Lagos is Nigeria's coastal megacity and West Africa's largest metropolis, a sprawling lagoon-side sprawl of islands and mainland districts that serves as the country's commercial, cultural, and entertainment capital. Spread across Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Ikeja, and dozens of mainland neighborhoods, Lagos is the beating heart of Afrobeats music, Nollywood film, West African fashion, and a fast-growing tech scene, all layered over historic markets, colonial-era streets, and Atlantic beaches.
Lagos has a tropical wet-and-dry climate typical of coastal West Africa: hot and humid year-round with no true winter. Temperatures stay in a narrow band of roughly 24-33°C all year, while rainfall swings sharply between a long wet season (April-October, heaviest in June and July) and a dry season (November-March) that brings the dusty Harmattan wind from the Sahara, especially December-February. Humidity is high throughout the year given the city's lagoon and Atlantic coast setting.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
23-32°C / 73-90°F
Dry season continues; Harmattan haze lingers, low humidity by Lagos standards, minimal rain
February
24-33°C / 75-91°F
Hot and dry with fading Harmattan dust; one of the driest months
March
25-33°C / 77-91°F
Hot and increasingly humid as the wet season approaches; occasional early rain showers
April
24-32°C / 75-90°F
Wet season begins; rain becomes more frequent, humidity rises; Lagos Carnival often falls around Easter
May
24-31°C / 75-88°F
Heavy rains increase; frequent afternoon thunderstorms and localized flooding
June
23-30°C / 73-86°F
Peak wet season; the heaviest and most frequent rainfall of the year
July
23-29°C / 73-84°F
Still very wet, though rainfall can ease slightly toward the end of the month ahead of the August break
August
23-28°C / 73-82°F
The 'August break' - a short lull in rainfall with cooler, cloudier days and less humidity than surrounding months
September
23-29°C / 73-84°F
Rain resumes after the August break, with frequent storms continuing
October
24-30°C / 75-86°F
Rainfall gradually tapers off; Felabration and Lagos Fashion Week both typically fall this month
November
24-31°C / 75-88°F
Dry season begins; rain becomes rare and Harmattan haze starts to appear late in the month
December
23-32°C / 73-90°F
Dry, dusty Harmattan season; peak festive travel month ('Detty December') with concerts, parties, and the Eyo Festival when scheduled
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Wet_season
Months: April-October
Frequent heavy rain and thunderstorms, with the heaviest downpours in June and July. A short lull known locally as the 'August break' brings reduced rainfall and slightly cooler days in August, before rains pick up again in September before tapering off through October.
Dry_season
Months: November-March
Little to no rain, with the Harmattan - a dry, dusty wind from the Sahara - typically settling in from late November through February, bringing hazy skies, cooler nights, and drier air. This period overlaps with Lagos's busiest travel and events season, including the December holiday rush known locally as 'Detty December'.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- November-January, especially December ('Detty December') - festive events, concerts, weddings, and diaspora visits drive up flight and hotel prices
- Shoulder Season
- February-March and October (drier or transitional weather, fewer big events, moderate prices)
- Low Season
- April-September (wet season) - fewer international visitors, though local business travel continues year-round
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Lagos Carnival
A colorful street parade through Lagos Island featuring costumed masquerade groups, music, and dance, celebrating Lagos's Brazilian-influenced carnival heritage
Eyo Festival (Adamu Orisha Play)
A centuries-old Yoruba masquerade procession unique to Lagos Island, in which white-robed Eyo masquerades honor a deceased chief or mark a significant royal occasion; dates are set by the Lagos Island traditional authorities
Felabration
A week-long festival at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja honoring Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, with live performances, panel discussions, and tributes from Nigerian and international artists
Lagos Fashion Week
West Africa's largest fashion trade event, showcasing Nigerian and pan-African designers to international buyers, press, and retailers over several days of runway shows