Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Nanaimo travel guide

Nanaimo Tourism | Nanaimo Guide

You're Going to Love Nanaimo

With a population of 84,905, Nanaimo is a must-see destination in British Columbia, Canada.

Article

When to visit Nanaimo

Nanaimo in December
Estimated hotel price
$177
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in December
Estimated hotel price
$177
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Nanaimo in July, when the average temperature is 17 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 0 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 160 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Nanaimo, with an average rainfall of 20 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Nanaimo

Plane

Nanaimo is served by 2 airports: Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA) and Nanaimo Arpt (YCD). The closest to the city centre of Nanaimo is Nanaimo Harbour, which is located 0 miles from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 8 miles from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Bellingham takes 1h 53m and costs around $41 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $174 for a 7h 32m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 37 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including BC Ferries Connector, Ebus and Amtrak. From Cordova Bay, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 208 miles and will cost you around $109. From Victoria, the ticket costs about $109 for a journey of 216 miles.

Plane

Nanaimo is served by 2 airports: Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA) and Nanaimo Arpt (YCD). The closest to the city centre of Nanaimo is Nanaimo Harbour, which is located 0 miles from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 8 miles from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Bellingham takes 1h 53m and costs around $41 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $174 for a 7h 32m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 37 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including BC Ferries Connector, Ebus and Amtrak. From Cordova Bay, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 208 miles and will cost you around $109. From Victoria, the ticket costs about $109 for a journey of 216 miles.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (8,010 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,517 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,986 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,452 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,378 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,951 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,220 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,588 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (914 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,570 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,781 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,062 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (408 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,396 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,253 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,379 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Waterfront Suites and Marina and Harbour Light Motel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $89 to $580 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Nanaimo are about 62% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo

Most booked hotels in Nanaimo

See all
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$259+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$244+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$218+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$154+
View
The Grand Hotel Nanaimo
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$207+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$150+
View

Hiring a car in Nanaimo

Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 2 miles from the city centre.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 14% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $2.63 per litre in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $31.55 and $42.06. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Standard (Subaru Forester or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Class Economy Car or similar) is, on average, 38% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 2 miles from the city centre.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 14% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $2.63 per litre in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $31.55 and $42.06. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Standard (Subaru Forester or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Class Economy Car or similar) is, on average, 38% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.