Kwara State · Nigeria
Ilorin travel guide
Ilorin is a city in Kwara State, Nigeria, home to about 778,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- ILR9 km · General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Ilorin
Ilorin () is the capital city of Kwara State located in the Western region of Nigeria. Although Ilorin is classified under the North-Central geopolitical zone, the city is considered a Yoruba city by all historical and sociological standards.
English is commonly spoken and understood among the populace. However, Yoruba is the mother tongue of much of the people, and Hausa speakers may be found in some areas, particularly among roadside sellers of food and vegetables. Modern Ilorin is specially inhabited with the aid of using Muslim Yoruba people, even though its conventional ruler is a Yoruba-speakme Fulani emir.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Ilorin
See
The city also has a range of tourist attractions such as the Sobi Hill which is said to have offered protection to natives during intertribal wars in ancient times. The Okuta Ilorin is located in Asaju's compound, Idi-Ape Quarters. It is the stone on which Ojo Isekuse, one of the founders of the city, used to sharpen his metal tools. It was actually called "Okuta ilo irin" (meaning stone for sharpening metals). It is from this tool, the town Ilorin derived its name. The stone was a deified object of worship, and sacrificial offerings were made to it in the past. Pottery is a big business in Ilorin. The city has the biggest traditional pottery workshops in Nigeria.
- National Museum Ilorin
- University of Ilorin
- Emir palace
- Tallest flagpole in west Africa
- Ilorin central mosque
- Sobi hills
Do
Metropolitan Park, a recreational park, is located on Unity Road. The Kwara State Stadium Complex has an Olympic-sized swimming pool with facilities for diving. A purpose-built baseball park is located in the Adewole area of the city.
- Viva Cinema
- Emirate Mall
- Diamond Amusement park
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Ilorin to stay in
Ilorin has some great hotels and guesthouses, meanwhile many more are being built. The cost of booking a hotel in Ilorin is cheaper when compared to other Nigerian cities like Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Ilorin
Ilorin has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; September is the wettest, with about 256 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).
Getting there
Getting to Ilorin: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport (ILR), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Ibadan Airport (IBA, 141 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
The city of Ilorin serves as a gateway between the northern and southern part of Nigeria. You can fly in from other Nigerian cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna). The Ilorin international airport is also used for domestic flights to other cities within the country and international flights to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.
Getting around
There are three modes of transiting within the State, which also extends to the region – the most popular being the conventional taxis. There are the commercial motor bicycles commonly called “Express”, and the more recent arrival on Ilorin’s roads, “Keke NAPEP”, imported commercial tricycles. If travelling around Ilorin, be sure to be accompanied by a tourist guide who is familiar with the routes. For the most part, it's safe to move about during the day. If you are going out at night, be sure to go in groups, and stick to known routes.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ILR · General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport
IBA · Ibadan Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ilorin
Eat
Tanke Region. Ilorin is one of the best places you can't go around with an empty stomach because there are a lot of places to eat. Here are the few places to eat at Tanke.
Drink
Drinks are available all over Ilorin. The major hotels have bars and restaurants where drinks can be purchased.
Stay safe
In general, Ilorin has become a much safer place to visit than before, except for occasional clashes and violence, the state of security in the city has relatively improved with the state spending huge budgets on security with police patrol cars, CCTV cameras (though this isn't always the case). But beware of deals or businesses that sound too good to be true (especially e-mails soliciting your help), and do not openly flaunt your possessions, especially in public places. While it is rare for a tourist to be a victim of a violent crime, it is still wise to stay safe and be alert, especially during late night outings.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ilorin: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ilorin?
Ilorin has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; September is the wettest, with about 256 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ilorin?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport (ILR), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Ibadan Airport (IBA, 141 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Ilorin?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Ilorin
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; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.