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
$174
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in December
Estimated hotel price
$174
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 miles from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 8 miles from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around $62 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Kamloops, expect to pay about $144 for a 12h 57m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 38 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Sixt, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Ebus, Rider Express and Amtrak. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $184. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $261 for a journey of 315 miles.

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.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around $62 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Kamloops, expect to pay about $144 for a 12h 57m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car hire from Vancouver, which is about 38 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Sixt, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Ebus, Rider Express and Amtrak. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $184. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $261 for a journey of 315 miles.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

KLM
Good (1,458 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,789 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,755 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,217 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,224 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,878 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,118 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,325 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,533 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,739 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,522 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (898 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,692 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,732 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,181 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,364 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,171 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (387 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,907 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,145 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. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $95 to $569 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

See all
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$229+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$201+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$147+
View
Departure Bay Motel
2 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$109+
View
Ramada by Wyndham Nanaimo
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$156+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
$107+
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 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, 39% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $1.95 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 $23.31 and $31.08.

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 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, 39% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.

Expect to pay $1.95 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 $23.31 and $31.08.