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Before you go
Your trip to Nanaimo.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Nanaimo – British Columbia Destination Victoria about 111 km from Victoria
How to get there
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Nanaimo Airport (YCD) 18 km
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Departure Bay Ferry Terminal 4 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Vehicle and passenger ferries connect the Vancouver region to the city’s two terminals: Departure Bay, about 4 km from downtown, which receives ferries from Horseshoe Bay, and Duke Point, to the south, which receives ferries from Tsawwassen. Seaplanes land in the harbour near downtown. The airport is about 18 km to the south. From Victoria it’s about 110 km via Highway 1.
How many days
One day covers the waterfront, the Bastion, the museum and the crossing to Saysutshun. With two days you can add Petroglyph Provincial Park, in the south of the city, and a longer walk on the island trails.
When to go
From May to September days are long and drier, and the boat to Saysutshun runs frequently. Winters are mild and rainy, with little snow. The interior of the Bastion usually opens only in summer; check before you go.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not for downtown and the waterfront, which are explored on foot. For the ferry terminals, the airport and Petroglyph Provincial Park, a car or the local bus help; the Duke Point terminal has no public transport.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Nanaimo
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Morning
The Bastion and Nanaimo Museum
Start at the Bastion, the Hudson’s Bay Company wooden tower on the waterfront, and walk to the Nanaimo Museum to learn about the coal industry and the city’s history.
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Afternoon
Crossing to Saysutshun
Walk along the waterfront to Maffeo Sutton Park and take the passenger boat to Saysutshun. Hike part of the trail that circles the island, among pebble beaches and old sandstone quarries.
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Late afternoon
Harbourfront Walkway
Back on the mainland, walk the waterfront path by the marinas and seaplanes and try a Nanaimo bar at a downtown café.
2 days in Nanaimo
Day 1
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Morning
Downtown, the Bastion and the museum
Spend the morning in downtown: the Bastion, the Nanaimo Museum and the streets of the old town between the waterfront and Commercial Street.
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Afternoon
Saysutshun
Spend the afternoon on Saysutshun island, with time for the coastal trail, Mallard Lake and the beaches facing the strait.
Day 2
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Morning
Petroglyph Provincial Park
In the south of the city, visit Petroglyph Provincial Park, where Snuneymuxw carvings are marked on sandstone, and the replicas that help show the designs.
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Afternoon
Waterfront and Maffeo Sutton Park
Return to the waterfront, walk to Maffeo Sutton Park and finish the day watching the harbour and the boats.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Vancouver to Nanaimo?
By ferry, departing Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay or Tsawwassen to Duke Point, with a car or on foot. There are also seaplanes between the two cities’ harbours and flights to Nanaimo airport. Check crossing schedules before you go.
Can you visit Nanaimo from Victoria?
Yes. It’s about 110 km via Highway 1 along the east coast of Vancouver Island. One day allows you to see the waterfront, the Bastion and the museum, but going to Saysutshun requires more time.
What to do in Nanaimo?
Walk the waterfront, visit the Bastion and the Nanaimo Museum, cross by boat to Saysutshun island and see the Snuneymuxw carvings at Petroglyph Provincial Park. It’s also the place to try a Nanaimo bar.
Who are the Snuneymuxw?
They are the First Nation of the Nanaimo region; the city’s name comes from an English form of their name. Saysutshun island is co-managed by the Snuneymuxw and the provincial parks agency.