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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Nanaimo has to offer.
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.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Nanaimo in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 71.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 6.3″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Nanaimo, with an average rainfall of 0.8″.
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 miles from the city center. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 8 miles from the center of Nanaimo.
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 $34 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $71 for a 7h 32m trip.
Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car rental from Vancouver, which is about 38 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Priceless, among others, in Vancouver.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Quick Shuttle, BC Ferries Connector and Amtrak. From Bellingham, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 90 miles and will cost you around $47. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 195 miles.
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Dorchester Hotel and Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo.
Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $52 per day, on average, or $157 if you want to rent if for 3 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 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 9% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.
Expect to pay $5.22 per gallon in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $62.69 and $83.58. Compact (Kia Rondo or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Nanaimo, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.