Tourism Nanaimo

Tourism Nanaimo Welcome to Tourism Nanaimo's official page - your gateway to Nanaimo. Discover urban art, cultural depth, and natural escapes.

Here, you'll find an independent, creative community, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature. The city of Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community, offering natural beauty at every turn, and vast recreation potential. Nanaimo has one of the longest shorelines in Canada, and a forested mountain backdrop just outside downtown. Here, you can go from the wilderness to the city centre in just a few mi

nutes, and spend more time in the places you want to be. Tourism Nanaimo, through communication, leadership and enterprise, delivers visitor services and industry development opportunities. We provide economic benefits for our members, city and region by attracting visitors and ensuring that their time here surpasses expectations. Please visit our stakeholder facing channels for industry news: on Twitter, and Tourism Nanaimo on LinkedIn.

Can we make a case for a fall trip to Nanaimo? 🍂👀Quieter trails. Crisp mornings that turn into warm afternoons. Markets ...
09/02/2026

Can we make a case for a fall trip to Nanaimo? 🍂👀

Quieter trails. Crisp mornings that turn into warm afternoons. Markets still bustling. Festivals filling the calendar. Restaurants worth planning a day around. And coastal adventures that certainly don't disappear just because September showed up. 🌊

Honestly, fall around here has a lot going for it.

There's a little more room to wander, a little less pressure to pack everything into one day, and still plenty happening when you're ready to get out and explore.

So while everyone else is busy mourning the end of summer, we'll be over here enjoying one of Nanaimo's most underrated seasons. 😎

Curious what we've got planned?

Read our latest blog for plenty of reasons to make Nanaimo your next fall getaway: https://tourismnanaimo.com/blog/post/the-good-part-isnt-over-maybe-its-just-begun/

09/01/2026

You know those places where you stop in for coffee and somehow end up staying for half the day? Yeah. This is one of those places. 👀

Inside Nanaimo's historic train station in the Old City Quarter, White Rabbit Coffee Co and Black Rabbit Kitchen have turned one seriously cool heritage building into a destination of its own.

Start with coffee and something delicious at White Rabbit. Browse The General Store and discover goods from local makers and artisans. Then come back hungry for made-from-scratch sharing plates at Black Rabbit. ☕🍽️

And if you happen to notice The Attic upstairs?

Well... you'll just have to stay curious about that one for now. 😎

Historic building. Great food. Local makers. Plenty of character.

Basically, don't be surprised if your "quick coffee" turns into an entire afternoon in the Old City Quarter.

📹: erinmgiesbrecht on Instagram

08/31/2026

Hot take: September might be one of the best times to explore Nanaimo. 👀🍂

The days are still warm, the trails have a little more breathing room, and the calendar? Still very much booked and busy.

Spend the afternoon wandering a fall market. Catch live music or a festival. Make a day of the Vancouver Island Exhibition. Head out on the water, hit the trails, find a patio, or finally try that restaurant that's been sitting on your list. 🎶🌊

Summer might get most of the attention, but Nanaimo doesn't suddenly pack it in when September rolls around.

Things just get a little quieter, a little cozier, and, in our humble opinion, a little underrated. 😎

So go ahead. Keep those getaway plans going. Fall looks pretty good from here.

📹: portsidemarketca on Instagram

08/30/2026

Consider this your sign to disappear to Nanaimo for the day. 👀🌊

Getting here from Vancouver? Harbour Air can have you flying over the coast and landing right in Nanaimo Harbour. Already on Vancouver Island? Even easier, grab the keys and make a road trip out of it.

Once you're here, the day is yours.

Take your time along the waterfront. Wander through Maffeo Sutton Park. Explore the shops, cafés, restaurants, and wonderfully quirky corners of Downtown. Then, when you're ready to turn things up a notch, WildPlay Nanaimo is waiting with zip lines, adventure courses, and a bungee jump for anyone feeling particularly brave. 😎

That's a lot to squeeze into one day.

Which brings us to our next point...

Maybe don't rush home.

Find somewhere to stay, grab dinner, catch the sunset, and give yourself another morning to see what else Nanaimo has up its sleeve. 🌅

Day trip? Sure. But we have a feeling you'll want a little longer.

