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. Nanaimo deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Nanaimo
Art & Performing Arts
Food, Drinks, & Nightlife
Other activities
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 downtown 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
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 C$ 46 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about C$ 89 for a 7h 32m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car rental from Vancouver, which is about 61 km from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Vancouver.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Rider Express, Amtrak and BC Ferries Connector. From Abbotsford, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 113 km and will cost you around C$ 31. From Seattle, the ticket costs about C$ 137 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
Renting a car in Nanaimo
Renting a car in Nanaimo costs C$ 67 per day, on average, or C$ 134 if you want to rent it for 2 days. Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Nanaimo is the Budget branch at 33 Terminal Avenue, which is 0 km from the downtown.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 13% more expensive than at Vancouver Intl.
Expect to pay C$ 1.96 per litre in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 23.46 and C$ 31.28. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Ford Escape or similar) are, on average, 57% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Nanaimo
Intermediate
5 adults, 3 Bags
C$ 22/day
Full-size
5 adults, 2 Bags
C$ 22/day