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

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Nanaimo to Vancouver takes 7h 32m and costs around $130 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Kamloops, expect to pay about $121 for a 12h 57m 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 Turo and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Bus and Ebus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $110. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $105 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

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Nanaimo to Vancouver takes 7h 32m and costs around $130 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Kamloops, expect to pay about $121 for a 12h 57m 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 Turo and NextCar, among others, in Vancouver.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Bus and Ebus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $110. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about $105 for a journey of 315 miles.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (7,198 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,372 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,104 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,651 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,952 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,896 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,826 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (806 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,845 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,285 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,588 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,418 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,692 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,093 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (351 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,366 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,312 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,914 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,324 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Waterfront Suites And Marina and Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from $73 to $187 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Nanaimo are about 114% 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 (8.9, 364 reviews)
$163+
View
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1162 reviews)
$166+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 246 reviews)
$148+
View
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ladysmith Oyster Bay
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 533 reviews)
$162+
View
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1165 reviews)
$137+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Good (7.7, 776 reviews)
$53+
View

Renting a car in Nanaimo

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $69 per day, on average, or $277 if you want to rent if for 4 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 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 8% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $4.43 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 $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford Transit Cargo or similar) are, on average, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $69 per day, on average, or $277 if you want to rent if for 4 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 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 8% cheaper than airport locations in Nanaimo.

Expect to pay $4.43 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 $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Nanaimo is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Ford Transit Cargo or similar) are, on average, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Nanaimo

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$42/day

Economy

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$42/day

Intermediate
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.