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.
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
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.
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.
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 Economy Rent a Car and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Vancouver.
Airlines serving Nanaimo
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 $116 to $607 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Nanaimo are about 69% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo
Most booked hotels in Nanaimo
Hiring a car in Nanaimo
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget 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, 51% 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 $31.51 and $42.01.