Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring 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. Nanaimo deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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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 January
Estimated hotel price
AED 343
1 night at 3-star hotel
Nanaimo in January
Estimated hotel price
AED 343
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Nanaimo in July, when the average temperature is 17 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 0 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 160 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Nanaimo, with an average rainfall of 20 mm.

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 the city centre of Nanaimo is Nanaimo Harbour, which is located 0 km from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around AED 176 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about AED 331 for a 7h 32m trip.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Bus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 266 km and will cost you around AED 404. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about AED 452 for a journey of 507 km.

Plane

Nanaimo is served by 2 airports: Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA) and Nanaimo Arpt (YCD). The closest to the city centre of Nanaimo is Nanaimo Harbour, which is located 0 km from the city centre. Further away is Nanaimo Arpt, 14 km from the centre of Nanaimo.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Nanaimo, followed by VIA Rail Canada. The train journey from Nanaimo to Seattle takes 4h 00m and costs around AED 176 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about AED 331 for a 7h 32m trip.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Nanaimo, including Amtrak, Ebus and Bus. From Seattle, the bus ride to Nanaimo takes 266 km and will cost you around AED 404. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about AED 452 for a journey of 507 km.

Airports near Nanaimo

YVRVancouver Intl
YCDNanaimo Arpt
ZNANanaimo Harbour

Airlines serving Nanaimo

Lufthansa
Good (7,032 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,820 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,584 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,920 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,778 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,686 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,444 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,688 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,211 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,562 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (345 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,210 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,345 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,068 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,272 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,932 reviews)
TAP Portugal
Good (1,846 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,290 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Nanaimo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Waterfront Suites and Marina and Harbour Light Motel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Nanaimo, with prices from AED 264 to AED 4,249 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Nanaimo are about 39% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Nanaimo

Most booked hotels in Nanaimo

See all
Coast Bastion Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
AED 547+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
AED 491+
View
Harbour Light Motel
2 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
AED 272+
View
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
1 star
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
AED 169+
View
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.3, Good reviews)
AED 282+
View
Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 stars
Good (7.2, Good reviews)
AED 361+
View

Hiring a car in Nanaimo

Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay AED 4.56 per litre in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between AED 54.65 and AED 72.87. 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 Standard car hire (Ford Edge or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Nanaimo is the National branch at 1602 Northfield Rd, which is 4 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay AED 4.56 per litre in Nanaimo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between AED 54.65 and AED 72.87. 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 Standard car hire (Ford Edge or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Nanaimo Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Nanaimo city guide for the best Nanaimo travel tips. To help you organise 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.