Nanaimo Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Port Alberni which includes a marina
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park featuring a bridge and a river or creek
Nanaimo showing a bay or harbour
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park showing a cascade
Parksville Beach featuring a sandy beach and outdoor art

Take a ferry to one of British Columbia’s oldest cities and enjoy its cosmopolitan mix of a college town, a waterfront resort and an old mining boomtown.

Nanaimo is Vancouver Island’s second-largest city and a convenient access point for the island’s natural landscape. Located on the east coast, Nanaimo is nestled between island’s mountainous interior and the scenic Strait of Georgia. Explore Nanaimo to experience a perfect balance of Vancouver Island’s history, local culture and beautiful scenery.

Stroll along the Harbourfront Walkway to see the lively city centre crowded around Nanaimo’s port. Here, alongside seafood restaurants and delightful teashops, you will find the Bastion, one of the last remaining outposts of the Hudson Bay Company. Visit this mid-19th-century tower at noon to hear the midday cannon. Browse the intriguing exhibits in the nearby Nanaimo Museum to learn about the city’s history as a coal mining boomtown.

Enjoy one of the mildest climates in Canada and swim at Nanaimo’s picturesque beaches. Try diving off the island’s coast and see beautiful multihued reefs growing around the wreck sites of three ships. Spot octopus, sea lions and eels in the clear waters.

Take a passenger ferry to one of the islands around Nanaimo Harbour. Newcastle Island is a small wooded landmass only a 10-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo. Wander the beaches, check out the tide pools at low tide and try local seafood at the island’s bistro. The larger Gabriola Island, known as the “Isle of the Arts,” is a great place to explore Nanaimo’s artisan culture. Tour the small galleries and buy souvenirs at a boutique.

Head inland from Nanaimo to discover the impressive mountains and valleys of Vancouver Island’s interior. Take a wine-tasting tour of the Cowichan Valley south of the city. Explore the forested trails of the western mountains, crowned by Mount Bastion. Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is a favourite destination due to its beautiful waterfalls among wooded canyons.

Nanaimo is located 34 miles (55 kilometres) from Vancouver across the Strait of Georgia. Reach Vancouver Island by ferry or plane and make this scenic mining town your first stop.

Where to stay in Nanaimo

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Departure Bay

If you're spending some time in Departure Bay, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Departure Bay Beach are top sights worth seeing.

Departure Bay
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Stephenson Point

While Stephenson Point may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Departure Bay Beach.

Stephenson Point
Coast Bastion Hotel
Coast Bastion Hotel
3.5 out of 5
11 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, BC
The price is £138 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
£138
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,193 reviews)
"Great location, convenient safe parking, very friendly staff, welcoming of dogs, nice rooms...have stayed there many times and am always happy with my visit."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Coast Bastion Hotel
Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
2.5 out of 5
809 Island Hwy S, Nanaimo, BC
The price is £109 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£109
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,287 reviews)
"Not really convenient to restaurants for walking but the in house restaurant was good"

Reviewed on 4 Jul 2025

Days Inn by Wyndham Nanaimo
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
2 out of 5
96 Terminal Avenue North, Nanaimo, BC
The price is £81 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
£81
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
"It was close to downtown, and a city park. Staff were very friendly. Continental breakfast was good. Fresh coffee in the lobby."

Reviewed on 4 Jul 2025

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Luxury Rainbow House, Private with Pool Table, and Oceanview
Luxury Rainbow House, Private with Pool Table, and Oceanview
Nanaimo, BC
Stay at this property in Nanaimo. Enjoy laundry facilities, concierge services and a pool table. Popular attractions Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Harry Wipper ...
"This house is top notch. The host was attentive, and promptly addressed all our questions. The whole experience was as close to ideal as it gets. Highly recommended!"

Reviewed on 14 Jun 2025

Luxury Rainbow House, Private with Pool Table, and Oceanview
Walk to beach, shopping. Private room with bathroom, close to shopping, hiking
Walk to beach, shopping. Private room with bathroom, close to shopping, hiking
Nanaimo, BC
Stay at this holiday home in Nanaimo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a water park and an in-room coffee maker. Popular attractions Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Landmark ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (18 reviews)
Location
"Beautiful neighbourhood, quiet and welcoming. Close to the places I needed to go."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Walk to beach, shopping. Private room with bathroom, close to shopping, hiking
Stunning oceanic views right outside, 4-minutes to WaterfrontPark, Cozy Comfort!
Stunning oceanic views right outside, 4-minutes to WaterfrontPark, Cozy Comfort!
Nanaimo, BC
Stay at this holiday home in Nanaimo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and patios. Popular attractions Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and McGuffie Park are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
"We loved the deer roaming around the property and the rabbits. Stunning view."

Reviewed on 1 Oct 2024

Stunning oceanic views right outside, 4-minutes to WaterfrontPark, Cozy Comfort!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Things to do

Cities near Nanaimo