Nigeria's capital has modern skyscrapers alongside traditional villages. The planned city, built in 1991, houses government institutions, diplomatic missions and Aso Rock, a 400m monolith.
Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, sits at the geographic center of the country amid rolling hills and savanna grasslands. You'll see the golden dome of the National Mosque rising above wide boulevards, and the angular spires of the National Christian Centre piercing the sky. Walk through Wuse Market where traders call out prices for fresh yams and colorful textiles, watch children play in the fountains at Millennium Park, or explore digital artworks at the Discovery Museum.
Layout of the City
The Central District runs from Aso Rock to the National Stadium, dividing Abuja into northern and southern sectors. To the north, you'll find Maitama and Wuse districts. Maitama's streets are lined with embassies and gated residential compounds. In Garki to the south, banks and retail complexes fill the streets, while Asokoro district is home to ministerial offices and government complexes.
Getting Around Abuja
You can take the light rail from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM between the Central Area, Kubwa, and the airport. Uber and Bolt (formerly Taxify) cars operate in all districts. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is 40 kilometers west of the city center, with flights to major African cities and international destinations.
Parks and Open Spaces
Walk the paths of Millennium Park's 18 hectares, past indigenous trees and through the water garden. At the National Children's Park and Zoo, you can see Nigerian monkeys swinging through trees, crocodiles sunning themselves, and native birds in their habitats. Local residents gather in small neighborhood parks across the city for morning tai chi and weekend family gatherings.
Markets and Shopping Areas
More than 5,000 vendors fill Wuse Market's organized sections. You'll find pyramids of fresh tomatoes and peppers, bins of aromatic spices, rolls of ankara fabric, and aisles of household goods. Jabi Lake Mall spans three floors with 100 retail spaces, including international fashion brands and a cinema. At the Arts & Crafts Village, local artisans work on wooden sculptures, leather bags, and traditional drums.
Local Food Scene
Bush Bars across the city serve Nigerian dishes outdoors. Try suya - strips of beef or chicken coated with ground peanuts and spices, grilled catfish with scotch bonnet pepper sauce, or egusi soup made from ground melon seeds with sides of pounded yam. Some Bush Bars are simple setups with plastic chairs under mango trees, others have permanent structures with ceiling fans and TV screens showing football matches.
Museums and Cultural Spaces
Visit the Discovery Museum Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, to see digital art installations and interactive exhibits about Nigerian culture. The museum changes its collection every three months and runs weekly workshops where you can watch local artists at work.
Climate and Weather
At 360 meters above sea level, Abuja maintains temperatures between 25-30°C (77-86°F) throughout the year. Rain falls regularly from March to October, typically in afternoon showers. The harmattan season (December-January) brings cool dry winds and occasional dust clouds from the Sahara.
