Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Nanaimo has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Nanaimo

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Discovery Room (900 Fifth St) and Beach Fires Pacific Grill (101-1240 Stewart Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Nanaimo

Nanaimo in February
Estimated hotel price
$90
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in February
Estimated hotel price
$90
1 night at 3-star hotel

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″.

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 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.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Nanaimo. The train journey from Nanaimo to Bellingham takes 1h 53m and costs around $35 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Seattle, expect to pay about $37 for a 4h 00m trip.

Car

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 Priceless and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Bus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $110. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $171 for a journey of 315 miles.

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 miles from the city center. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 8 miles from the center of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Nanaimo. The train journey from Nanaimo to Bellingham takes 1h 53m and costs around $35 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Seattle, expect to pay about $37 for a 4h 00m trip.

Car

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 Priceless and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Bus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $110. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $171 for a journey of 315 miles.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (7,407 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,386 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,363 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,957 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,737 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,968 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,924 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,923 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,336 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,622 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,145 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,486 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,114 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,895 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,324 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (996 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,365 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Waterfront Suites And Marina and Best Western Dorchester Hotel. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $57 to $1,153 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Nanaimo are about 15% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Nanaimo by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo

Most booked hotels in Nanaimo

See all
Kiwi Cove Lodge
0 stars
Excellent (9, 373 reviews)
$162+
View
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1218 reviews)
$131+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 283 reviews)
$122+
View
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ladysmith Oyster Bay
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 560 reviews)
$126+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1219 reviews)
$119+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Good (7.9, 807 reviews)
$80+
View

Renting a car in Nanaimo

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $51 per day, on average, or $203 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Budget, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 2 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $4.62 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 $55.42 and $73.89. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Compact (Kia Seltos or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford F-150 or similar) are, on average, 36% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $51 per day, on average, or $203 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Budget, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 2 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $4.62 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 $55.42 and $73.89. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Compact (Kia Seltos or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford F-150 or similar) are, on average, 36% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Nanaimo

Compact SUV

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$33/day

Compact SUV

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$34/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Nanaimo

Nanaimo Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Nanaimo city guide for the best Nanaimo travel tips. To help you organize your Nanaimo trip ideas, this Nanaimo visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.