Fela Sanu

First off, this West African country is big — nearly ten times the size of the United Kingdom and roughly as big as Texas and California put together. Not to mention that with some 242 million people, it's the world's sixth most populous country as well as Africa's most populous by a wide margin. It also boasts Africa´s third largest economy, and while oil and gas are by far its biggest drivers, tourism is a small but significant and growing sector of the economy (about four percent at the moment), thanks to enough cultural, historical, and natural riches to keep visitors coming back multiple times. 

Nigeria´s history goes back deep — the Nok culture was casting terracotta sculptures more than 2,000 years ago, and powerful kingdoms like Benin, Oyo, Kanem-Bornu, and the Sokoto Caliphate rose and fell long before Britain cobbled together the "Nigeria" we know today, colonizing it beginning in the 1860s granting independence in 1960. That colonial stitching-together of hundreds of ethnic groups — Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, and many more — explains both Nigeria's dazzling cultural richness and some of its enduring political tensions. (And by the way, the country´s name was coined by a British journalist in 1897 after the Niger River which flows through the country.)

For those concerned about safety, it´s largely regional. The northeast has ongoing insurgency concerns, and parts of the north and center see banditry and kidnapping risk, so check current advisories before planning routes there. The south and southwest — home to Lagos, Abuja, and Calabar — are far more straightforward for visitors, though normal big-city caution (traffic chaos, petty theft) applies. Getting around usually means domestic flights between major cities (roads are often slow and unpredictable) or hired drivers for shorter hops.

As for the people, those unfortunate online scammer stereotype are wildly disproportionate to reality. The vast, overwhelming majority of Nigerians you'll meet are warm, quick to laugh, generous with directions, and genuinely proud to show off their country — hospitality is practically a cultural cornerstone. A tiny criminal minority operating online gave the whole country an unfair global reputation it's still trying to shake off.

And if you´re planning to visit Nigeria for the first time, here are a few of its top allures to start off with: 

Lagos

The chaotic yet electric commercial capital sprawls across lagoons, islands, and mainland districts, home to well over 15 million people — some estimates push past 20 million once you count the full metro area, making it one of the largest cities on Earth as well as by far Africa's biggest. Once a collection of fishing villages on a lagoon, it grew explosively through the 20th century into the continent's financial and cultural engine, even after ceding the title of federal capital to Abuja in 1991. The energy here is relentless: think honking go-slow traffic that can turn a ten-minute trip into two hours, rooftop bars overlooking the lagoon at sunset, the churn of film crews from Nollywood (as the country's vibrant, prolific cinema industry is dubbed) on nearly every corner, and Afrobeats spilling out of danfo buses, market stalls, and beachside speakers alike — this is, after all, the city that gave the world global stars like Burna Boy (recently of World Cup fame), Davido, and Wizkid. Lagos is a city built on hustle — from the financial tech startups reshaping the Yaba district's "Silicon Lagoon" to the sprawling Balogun and Computer Village markets, sensory-overload warrens where you can haggle for nearly anything, from fabric to phone parts. Getting around means embracing the chaos: ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt are the easiest option, while the iconic yellow danfo minibuses offer a cheaper, more local (if sometimes hair-raising) alternative, and a new light-rail line has begun easing the crush on Lagos Island.

Top things to see and do include hitting the Nike Art Gallery's four floors of Nigerian contemporary art; treading Lekki Conservation Centre's treetop canopy walk; getting in some swimming and sunning at private Landmark Beach; and heading to Freedom Park (a former colonial prison turned open-air venue) for live music and nightlife. And as for that legendary nightlife, Lagos doesn't get going until midnight and often peaks past 3 am, split between glossy Victoria Island and Lekki clubs like Quilox, with their Afrobeats-and-champagne scene, and the grittier, soul-of-the-city energy of Ikeja's New Afrika Shrine, built by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti's children to keep his legacy alive. One museum well worth your time are the National Gallery Lagos, which displays a wide range of exhibits and artifacts covering the history and culture of the territories than became Nigeria, with highlights such as Nok terracottas (in particular the Jemaa Head), Ife works, Benin bronzes, and traditional masks and regalia. Another is the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, a venerable museum devoted to the dominent culture of southern Nigeria now housed in a cutting-edge multimedia facility inaugurated just two years ago. 

Dining ranges from roadside stalls slinging street foods such as suya (spicy, skewered grilled meat coated in a peanut-based spice rub) and jollof rice (smoky and tomato-based), to sleek fine-dining rooms serving reimagined Nigerian classics, with fresh seafood a constant thanks to the lagoon and coast. Lodging spans backpacker guesthouses and mid-range hotels on the mainland to glossy five-star towers on Victoria Island and Ikoyi, the city's most polished enclaves, heavy with foreign residents. Lagos can at times be overwhelming and exhausting, with its noise, density, and unpredictable pace testing even seasoned travelers — but it's also utterly magnetic.