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.
Where to Eat in Nanaimo
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.
When to visit Nanaimo
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″.
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 Bellingham takes 1h 53m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Seattle, expect to pay about $25 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 Hertz and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Vancouver.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, BC Ferries Connector and Rider Express. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 165 miles and will cost you around $100. From Victoria, the ticket costs about $110 for a journey of 211 miles.
Airlines serving Nanaimo
Where to stay in Nanaimo
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Dorchester Hotel and Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo.
Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo
Most booked hotels in Nanaimo
Renting a car in Nanaimo
Renting a car in Nanaimo costs $52 per day, on average, or $156 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 4% 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 (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Toyota Yaris or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.