Book a flight to Port Harcourt with Qatar Airways
Port Harcourt is the largest city and capital of Rivers State, Nigeria. From modest beginnings as a cluster of villages and farmland belonging to the Ikwerre people, it was established as a hub for merchant seamen in the colonial era. Since then, it has developed over the years to become a vibrant urban centre.
Now established as an active export centre for crude oil, Port Harcourt has all the energy of Nigeria's rapid development, with several colleges and universities, sprawling industrial parks, and a burgeoning tourism industry spurred on by tucked-away yet intriguing cultural centres. Visitors will enjoy an authentic experience of Nigeria while marvelling at one of the best examples of the nation's rapid modernisation and economic development.
Fly to Port Harcourt with Qatar Airways, and experience an African city on the move.
Port Harcourt travel highlights
Port Harcourt is a diverse and fast-moving city on the southern tip of Nigeria. More than a century of international trade has turned a sleepy port town into a vibrant, fast-growing metropolis, an excellent place for newcomers to experience their first taste of Nigeria.
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Tourist attractions
Port Harcourt Cultural Centre is one of the city's foremost tourist attractions and a good starting point for an introduction to the locale before exploring further afield. Part museum and part venue, the Cultural Centre has exhibits of some fascinating archaeological relics from the area and an auditorium that hosts regular showcases of traditional music and dance.
Isaac Boro Garden Park is one of Port Harcourt's most well-known landmarks. Named in memory of the local political activist, this is a beautifully well-kept public park with a war memorial at its centre, as well as crypts of unknown soldiers who fell in the Nigerian civil war.
As the capital of Rivers State, Port Harcourt is also home to the Rivers State Museum, near the city's main university. With a strong focus on the area's pre-colonial history, the museum is a treasure trove of indigenous antiques, including earthenware, textiles, and carvings that tell the centuries-long story of the Rivers State.
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Leisure activities
Playing a round at Port Harcourt Golf Club is one of the best ways to make the most of Nigeria's beautiful weather. This 18-hole club was established in 1928 in the settlement's colonial centre. It's open to members of the public and is widely regarded as the best place to play in Rivers State.
If you're visiting Port Harcourt with your family, then Port Harcourt Pleasure Park is a must-see. This vast tract of well-kept parkland has a large climbing tower that's immensely popular with kids, pedal boats on the lake, and a variety of other immersive attractions that provide fun for the whole family.
Port Harcourt Tourist Beach is the oldest and perhaps most popular leisure activity in the city. This large, white-sanded beach is loved by locals and tourists alike - ideal for a relaxed day of sunbathing and taking a dip in the crystal-clear waters before a short walk back into the city to experience the restaurants and nightlife.
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Food
Being near the southern tip of Nigeria, Port Harcourt is one of the best places to sample authentic southern Nigerian food. Ogbono Soup is a staple of the regional diet, a dense soup made from a base of blended ogbono (mango seeds), and often including meat, fish, and a blend of spices that will vary from chef to chef.
Boli is another famous speciality in the region, made of roasted plantain and groundnuts, and usually served with fish or meat and delicious pepper sauce.
Getting even deeper into south-Nigerian cuisine, we have Egusi, a melon-seed based soup that's typically fortified with a mix of spinach, peppers, tomatoes, beef, fish, and other ingredients that change from place to place. Filling and rich in protein and vitamins, Egusi is a popular dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with the locals.
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Shopping
Though it has an active industrial sector and a history as a trading hub, Port Harcourt also has plenty of retail businesses to peruse during your visit.
The best place to shop is the Port Harcourt City Mall, a large and modern shopping complex in the city centre, great for both nipping in for essentials and wiling away an afternoon checking out the varied array of stores there. From designer fashion boutiques to groceries, toy shops, to health and beauty stores (not to mention a food court and cinema), the City Mall has everything you need to treat yourself to a well-deserved shopping spree.
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