📹: _simplelifestories on Instagram

Some places are worth visiting once. Pipers Lagoon is not one of those places. 🌊Come on a sunny morning and the water mi...
08/29/2026

Some places are worth visiting once. Pipers Lagoon is not one of those places. 🌊

Come on a sunny morning and the water might be calling for a paddle. Visit at low tide and you'll find yourself exploring the rocky shoreline. Take the trails through the forest and out toward the lookouts, where keeping one eye on the horizon for whales is basically mandatory. 👀🐋

Come back in the evening? Completely different experience.

That's part of what makes Pipers Lagoon so special. There's no single way, or single time, to experience it. Hike it, paddle it, dive it, explore it, or simply find your favourite spot and watch the Salish Sea do its thing.

And when you think you've seen the best view?

Come back tomorrow. 😎

📸: maddyfletcherphotography on Instagram

08/29/2026

Here's a Nanaimo challenge for you: Start at the waterfront with absolutely no plans and see how long that lasts. 😎🌊

You might stop for lunch with a harbour view, stumble across live music in the park, browse a few shops, grab something from a food truck, or spend way too long watching the boats and wildlife go by.

And if you're feeling a little more adventurous? The harbour is also your jumping-off point for a trip to Saysutshun, Protection Island, or Gabriola Island. ⛴️

That's the thing about Nanaimo's waterfront. A quick walk has a funny way of turning into lunch, an event, an island adventure, and suddenly...

There goes your afternoon. 👋

Honestly, there are worse problems to have.

📍 Nanaimo Waterfront Walkway

📹: rootedontheisland on Instagram

08/27/2026

Can't decide between an adventure day and a slow day in nature?

Good news: you don't really have to. 🌲😎

Westwood Lake and Buttertubs Marsh sit practically across the highway from one another, but they offer two completely different ways to get outside in Nanaimo.

At Westwood, the day can be as active as you want it to be. Hit the trails, hop on a bike, paddle the lake, go for a swim, or claim a spot by the water and do absolutely nothing for a while. Westwood Lake Campground also offers rentals, food, and amenities nearby, with food trucks often making an appearance throughout the summer. 🌊

Then switch gears at Buttertubs Marsh, where wetlands, birds, wildlife, and a peaceful walking loop make slowing down pretty easy. Bring the binoculars, take your time, and see what you can spot along the way. 👀

And because they're so close together, doing both in one day? Very doable.

Just a heads-up: dogs aren't permitted at Buttertubs Marsh, so your four-legged adventure buddy will need to sit that portion out. 🐾

Two completely different sides of Nanaimo's outdoors. One very convenient afternoon.

08/26/2026

Getting to an island vacation sounds complicated.

Nanaimo would like a word. 😎🌊

Coming from Vancouver? You can zip across the Salish Sea with Hullo Ferries, bring the car aboard BC Ferries, fly straight into the harbour with Harbour Air or Seair Seaplanes, or casually arrive by helicopter with Helijet. 🚁

Coming from farther away? Nanaimo Airport (YCD) puts you just a short drive from the city, with connections that make getting here a whole lot easier than you might think. ✈️

And whichever route you choose, the journey isn't exactly hard on the eyes. Ocean views, coastal mountains, islands below you, and maybe even a little wildlife spotting along the way. 👀

Basically, getting to Nanaimo isn't the boring part before your vacation starts.

It's part of the vacation.

Now the only question is: how are you getting here? 👋

📹: shamrock.guest.suite via Instagram

Shoulder season temps? Totally our thing. 😎And the best way to take advantage of them?Well... we've got a few ideas. 👀📸:...
08/25/2026

Shoulder season temps? Totally our thing. 😎

And the best way to take advantage of them?

Well... we've got a few ideas. 👀

📸: Tyler Cave

08/24/2026

One room. Two legendary artists. Thousands of brushstrokes brought to life. 🎨✨

For the past several weeks, Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet have filled Downtown Nanaimo with colour, movement, music, and a completely different way to experience some of the world's most recognizable art.

Walk beneath Van Gogh's swirling skies. Get lost in Monet's gardens and water lilies. Stay for your favourite piece to come around again (we won't judge). 👀

If you haven't experienced it yet, your window is officially closing.

Both immersive exhibitions wrap up at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre this Friday, August 29, and one ticket gets you access to both.

One last weekend. Two incredible exhibitions.

🎟️ Get your tickets before the final day: www.islandevents.ca

📹: vanislesisters on Instagram

Address

101 Gordon Street
Nanaimo, BC
V9R5J8

Telephone

+12507511556

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tourism Nanaimo posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Tourism Nanaimo:

Shortcuts

Share

Category