Nanaimo, BC

Know the town

About Nanaimo

Nanaimo is the largest city on Vancouver Island outside Greater Victoria, and the natural meeting point of its north, south and west. Ferries from the mainland land here, the main highway forks here toward the Comox Valley and Port Alberni, and a university, a regional hospital and a busy harbour give the city a weekday energy that smaller towns don’t have. This page covers the City of Nanaimo itself; the wider Nanaimo region takes in Lantzville, Cedar and the communities around them.

The harbour and the old town

The city grew up around coal and the harbour, on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. A walkway now follows the water from Maffeo Sutton Park past the marinas and seaplane docks, and the wooden Bastion, built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 1850s, still stands above the waterfront. Uphill, Commercial Street and the Old City Quarter hold most of the independent shops, galleries, pubs and restaurants, all within an easy walk of each other.

Islands and parks a short trip away

From the downtown waterfront a small passenger ferry crosses in minutes to Saysutshun (Newcastle Island), a car-free park with forest trails, beaches and campsites. Gabriola is a short BC Ferries sailing from the same harbour. Back on shore, Westwood Lake, Neck Point and the Nanaimo River give residents swimming, tide pools and river walks without leaving the city.

Arts, food and that famous bar

The Port Theatre brings touring concerts, dance and comedy to the waterfront year-round, and the Nanaimo Museum tells the story of the city from its Indigenous roots to the mining era. The no-bake Nanaimo bar carries the city’s name around the world, and plenty of local cafés and bakeries serve their own versions. Every summer the Marine Festival brings the bathtub race, a Nanaimo tradition since the 1960s.

Getting here

BC Ferries sails to Departure Bay from Horseshoe Bay and to Duke Point from Tsawwassen, a fast passenger ferry links the harbour with downtown Vancouver, and Nanaimo Airport sits just south of the city. Victoria is roughly ninety minutes down Highway 1.

Nanaimo’s verified local businesses and upcoming events are on this page, and the full Nanaimo events calendar has more.

For council, permits, garbage and recycling, parks bookings and other local services, visit City of Nanaimo.