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
$184
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in January
Estimated hotel price
$184
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 Sixt, 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 Sixt, among others, in Vancouver.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (8,109 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,532 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,088 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,438 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,452 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,985 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,250 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,616 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (938 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,926 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,737 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,606 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,861 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,211 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,287 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,418 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (418 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,402 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,311 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,606 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.

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)
$263+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$264+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$241+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$180+
View
Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$199+
View
Port-O-Call Inn
2 stars
Good (6.2, Good reviews)
$155+
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.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 3% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $2.31 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 $27.71 and $36.94. 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, 42% 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.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 3% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $2.31 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 $27.71 and $36.94. 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, 42% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.