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 3 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, 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
$107
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in December
Estimated hotel price
$107
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 km from the city center. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the center of Nanaimo.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car rental from Vancouver, which is about 37 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Priceless and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

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 center. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the center of Nanaimo.

Car

Another option to get to Nanaimo is to pick up a car rental from Vancouver, which is about 37 miles from Nanaimo. You’ll find branches of Priceless and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (8,223 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,565 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,194 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,480 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,055 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,530 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,257 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,646 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,656 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (951 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,124 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,965 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,210 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,539 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,460 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (431 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,585 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,375 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo and Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $73 to $340 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Nanaimo are about 81% 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
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1336 reviews)
$145+
View
Kiwi Cove Lodge
0 stars
Excellent (8.7, 418 reviews)
$127+
View
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ladysmith Oyster Bay
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 628 reviews)
$145+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 348 reviews)
$127+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
2 stars
Excellent (8, 870 reviews)
$88+
View
Harbour Light Motel
2 stars
Good (7.9, 1658 reviews)
$112+
View

Renting a car in Nanaimo

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $53 per day, on average, or $158 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and National 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 4 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 44% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $5.34 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 $64.05 and $85.40. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Compact (Nissan Kicks or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Jeep Wrangler Unlimited or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $53 per day, on average, or $158 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and National 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 4 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 44% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $5.34 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 $64.05 and $85.40. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Compact (Nissan Kicks or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Jeep Wrangler Unlimited or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Nanaimo

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$30/day

Supplier choice

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$33/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Nanaimo