The 7 Best Beaches in Lekki, Ranked

One to four

1) Landmark Beach, Oniru. ₦7,500 entry buys clean sand, lifeguards, sunbeds and a food court. It is the default answer for a reason. 2) La Campagne Tropicana, Ibeju-Lekki. Two hours from Phase 1 but you get a resort day with a lake, canoes and horses. Book the day-use pass in advance. 3) Ilashe Beach, reached by boat from Tarzan Jetty in VI. Private compounds you rent for the day — best for groups of eight or more splitting ₦300,000.

4) Coco Beach, Akodo. Quieter than the others, decent food, and the drive out through Ibeju-Lekki is scenic once you clear Awoyaya. Bring cash — card machines are unreliable past Sangotedo.

Five to seven

5) Elegushi Beach. Famous but overrated — it earns its slot only for the Friday-night suya and bonfire scene. Skip the daytime visit. 6) Alpha Beach, Lekki Phase 1 side. Free entry, rough surf, and mainly used by fishermen and morning joggers. Interesting for 30 minutes; not a day out.

7) Oniru Private Beach (the older section, not Landmark). Half-abandoned since Landmark took over, but locals still use it for weekend picnics at a fraction of the price. Go for the cultural experience, not the amenities. Anything further east — Eleko, Lakowe — is worth a day trip, but I have kept this list to what qualifies as a proper beach with sand and swimmable water.