
Both follow the Islamic calendar, which is based on the moon. That calendar is shorter than the ordinary year, so Sallah comes about 11 days earlier each year. The exact day depends on when the new moon is seen.
Here is how the dates usually become official:
- Islamic leaders, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, announce the sighting of the moon and the day of Eid.
- The Federal Government declares the public holidays, through the Ministry of Interior. This is often only a few days before.
- The national news, radio and TV carry the announcement.
We do not print dates here, because they change each year and can move by a day. Plan around the expected dates, then confirm them with the official announcement. For other holiday weekends, see our guide to long-weekend getaways.
Where families travel
Sallah is a time for prayers, family and visits. Many families travel home, and many meet in one city so relatives from different states can be together.
- Kano. For many families, Kano is home. Sallah brings Eid prayers, visits to relatives and, in some years, the famous durbar. It is sometimes called off, so check local news before you plan around it. See shortlets in Kano.
- Kaduna. A common meeting point for families from across the North, with Eid prayers and family visits. See shortlets in Kaduna.
- Abuja. Easy to reach by road and air, with a wide choice of homes and quiet estates. It suits families meeting from Lagos, the North and abroad. See shortlet apartments in Abuja.
- Lagos. Many Lagos families stay home for Sallah, or book a staycation. See shortlets in Lagos.
In Abuja, the choice of area matters. Maitama and Asokoro are quiet, with bigger homes. Wuse 2 is busy and central. Gwarinpa has larger family homes and a relaxed feel. See shortlets in Gwarinpa, or read where to stay in Abuja.
Travelling by road? Leave early, travel in daylight, and check the latest news on your route before you set off. On the Abuja to Kaduna route, some families take the train. Check it is running and buy tickets early, as holiday seats go fast.
Booking early
Sallah weekends are some of the busiest of the year for short let homes in the North and in Abuja. Families book the biggest homes first. Here is how to get a good one:
- Book as soon as the trip is agreed. Do not wait for the official announcement. By then, the best homes may be gone.
- Book around the expected dates. Arrive the day before the expected Eid, so you are rested for the morning prayers.
- Add a spare night if you can. If Eid moves by a day, you are still covered.
- Choose a stay you can cancel. Check the host’s free-cancellation time. The longer it is, the safer you are if plans change.
- Check the minimum stay. Some hosts only take stays of two or three nights.
Prices can be higher on busy dates, so compare the total price for your exact nights, not the price for one night. Our guide to cheaper shortlets in Abuja shows ways to save.
On Cabans, open a shortlet and look at the booking box. Free dates are green, and each shows its price for the night. Pick your first and last day, and the box shows the full price, with the free-cancellation deadline, before you pay. Press “Reserve” and we hold the dates for 30 minutes while you pay. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.
Family-size stays
A Sallah stay is rarely just two people. Plan for grandparents, children, visitors and a lot of food.
| What you need | What to check or ask |
|---|---|
| Enough beds | Count beds, not just bedrooms. Ask what size each bed is. |
| A room downstairs | For grandparents, or anyone who struggles with stairs. |
| A real kitchen | A big cooker, pots, a fridge and freezer space for festive meals. |
| Space for visitors | A big living room, extra chairs and a compound for Sallah visits. |
| Power and water | Generator hours, and a borehole or water tank for a full house. |
| Parking | Room inside the compound for several cars. |
| Getting to prayers | How far is the Eid praying ground or the mosque you plan to use? |
For bigger groups, a duplex or a three-bedroom home often works best. Our guides to booking a shortlet duplex for a group and choosing the right size go further.
Big Sallah and the ram
For Eid-el-Kabir, many families buy a ram. Do not assume you can keep it at a shortlet. Many hosts do not allow animals, or slaughtering, anywhere in the home or compound. Ask the host before you book. If the answer is no, arrange for the ram to be kept and slaughtered elsewhere, and bring the meat back ready to cook.
