Region: Edo State · Nigeria
Where to stay in Benin City
Benin City is a city in Edo State, Nigeria, home to about 1,780,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- BNI2 km · Benin Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Plugs
- G · 230 V
- Emergency
- 112
- Language
- English
About
About Benin City
Benin City () is the capital and largest city of Edo State, southern Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan.
The original people and founders of the Benin Empire, the Edo people, were ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty from 40 BCE to 1100 CE, who called their land Igodomigodo. The rulers or kings were commonly known as Ogiso. Benin grew rich during the 16th and 17th centuries due to trade within southern Nigeria, as well as through trade with Europeans, mostly in pepper and ivory. In the early 16th century the Oba sent an ambassador to Lisbon, and the King of Portugal sent Christian missionaries to Benin. Many Portuguese loan words can still be found today in the languages of the area.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Benin City
See
- Benin City National Museum
- Royal Palace of Oba of Benin
- Ogba Zoo
- Ogiamien Palace
- Oredo Local Government Area Secretariat
- Kada Plaza Cinema & Entertainment Centre
- Igbinedion University
Do
- Okomu National Park
- Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Benin City
6 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| La VOD Hotel | 2.6 km | |
| Precious Palm Royal Hotel | 10.1 km | |
| Prestige Hotels&Suites Benin | 0.8 km | |
| Protea Hotel by Marriott Benin City Select Emotan | 0.9 km | |
| Protea Hotel& Suites, Benin | 2013 | 1.4 km |
| View Point Hotel and Suites | 1.4 km |
All 6 hotels in Benin City, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Benin City
Benin City has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; July is the wettest, with about 362 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Public holidays in Nigeria, 2026
Shops and offices may close on these dates.
Getting there
Getting to Benin City: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Benin Airport (BNI), about 1.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Warri Airport (QRW, 83 km) and Akure Airport (AKR, 109 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Benin Airport BNI is a small airport with a few daily flights from Lagos and Abuja, with Arik Air offering the most flights. Benin is known for its road transport, so a visitor can get to the city from almost any city in the country. From Lagos, it takes about 4 hours to get to Benin, but it's best to travel during the day because the bad roads make the journey a lot longer and more stressful. From Port Harcourt, it's about 4 hours 30 minutes to Benin. The journey from Port Harcourt is a lot easier because there are better roads on that stretch.
Getting around
Getting around in Benin isn't too difficult. The roads are fairly well constructed, and the city is well linked and networked. If you come in by air, there are taxis at the airport to take you probably anywhere you wish to go for an affordable price. And if you come in by road and are taken to the terminal of the transport service, you will also find taxis ready to take you anywhere. Taxis and buses are supposed to be painted red or rather wine on their body and yellow on the roof. But there are some buses and taxis that don't obey that code.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Benin City
Drink
Palm wine from local palm wine tappers. Bottled palm wine does not taste as good. There are a lot of beer parlors in the Oredo area, as most occupants of the region step out to drink at any point they feel like doing so.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Benin City: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Benin City?
Benin City has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; July is the wettest, with about 362 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Benin City?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Benin Airport (BNI), about 1.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Warri Airport (QRW, 83 km) and Akure Airport (AKR, 109 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Benin City?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Benin City
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; public holidays from python-holidays (MIT); places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.