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 December
Estimated hotel price
$176
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in December
Estimated hotel price
$176
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.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 60 km from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Vancouver.

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.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 60 km from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Vancouver.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (8,036 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,524 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,026 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,397 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,408 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,964 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,222 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,595 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,773 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (922 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,581 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,806 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,126 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,198 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,401 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (409 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,357 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,267 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,464 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Harbour Light Motel and Painted Turtle Guesthouse. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $90 to $577 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Nanaimo are about 67% 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 (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$270+
View
The Grand Hotel Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$200+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$234+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$107+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$166+
View
Port-O-Call Inn
2 stars
Good (6.2, Good reviews)
$148+
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 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.60 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 $31.17 and $41.56. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra 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, 49% 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 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.60 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 $31.17 and $41.56. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra 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, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.