Kano: The Nicest City in Nigeria
Kano, often referred to as the nicest city in Nigeria, is located in northern Nigeria. The city is the largest in northern Nigeria and is particularly famous for culture and history. Though the city is governed by Sharia Law, it is very accommodating and the Law is only applicable to non-Muslims. The locals are very friendly and public punishments are very rare. The immense hospitality of the locals is one of the most rewarding Kano tourist attractions.
Places to Visit in Kano
Though Kano is among the lesser visited cities of Nigeria and hardly gets any tourists, there are a surprisingly lot of tourist attractions worth visiting in this city. The Kofar Mata dye pits (the oldest in Africa) that have been in use since centuries are the hallmark of Kano and should not be missed. The locals would be very happy to give you a short guided tour of the pits and would even sell you their clothing wares at a discount.
The walls of the Old City along with the 16 gates are very popular with the limited number of tourists who visit the city. The Central Mosque in the city centre and the Emir’s Palace to the south of the mosque are also popular with tourists. Also worth visiting are the old and massive Kurmi market that sells textiles from all across the globe and the Gidan Makama museum that is located in the centre of town.
Kano: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
Kano is generally safe for tourists, but it is advisable that certain areas be avoided after dark. Needless to stay, usual precautions such as keeping valuables out of sight, etc., need to be taken. Further, while visiting game areas, one should (and rightly so) follow the guide’s instructions and not feed anything to wild animals. Though Kano is perfectly welcoming and very accommodating, it is still somewhat of a conservative city, and it is best that one bears in mind while roaming the city. Though English is the other official language of Nigeria, it is not that well understood in Kano; Hausa is the most widely spoken language. The local currency is Nigerian naira (NGN). The local cuisine is rich and draws influences from a variety of cuisines and places. What’s more, it freely is available at very affordable prices. Kano has a large number of eateries for all types of budgets, and it is advised that you definitely do not miss out on street food.
Best time to visit Kano
The best time to visit Kano is from December to March.
Best way to reach Kano
- By Air: Kano has a well-equipped international airport, and is one of the regional air-travel hubs.
- By Rail: Though Kano is connected to the Nigerian rail network, there are no passenger train services that connect it of the rest of the country. The government, however, plans to change this in the future.
- By Road: Kano is well connected to all national and regional destinations and neighbouring popular attractions. Further, Kano, being region’s commercial hub, also offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the northern Nigeria attractions.
Accommodation in Kano
The Kano accommodation scene is such that you would not have any trouble finding a decent place to stay; high-end amenities, however, might very well be lacking. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Kano vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Kano tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does.