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. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country.
Where to Eat in Nanaimo
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Discovery Room (900 Fifth St) 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 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 $57 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Abbotsford, expect to pay about $25 for a 6h 00m 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 Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Vancouver.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Rider Express and BC Ferries Connector. From Abbotsford, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 113 km and will cost you around $90. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $166 for a journey of 266 km.
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.
Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo
Most booked hotels in Nanaimo
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 Budget branch at 33 Terminal Avenue, which is 0 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $2.38 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 $28.56 and $38.08. Compact (Scion xB or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Nanaimo, while also 57% cheaper than other types, on average.