Eid morning
Roads near big praying grounds can be closed or slow on Eid morning. Ask the host the best route, and leave early. Tell the host if your family will be coming and going all day, so the gate staff are not surprised.
On Cabans, the booking box shows the host’s guest limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”, and you cannot book for more. Count everyone staying, children included. The number of guests does not change the price.
A simple Sallah plan
Sallah is busy, so keep the shortlet side of it simple. A three-day stay works for most families:
- The day before Eid: arrive in daylight, check in, and shop for the festive meal before the markets get crowded.
- Eid day: leave early for prayers, then come back for the big meal. Spend the afternoon on family visits, or host relatives at the home if the house rules allow visitors.
- The day after: more visits, a rest, and a slow start home, or stay on if the holiday runs longer.
Pack your prayer clothes and festive outfits, small gifts for relatives, a power bank and some cash. Card machines and transfers can be slow on busy holiday days, and children expect their Sallah money.
Checks before you pay
Holiday weeks bring out fake adverts, because people are in a hurry. Slow down and check these points before any money moves:
- The home is real. Photos should show every room, from more than one angle. Ask questions a scammer could not answer.
- You pay safely. Never send money by transfer to a stranger to “hold” a home. See shortlet scam warning signs.
- The total price. Nights, any cleaning fee, and the refundable caution deposit.
- The cancellation rule. Until when can you cancel, and what comes back?
- The guest limit. Children count as guests.
- The house rules. Visitors, cooking, animals, noise and smoking.
- Arrival. Check-in time, who meets you, and the host’s phone number.
- The caution deposit. How much it is, and how it comes back. Our guide to getting a caution fee back explains it.
Keep the answers in writing, and share them with the family. When everyone knows the rules, Sallah stays happy for you and for the host.
On Cabans, you pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by you, and you see it before you pay. It is not refunded. If you cancel before your free-cancellation deadline, you get back the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days.
Find your Sallah shortlet
See Abuja shortlets for a family stay, or look at homes in Kano and Kaduna. Compare two or three family homes for the same nights, and book as soon as the family agrees.
Have a family home in Abuja that sits empty over the holidays? List your shortlet in Abuja and reach families planning their Sallah trip.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sallah holiday in Nigeria?
We do not list dates, because they follow the Islamic calendar and the sighting of the moon. The Federal Government declares the public holidays through the Ministry of Interior, often only a few days before. Watch the national news, and plan around the expected dates.
What is the difference between Small Sallah and Big Sallah?
Small Sallah is Eid-el-Fitr, which ends the fast of Ramadan. Big Sallah is Eid-el-Kabir, the festival of sacrifice, which comes about two months later. Both are public holidays, and many families travel for both.
How early should I book a shortlet for Sallah?
As soon as your family has agreed the trip. Book around the expected dates, add a spare night if you can, and choose a stay you can cancel for free in case the holiday moves by a day.
Can I keep a ram at a shortlet for Eid-el-Kabir?
Only if the host agrees first, in writing. Many hosts do not allow animals or slaughtering in the home or the compound. Ask before you book, or arrange for the ram to be kept and slaughtered elsewhere.
Which city is best for a Sallah getaway?
It depends on your family. Kano and Kaduna suit families going home for prayers, visits and the festivities. Abuja suits families meeting from different states, with more homes to choose from and easy roads.
How many people can stay in a Sallah shortlet?
As many as the host allows, children included, and no more. Count everyone who will sleep there. Relatives who only visit for the day may still need the host’s agreement.
Can I change my Cabans booking if Sallah moves by a day?
Open your stay and press “Change dates or guests”. A shorter stay inside your booked dates, made before your free-cancellation deadline, changes straight away. Other changes, such as new dates or a longer stay, need the host to agree.
Related guides
Long-weekend getaways · Where to stay in Abuja · Shortlet duplex for a group · Cheap shortlets in Abuja · Shortlet scam warning signs
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