Nigeria
Lagos in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonWarm, humid and very wet.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.1
- ✓Warm (31°C highs / 25°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.9°C)
- !Wet: ~236 mm rain, ~5 heavy-rain days
- Air quality7.8
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~20 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline5.0
- ·High caution
| May | Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.1 Good | 8.1 Very good |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) |
| High / low | 31° / 25° | 28° / 24° |
| Rain | 236 mm | 91 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 23° |
| PM2.5 | 20 µg/m³ | 16 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Lagos weather-station normals. Rainfall: Lagos weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Workers' Day 1–3 May · 3 days off in a row
- Eid al-Adha 15–18 May · 4 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Presidential Inauguration Day (29 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore LagosEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyLagos is Nigeria's largest city and commercial hub, spread across islands and mainland along the Atlantic. Travellers come for its music, art scene, food and energy.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Independence DayEvery year1 October every year
Nigeria's national day, with official events and celebrations.
Why go: Public holiday; some businesses close.
Where: Across the city
FelabrationDate variesDates vary; usually mid-October, around Fela Kuti's birthday
A week of concerts and events celebrating Fela Kuti's music and legacy.
Why go: The best week for live Afrobeat in the city.
Where: New Afrika Shrine and other venues
December festive seasonDate variesDates vary; throughout December
Concerts, parties and festivals fill the calendar as the diaspora returns home.
Why go: Prices and traffic rise sharply; book flights and rooms early.
Where: Beaches, clubs and venues across the city
Lekki Conservation Centre
A nature reserve with one of Africa's longest canopy walkways.
💡 Go early to avoid the heat and the crowds.
Nike Art Gallery
A large multi-floor gallery full of Nigerian art and textiles in Lekki.
Lekki Arts and Crafts Market
A market selling carvings, fabrics, beads and art.
💡 Bargaining is expected.
Freedom Park
A former colonial prison on Lagos Island turned into a park and arts venue.
New Afrika Shrine
A music venue linked to Fela Kuti's legacy, hosting regular live shows.
💡 Travel there and back by pre-arranged car at night.
Jollof rice
Rice cooked in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce.
💡 Restaurants and buka eateries everywhere
Suya
Spicy grilled meat skewers dusted with a peanut spice mix.
💡 Street grills, mostly in the evening
Pounded yam and egusi
Smooth pounded yam with a thick melon-seed and vegetable soup.
💡 Local restaurants and buka eateries
Puff-puff
Sweet fried dough balls.
💡 Street vendors and parties
Adire fabric
Indigo resist-dyed cloth from Yoruba tradition.
💡 Lekki Arts and Crafts Market and Nike Art Gallery
Aso-oke
Hand-woven Yoruba cloth worn at special occasions.
💡 Fabric markets and craft markets
Nigerian art
Paintings and sculpture by Nigerian artists.
💡 Nike Art Gallery and galleries in Lekki and Victoria Island