Badagry Heritage Museum

The basics

Badagry Heritage Museum is crucial to understanding the history of Badgary. It is an important stop on multiday, history-focused tours of Nigeria and a popular day trip destination from Lagos. Tours typically combine it with Gberefu Island (The Point of No Return), an island from which slave ships would set off across the Atlantic Ocean, and the open-air former Slave Market, where people were brought to be auctioned off and sold.

Things to know before you go

• Due to the grave nature of some of the exhibits, Badagry Heritage Museum might not be suitable for children.

• There are several different accommodation options in Badgary if you’re looking to stay overnight.

• One of the museum buildings is a bungalow and therefore fully wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, while the other building has two levels and doesn't offer access to the upper floors.

How to get there

Badagry Heritage Museum is on Lander Road in Badagry. It’s a 20-minute walk from the Senior Boy bus station. From Lagos, it’s 40 miles (65 kilometers) away via the Lagos—Badagry road. If traffic conditions are good, this generally takes around 1.5 hours.

When to get there

Badagry Heritage Museum is open Monday through Sunday from morning until early evening, except on public holidays such as Christmas Day. The best time to visit the town is during Nigeria’s dry season between November and March.

What to see in Badgary

While in Badgary, consider a visit to the golden stretch of Suntan Beach. Its calm waters and soft sand is the ideal place to relax after a day of sightseeing. Badgary also is home to a site significant to the Christian religion. The First Storey Building in Nigeria was built in 1845 and has been home to famous Christian ministers. A display here showcases antique versions of the Bible in both English and Yoruba.