According to Time Out, which publishes guides and magazines, Lagos has secured the 19th position among the best cities to visit globally. South Africa’s Cape Town claimed the second spot, while Ghana’s Accra ranked 44th, making them the only African cities featured in the list.
The rankings were determined through a survey of over 20,000 city dwellers worldwide, in addition to input from Time Out’s network of editors. The evaluation criteria encompassed various factors such as food quality and affordability, culture, nightlife, the overall atmosphere of the city, community engagement, accessibility to green spaces, historical sites, and more.
The report promotes the idea of global citizens visiting Lagos, describing it as a destination with offerings for everyone, whether they are from the mainland or Lekki. Lagos, being Africa’s most populous city, is highlighted for its ongoing expansion, with a mention of the live-work-play concept evident in Eko Atlantic City.
Additionally, the report notes the growth in Epe, situated on the north side of Lekki Lagoon, suggesting that the area is currently experiencing a significant economic upswing.
The report underscores the positive aspects of Lagos’s standard of living, revealing that 96 percent of locals express happiness, 98 percent find the city beautiful, and it boasts a 92 percent friendliness rating. The document also highlights specific attractions such as Victoria Island’s combination of upscale resorts, food establishments, and nightlife, as well as Ikeja’s Kuti’s Bistro, owned by the renowned Afrobeat family, recognized for consistently serving delicious food. Oniru Beach is also spotlighted as a recommended relaxation spot.
Contrastingly, in 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit labeled Lagos as the fourth worst city to live in globally. Despite this ranking, Lagos still outperformed cities like Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli (Libya), and Damascus (Syria) in the survey of 173 cities, which considered 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
Here is a snippet of the list of cities included in the report:
1. New York City, United States
2. Cape Town, South Africa
3. Berlin, Germany
4. London, United Kingdom
5. Madrid, Spain
6. Mexico City, Mexico
7. Liverpool, UK
8. Tokyo, Japan
9. Rome, Italy
10. Porto, Portugal
11. Paris, France
12. Mumbai, India
13. Lisbon, Portugal
14. Chicago, US
15. Manchester, UK
16. São Paulo, Brazil
17. Los Angeles, US
18. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
19. Lagos, Nigeria
20. Melbourne, Australia
And the list continues.