Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Nelson travel guide

Nelson Tourism | Nelson Guide

You're Going to Love Nelson

With a population of 9,813, Nelson is a must-see destination in British Columbia, Canada. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Nelson has to offer.

Where to Eat in Nelson

If you’re looking for affordable options, Broken Hill (479 Baker St) and The Black Cauldron (620 Herridge Ln) are great picks.

When to visit Nelson

Nelson in February
Estimated hotel price
$115
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nelson in February
Estimated hotel price
$115
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Nelson in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 26.6 °F, with an average temperature of 30.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in December, when precipitation is around 3.5″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Nelson, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Nelson

Plane

Although Nelson doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Castlegar (YCG), which is located 21 miles from Nelson. Kelowna is the most popular, with regular flights from Alaska Airlines, Delta, Singapore Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Nelson from the United States departs from Seattle and takes around 28h 55m.

Car

Another option to get to Nelson is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 178 miles from Nelson. You’ll find branches of Turo and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Calgary.

Plane

Although Nelson doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Castlegar (YCG), which is located 21 miles from Nelson. Kelowna is the most popular, with regular flights from Alaska Airlines, Delta, Singapore Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Nelson from the United States departs from Seattle and takes around 28h 55m.

Car

Another option to get to Nelson is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 178 miles from Nelson. You’ll find branches of Turo and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Calgary.

Airports near Nelson

YLWKelowna
YXCCranbrook
YCGCastlegar

Airlines serving Nelson

Lufthansa
Good (7,046 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,934 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,697 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,251 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,972 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,292 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (855 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (852 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,464 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,069 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,767 reviews)
Hawaiian Airlines
Good (2,407 reviews)
Air China
Good (88 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,698 reviews)
Philippine Airlines
Good (857 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Nelson

Where to stay in Nelson

Average rates range from around $158 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $149 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Nelson

Most booked hotels in Nelson

See all
Hume Hotel & Spa
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 909 reviews)
$149+
View
Prestige Lakeside Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 454 reviews)
$173+
View
Dancing Bear Inn Hostel
2 stars
Excellent (8.7, 463 reviews)
$30+
View
Adventure Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 564 reviews)
$115+
View
Best Western Plus Baker Street Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 327 reviews)
$130+
View
Kokanee Glacier Resort
2 stars
Excellent (8, 180 reviews)
$126+
View

Renting a car in Nelson

Expect to pay $4.69 per gallon in Nelson (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $56.33 and $75.10.

Expect to pay $4.69 per gallon in Nelson (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $56.33 and $75.10.

Find car rentals in Nelson

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