Nanaimo

Travel Guide

Port Alberni featuring a marina
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park featuring a bridge and a river or creek
Nanaimo featuring a bay or harbour
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park featuring a waterfall
Parksville Beach which includes a 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 center 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 Harbor. 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 favorite destination due to its beautiful waterfalls among wooded canyons.

Nanaimo is located 34 miles (55 kilometers) 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

While visiting Departure Bay, you might make a stop by sights like Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Departure Bay Beach.

Departure Bay
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Stephenson Point

Though Stephenson Point might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions 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 CA $220 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
CA $220
CA $255 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the restaurant and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,218 reviews)
"this is a central good property, we used the convenient underground car park"

Reviewed on Jul. 14, 2025

Coast Bastion Hotel
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo

2 out of 5
96 Terminal Avenue North, Nanaimo, BC
The price is CA $145 per night from Jul 16 to Jul 17
CA $145
CA $168 total
Jul 16 - Jul 17
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,019 reviews)
"This particular location is heads and shoulders above any of the other Travel Lodge locations we have stayed at! Thank you!"

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
Inn On Long Lake

Inn On Long Lake

2 out of 5
4700 North Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC
The price is CA $208 per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
CA $208
CA $242 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a private beach. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,025 reviews)
"My husband and I were very happy with our stay here! Upon arrival the staff were friendly and gave us an option of a lower or upper level room with a lake view. The room was spacious, with a patio to enjoy the beautiful lake view; the hot tub on site was great, and the breakfast in the morning was ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 12, 2025

Inn On Long Lake
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
Stay at this property in Nanaimo. Enjoy laundry facilities, concierge services, and a pool table. Popular attractions Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and Harry ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
The Rainbow House
"My sister & I stayed 5 nights at Rainbow House in June. The house is open & spacious. We loved all the windows that let natural light come in & views of the outdoors. Quiet neighborhood & great location to nearby parks, grocery store & eateries.Easy drive to Parksville & Qualicum Beach. Highly recommend ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 6, 2025

Luxury Rainbow House, Private with Pool Table, and Oceanview
Hope's Happy Suite beautiful ocean views

Hope's Happy Suite beautiful ocean views

Nanaimo
Stay at this vacation home in Nanaimo. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (7 reviews)
Great neighbourhood!
"This place was simply perfect for our family of 6. It was 12 minutes from the ferry in Nanaimo, it had a BBQ, a backyard for the kids to play in, it was near a ton of great parks, and the views were spectacular. The only complaint I really have it sometimes you could hear the owners above, they had ..."

Reviewed on Jun. 21, 2025

Hope's Happy Suite beautiful ocean views
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
Stay at this vacation home in Nanaimo. Enjoy free WiFi, a water park, and an in-room coffeemaker. 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 Jun. 28, 2025

Walk to beach, shopping. Private room with bathroom, close to shopping, hiking
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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