Most people arriving in Lagos stay somewhere temporary first, while they find a place to rent. The choice is between a hotel and a short-let: a furnished apartment rented by the night or the week.
Short-lets
Short-lets are everywhere on the Island and in Lekki, and increasingly on the mainland. They usually have a kitchen, more space than a hotel room, and backup power, at a price per night that falls for longer stays.
Before you book, check:
Hotels
Hotels range from international chains on the Island to small local hotels everywhere. They are simpler to book and easier to trust, with security and power handled for you, and usually cost more for the space.
The fake listings
Fake short-let listings are a common Lagos scam: attractive photographs, a low price, and a request to pay in full by transfer before you arrive. When you arrive, the flat does not exist or belongs to someone else.
- Book through a platform that holds your payment, or from an operator with a long, checkable history.
- Video-call the host from the flat before you pay, if you cannot visit.
- Do not pay the full stay upfront to a personal account.
Where to stay
Stay near where you will work or look for a flat, not where it looks glamorous. A beautiful short-let two hours from your office in traffic is a bad first week.
Lagos neighbourhoods Finding a place in Lagos Your first week