Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt is a gulf city and capital of Rivers State in the Niger Delta area of South South Nigeria and is the centre for the oil industry in the country. English is generally spoken, but Ikwerre (the indigenous language) of the Ikwerre people is also spoken at the Ikwerre villages , and Pidgin English is widely spoken across all demography, as found in most parts of the country. Port Harcourt was named after Lord Lewis Harcourt, the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1913.
Understand
Port Harcourt generally known as the 'PH City' is one of the beautiful places to visit in Nigeria. Port Harcourt was formed in 1912. In 2016, Port Harcourt was home to about 1.2 million people.
Get in
By plane
- Port Harcourt International Airport, PHC IATA. There are two international flights operated by Qatar Airways and Lufthansa. It is a 1 hr 10 min flight if you fly in via Lagos or Abuja.
- 🌍 Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Nigeria. By passenger volume, Port Harcourt International Airport is the country's third-busiest international airport. The airport, which is located in the heart of Nigeria's oil and gas hub, is critical to the country's economic prosperity.
You can easily get into Port Harcourt by plane.
By train
Rail service to Port Harcourt is not operating as of July 2022. However, The 🌍 Port Harcourt Central railway station is on Station Rd.
By bus
There are various bus stations and services available to get you into Port Harcourt. Some of which are:
- God is Good Motors (GIGM): This is a popular bus service that can get you into port harcourt, air-conditioned bus.
- Agofure Motors
- Chisco
- ABC Transport
- Peace Mass transit
By boat
- From Nembe by ferry.
- Marine Base water front
Get around
See
- 🌍 Borokiri Market. By the Bonny Jetty where seafood is sold.
- 🌍 Port Harcourt Zoo, Peter Odili Rd, Trans Amadi 500003, ☏ +234 8168990035. Su-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-6:30PM. Home of the wasted horse and emaciated lion. ₦ 200.
- 🌍 Port Harcourt Pleasure Park (between Army Bori Camp and air force base junction), ☏ +234 9094444006. Port Harcourt's tourism investment project and as such probably its main attraction, a park with amusement rides and boat rides, waterways, gardens, playgrounds, restaurant/bar and concert venues.
- Izumini River - an hour's drive outside of the city
Do
- Carniriv Festival'. Held annually in the city, it is the oldest carnival in Nigeria and it was established in 1988. The cultural diversity and collective heritage of the local people in Rivers state is firmly rooted at the core of tourism. The Carnival starts few weeks before Christmas, and lasts for seven days combining two carnivals which are contemporary Caribbean style carnival and a cultural carnival which turns the ‘Garden City’ to a very colourful destination.
Buy
- 🌍 Mile Three Market, Ikwerre Rd, Woji, ☏ +234 8159556960. 6AM-10PM. Port Harcourt's biggest street market. You could probably get lost here. Mile One Market down the road burned down a while back, but should be back now too.
- 🌍 Everyday Supermarket, 93 Woji Road, Elechi. 8AM-8:45PM.
- 🌍 Emmanuel Shopping Plaza, oromerezimgbu community, No 1 Akegwere Street, Rebisi, ☏ +234811 736 3336.
- 🌍 Olison Super Stores, 38 Mbonu St, Elechi, ☏ +234803 312 6820. 8AM-9PM.
- 🌍 De-Amiable Supermarket, 52 Elekahia Rd, Oroworokwo, ☏ +234 803 293 1138. 8AM-9PM.
- 🌍 Ofosco Iyk Supermarket, 13 Ogbuga Street, Ogbunabali, Nkpogu, ☏ +234 706 494 0838. 9AM-6:30PM.
- 🌍 Godswill Supermarket, Olu Obasanjo Rd, Elechi.
- 🌍 De Unity & Peace Supermarket, 40 Elekahia Rd, Elekahia, ☏ +234 818 612 8709. 8AM-8:30PM.
- 🌍 Desire supermarket, 216 Ikwerre Rd, Mgbuosimiri, ☏ +234 703 154 8266.
- 🌍 New hope supermarket, 42 Azikiwe St, Woji, ☏ +234 807 421 3588.
- 🌍 Welldone Supermarket, 117 Olu Obasanjo Rd, GRA Phase II, ☏ +234 907 095 7364. 8AM-8PM.
- 🌍 Whiteolives stores, 159 Woji Road, Elechi.
- 🌍 Tee N Tee Supermarket, No 3 Egelege, Off Olu Obasanjo Road, D/line, ☏ +234 803 470 3147. 8AM-9PM.
Eat
Rice, egusi soup with eba or fufu, pounded yam, papper soup, ogbono soup.
Budget
Suya - A kind of spicy meat kebab. Available at the side of any road cooked over charcoal. Wash it down with a Coke, called locally a mineral, or a bottle of the local Guinness or Maltina.
Mid-range
- 🌍 Spice Route, First floor, Mall Spar, 1 Azikiwe Rd, ☏ +234 8080233092. This Asian fusion restaurant in the Old GRA district offers nice views from its balcony at the mall and doubles as a club for when you want to socialize and drink.
- 🌍 BCON Restaurant and Hotel, No: 2 yola street, off Nzimiro, amadi flat, Old GRA, ☏ +234 8033275343. 8AM-10:30PM. Buffet and a la carte international cuisine and bar next to pool at a hotel.
Drink
There is great night life here.
Try Cheers Bar in GRA every Sunday! Place is absolutely packed with guys and girls being treated to awesome music by Nick and Smart. Food is great, service is friendly and the beers are cold!
Also on weekends Wine Bar, Bunga Villa (as the locals call it) and Aristo House are great!.
Sleep
Mid-range
- 🌍 Hotel Presidential, Aba Road, ☏ +234 84 901307. A locally owned hotel, centrally located.
- Mina Hotels is a relatively nice and clean place - the rooms are quite large and do not have that "wet" and old smell other hotels in this price range usually have.
- 🌍 Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Danag (Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Port Harcourt), 79 Ken Saro Wiwa Rd., ☏ +234 703 746-1745, reservations.danag@swissspirithotels.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. 144 rooms & suites along the city's commercial district on the formerly known Stadium Road. From US$50.
- 🌍 SS3 Boutique Hotel, 10 Raymond Morgan street Phalga, 500001 (in the Rainbow Town district of PH), ☏ +234 7049000123. This is like a cozy compound with a pool sporting a fountain plus hot tub, spa, a/c, wifi, restaurant, and free breakfast. Parking might be kind of tight. ₦ 12359.
Splurge
Le Méridien and Novotel are the two hotels in town which offer high-quality accommodations.
- 🌍 Le Méridien Ogeyi Place, 45 Tombia Street, ☏ +234 84 461770, fax: +234-84-461771.
- 🌍 Hotel Novotel Port Harcourt, 3 Stadium Road, ☏ +234 84 461540, H5465@accor.com.
- Swiss International Mabisel - Port Harcourt (Swiss International Mabisel Hotel), No. 9 Mabisel Avenue, Off Peter Odili Rd, ☏ +234 905 388-6166, reservations.mabisel@swissinternationalhotels.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Well-appointed and comfortable rooms. Its state of the art facilities, and exquisite bars and dining options. From US$ 80.
Stay safe
Port Harcourt is the centre of oil business in Nigeria. Some people have a strong feeling that the oil is "stolen" from them by local government in cooperation with foreign companies. There are frequent riots, worker strikes and regular reports of kidnapping.
Some bars and clubs, nevertheless, seem relatively safe even during the night.