Introduction
Where to eat
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

Where to Eat in Nanaimo

If you’re looking for affordable options, Montana's BBQ & Bar - Nanaimo (4715 Rutherford Rd) and Bin 4 Burger Lounge - Nanaimo (102A-6750 Island Hwy N) are great picks.

When to visit Nanaimo

Nanaimo in January
Estimated hotel price
$161
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in January
Estimated hotel price
$161
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 km from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around $66 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $232 for a 7h 32m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 61 km from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Economy Rent a Car and Alamo, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Red Arrow. From Abbotsford, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 89 km and will cost you around $118. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $196 for a journey of 266 km.

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 km from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around $66 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $232 for a 7h 32m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 61 km from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Economy Rent a Car and Alamo, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Red Arrow. From Abbotsford, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 89 km and will cost you around $118. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $196 for a journey of 266 km.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

KLM
Good (1,414 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,579 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,002 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,533 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,043 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,788 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,028 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,027 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,664 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,422 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,493 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,463 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (874 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,584 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,066 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,324 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,137 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,407 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (370 reviews)
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Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Waterfront Suites And Marina and Harbour Light Motel.

Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo

Most booked hotels in Nanaimo

See all
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$221+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$196+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$159+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$136+
View
Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
$177+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.3, Good reviews)
$123+
View

Hiring a car in Nanaimo

Budget, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.04 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 $24.40 and $32.54. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Standard (Jeep Grand Cherokee 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, 45% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Budget, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.04 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 $24.40 and $32.54. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Standard (Jeep Grand Cherokee 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, 45% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.