Abuja became Nigeria’s official capital 12th of December, 1991. The city was planned and built from virgin land. Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria and home to all the various arms of government. It is a busy city and may be boring for some. However, there are interesting places to visit and fun things to do from indoors to outdoors, shopping etc. Below are some of such places.
Millennium Park
The Millennium Park Abuja (shown above) is a perfect place to hang out with your partner and simply enjoy the view. This park is one of the most romantic picnic spots in the city. It is located in Maitama District, Abuja.
If you are looking for the place to have a picnic with your family and loved ones, then this is the right place for you. Entrance into the park is free.
Magicland Amusement Park
Formerly referred to as Wonderland park, the Magicland amusement park is an exciting place to go to with family and friends for a time of fun and relaxation. Restaurants, leisure gardens, games and rides for various ages are all in one place. It has something for everyone, both children and adults. For all this fun and security, you pay a gate fee of N300 only for entry and N600 per ride. The park is open everyday from 9AM.
Jabi Lake Park & Mall
In the absence of a beach in Abuja, the Jabi Lake Park is the closest thing to a beach experience in Abuja. The Jabi lake park is the perfect spot, if you’re for a boat cruise, canoe rides as well as horse rides. You can take the family out for a fun day chill out under a shade by the lake side. Named after its location, the lake is another place that is of great interest to visitors.
National Children’s Park and Zoo
The National Children’s Park and Zoo are located in the Asokoro district of Abuja. There are various interesting animals to see e.g giraffes, camels, donkeys, cheetah, tortoise, buffalo, gazelles, ostrich and other exotic bords etc a lot of space and fun activities for children. Adults who admire animals may also consider it a great option. The park opens daily at 9 am and closes at 6 pm.
Gurara falls
Gurara falls is located at Suleja, Niger State which is about a 30 minutes drive from Abuja. It’s a stunning beauty and a perfect place for picnics or a quiet retreat. The water is cool and you can swim in the little shallow ponds under the falls. The fall has picturesque views of rock formations together with beautiful flowers, trees and bushes. You can also stop over at the famous Zuma Rock in Suleja thereby killing two bords with one stone.
Arts and Crafts Village
The Abuja arts and crafts village is another popular tourist attraction in Abuja. The representation of the diverse cultures, the artifacts, symbols, arts and the crafts makes it a very unique place to visit. The stores are in form of traditional huts with thatched roofs and wooden windows, showcasing the indigenous culture of different parts of Nigeria.
There are several artworks for sale in the market, things like pottery, paintings, fabrics, local jewelries, leather works, etc. If you love arts and culture, this is a place you would like to visit. The arts and crafts village is located in the central business district just behind Silverbird Galleria.
Thought Pyramid Art Centre
The Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja was founded in 2007 by Jeff Ajueshi. It has has become notable for collecting, conserving and promoting modern and contemporary art of Africa. The gallery is located at 18, Libreville Street, wuse 2, Abuja. If you are a lover of art, you can include this in your itinerary of places to see in Abuja.
The Eagle square
The Eagle Square Abuja was constructed in 1999 to serve as the platform for the official take-off of the 4th Republic of the Federation of Nigeria and has since been the venue for Swearing-in ceremonies, political rallies/programmes, religious crusades/rallies, and event musical concerts and shows. It has a huge car park that can hold at least 500 vehicles.
The Dome
The Dome is a recreational center in Abuja with various facilities such as 6 Lane Bowling, Pool tables, Air Hockey Tables, Food & Drinks, Bar
Private Lounge, Garden, Banquet Hall etc.
IBB International Golf Club
The course has 18 beautiful holes (long front 9 and challenging back 9). The ambience of this golf course is spectacular. There’s great food combined with affordable drinks and you could sit on the terrace for hours with friends without any disturbances. It’s also a great place to meet people. There are two tennis courts, great caddies and golf pros, all in a really nice atmosphere.
