Where to Stay in Lagos Without a Car

If you will not have a car in Lagos, stay as close as you can to where you will spend your days. For meetings and nightlife on the Island, that usually means Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Lekki Phase 1. On the mainland, it means Yaba for the university and tech offices, or Ikeja for the airport. Every trip you do not have to make in Lagos traffic saves time and money.

This guide explains how to choose, which areas work without a car, and how to get around. It gives no fares or journey times, because both change with fuel prices and traffic. Check them on the day.

Start from where you need to be

Lagos is a big city split by water. The Island side (Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki) and the mainland (Ikeja, Yaba, Surulere and beyond) are joined by a few bridges. Traffic builds on and around those bridges. Try not to stay on one side and work on the other.

Before you look at a single listing, write down:

1. Where you will spend most of your days: an office, a family home, a campus or a venue.
2. Where you will go in the evenings.
3. When you arrive and leave, and from which airport terminal.

Then look for a shortlet within a short ride of the first place on your list. If your plans are spread across the city, pick the side where you will spend most mornings. Our guide to a shortlet on Lagos Island or the mainland goes deeper into this choice.

Areas that work without a car

Walking in Lagos has limits: pavements come and go, and the heat is real. But some areas put a lot within a short walk or a short ride.

Victoria Island

Offices, banks, hotels, restaurants and bars sit close together. It suits business trips and evenings out, and short rides cover most errands. See shortlets in Victoria Island.

Ikoyi

Quieter and greener, right next to Victoria Island. It suits you if your meetings are on the Island but you want calm evenings. See shortlets in Ikoyi.

Lekki Phase 1

Close to Victoria Island and Ikoyi, with restaurants, shops and gyms along its main roads. The Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge has a footpath, and people walk and jog across it. See shortlets in Lekki Phase 1.

Yaba

On the mainland, near the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and many tech offices. It is busy, with food and shops on every street, and it has a Red Line train station. See shortlets in Yaba, and our guide to shortlets near UNILAG and Yaba.

Ikeja

Home to the airport and the state government, with shops and restaurants around Allen Avenue. Ikeja GRA is quieter. It is the best base if you fly in and out, or work on the mainland. See shortlets in Ikeja.

Surulere

Central on the mainland, with the National Stadium, markets and plenty of places to eat. It suits family visits on the mainland side. See shortlets in Surulere.

For a fuller comparison, read our guide to the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos.

Match the area to your trip

Getting around (check before you travel)

Without a car, you will probably mix ride-hailing apps with short walks. Other options can help, depending on your route:

• Ride-hailing apps. The simplest way to go door to door. Check the price in the app before you confirm, and share your trip with a friend.
• Trains. The Blue Line runs from Marina on Lagos Island towards Mile 2. The Red Line runs from Agbado through Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin and Yaba to Oyingbo. Check stations and times with LAMATA, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
• BRT buses. Bus rapid transit runs in its own lanes on some major roads. It helps if your route matches one.
• Ferries. Boats link some waterside areas. Check routes and rules with LASWA, the Lagos State Waterways Authority, and always wear the life jacket.
• Tricycles (keke) and motorcycles (okada). Common for short hops, but restricted on many roads in Lagos. Check the local rules before you use one.

No choice avoids traffic completely. Plan meetings with time to spare, especially in the morning and evening rush.

Simple habits for rides

• Check that the car, the plate number and the driver’s name match the app before you get in.
• Share your trip with a friend, and sit in the back.
• Keep your phone charged, with your host’s number saved.
• Ask your host where drivers can pick you up and drop you off, especially in a gated estate.
• At night, book from inside and wait for the car at the gate, not on the road.

Arriving from the airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is in Ikeja, on the mainland, and domestic flights use terminals nearby. If you land late or leave early, a shortlet in Ikeja cuts the airport run to a short ride. Our guide to shortlets near Lagos airport covers the nearby areas.

For the ride itself:

• Book a ride-hailing trip once you have your bags, and meet the driver at the agreed pick-up point.
• Or ask your host whether they can arrange a pick-up. Agree the price and the driver’s name before you fly.
• Share your host’s address and your flight details with someone you trust.
• Keep some cash in small notes for a tip or a snack.

If you arrive late at night, send your host your arrival time. Check how you will get in: keys, a caretaker or a door code.

On Cabans, the address and your host’s arrival steps are on your stay page once your booking is confirmed, under “Your stay guide”. When you get there, press “I have arrived” so your host knows you are at the door.

Booking tips

• Check where the home really is. “Lekki” can mean anywhere from Phase 1 to far along the Lekki–Epe Expressway.
• Ask what is within a short walk: food, a pharmacy, a supermarket and a cash machine.
• Ask about pick-up points. Some estates do not let ride-hailing cars past the gate, so you may walk in from there.
• Check check-in and check-out times against your flights.
• Read the cancellation terms before you pay, in case your plans change.
• Ask about the road. Some streets flood after heavy rain, which can make a short trip much longer.
• Check deliveries. If you will order food or groceries, ask whether riders can reach the door.

Staying a month or more? Weigh a longer shortlet against renting in monthly shortlet vs renting. On a long stay, a base near your work saves even more time.

On Cabans, you can check the free dates and the full price of a stay before you book, and the cancellation deadline shows before you pay. You pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is added when you pay, and you see it before you pay. That fee is not refunded. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.

Ready to choose? Start with shortlets in Victoria Island or shortlets in Ikeja, or find a shortlet you can book online.

Own a flat close to the action? List your short let in Lagos for visitors who want to be near everything.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Lagos Island or mainland? · Shortlets near Lagos airport · Lekki or Victoria Island? · Relocating to Lagos