Nanaimo
Around Nanaimo
Photo: Braveheart · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · British Columbia · 115k people
Nanaimo
“Harbour City”, “Bathtub Capital of the World”
Island life, harbour charm
Deep Ocean BlueCoastal Green
Welcome to Nanaimo, the Harbour City! Whether you're here for the bathtub race or just to enjoy the ocean views, you'll find a friendly community. Grab a Nanaimo bar and say hi.
Clubs for Nanaimo
No clubs for Nanaimo yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Nanaimo. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Nanaimo. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Harbour and waterfront Central hub with ferries, floatplanes, and the bathtub race start.
- Neck Point Park Oceanfront park with trails and views.
- Westwood Lake Popular for swimming and hiking around the lake.
- Maffeo Sutton Park Waterfront park with playground and picnic areas.
- Beban Park Large park with sports fields and the fall fair.
- Nanaimo Museum Local history, including the bathtub race and coal mining.
- Outdoors Hike Neck Point Park
- Outdoors Kayak in the harbour
- With kids Visit the Nanaimo Museum
- With kids Play at Maffeo Sutton Park
- Evenings Catch a show at the Port Theatre
- Evenings Live music at the Queen's Hotel
- Locals love Coffee shops
- Locals love Brewery patios
Through the year
- World Championship Bathtub Race July Iconic race in the harbour, part of the Marine Festival.
- Nanaimo Marine Festival July Weekend festival with the bathtub race, parade, and waterfront activities.
- Nanaimo Farmers Market Saturdays, May to October Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and food trucks.
- Vancouver Island Exhibition August Agricultural fair with rides, exhibits, and entertainment.
- Nanaimo Artwalk First Friday of each month Monthly gallery walk featuring local artists and studios.
Mild and rainy winters, dry and sunny summers. Best time to be out is June to September. Best: June to September
Talk like a local
- “up island”
- North on Vancouver Island
- “the Malahat”
- The main highway to Victoria
- “Island time”
- Relaxed, unhurried pace of life
Getaways
- Ladysmith Charming town with heritage buildings and waterfront.
- Parksville Beaches and the famous sandcastle competition.
- Duncan Known for its totem poles and Cowichan Valley wineries.
- Vancouver Big city attractions, Stanley Park, and more.
Local flavour
Teams
- Nanaimo Clippers BCHL
Also rooting for Vancouver Canucks (NHL), BC Lions (CFL), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) — many locals follow them as the closest MLB team
Eat and drink
- Nanaimo bar A no-bake dessert with a crumb base, custard filling, and chocolate topping; invented in Nanaimo
- Fresh Pacific seafood Salmon, spot prawns, and halibut are staples
- Fish and chips Popular in coastal towns, often served with malt vinegar
Where people go
- Harbour and waterfront The downtown harbour with ferries, floatplanes, and marinas
- Forest trails and parks Hiking trails like the Abyss, Neck Point, and the E&N Rail Trail
- Old City Quarter Historic buildings, cafés, and boutique shops
- Bathtub race venue The famous International Bathtub Race held on the harbour
Heritage and traditions
Nanaimo is proud of its harbour-city charm, a coal-mining past, and the world-famous Nanaimo bar—plus the quirky bathtub race that puts it on the map every summer.
This time of year in Nanaimo
- Salmon spawning Autumn Fall sees salmon runs in local rivers.
Say it like a local: “The boat” — A ferry ride
Festivals
- World Championship Bathtub Race July Part of the Nanaimo Marine Festival; quirky race in homemade bathtubs
- Nanaimo Marine Festival July Week-long harbour celebration with parades, music, and the bathtub race
- Nanaimo Artwalk Summer (July–August) Self-guided tour of studios and galleries, with artists in action
- Nanaimo Blues Festival August Weekend of blues performances at venues around town
- Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival July Paddling races and cultural performances at the harbour
- Vancouver Island Exhibition August Agricultural fair with livestock, midway, and local exhibits
Landmarks with a story
- The Bastion A wooden Hudson's Bay Company fort from 1853, one of the oldest in BC.
- Old City Quarter Heritage buildings with shops, cafés, and the original courthouse.
- Nanaimo Museum Tells the story of coal mining and the Snuneymuxw people.
- Petroglyph Provincial Park Ancient Indigenous rock carvings, a short drive from downtown.
- Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park Once a sandstone quarry and resort, now a park accessible by ferry.
- Nanaimo Courthouse Built in 1896, a fine example of heritage architecture.
Food traditions
- Nanaimo bar A no-bake layered dessert with crumb base, custard middle, and chocolate top; invented in Nanaimo and a source of local pride.
- Fresh Pacific seafood Salmon, halibut, and spot prawns are staples, often grilled or smoked.
- Fish and chips Harbour-side favourite, often enjoyed after a day on the water.
- Spot prawn season In May, local spot prawns are celebrated with special menus and dockside sales.
Music and arts
- Vancouver Island Symphony Professional orchestra performing at the Port Theatre.
- Nanaimo Art Gallery Contemporary art exhibitions and community programs.
- Nanaimo Blues Festival Showcases local and touring blues musicians.
- Harbourfront Theatre Venue for plays, concerts, and dance performances.
A little history
- Pre-contact Snuneymuxw First Nation have lived in the area for thousands of years.
- 1853 The Bastion was built as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post.
- 1874 Nanaimo was incorporated as a city.
- Late 1800s–early 1900s Coal mining became a major industry, shaping the city's growth.
- 1967 First World Championship Bathtub Race held, starting a quirky tradition.
Rivalries
- Nanaimo Clippers vs Victoria Grizzlies BCHL hockey rivalry between island teams.
- Game day Nanaimo Clippers hockey
- Game day Bathtub racing
- Outdoors Hike Neck Point Park
- Outdoors Kayak in the harbour
- With kids Visit the Nanaimo Museum
- With kids Play at Maffeo Sutton Park
Residents speak with a relaxed West Coast Canadian accent, often dropping 't's and using Chinook jargon leftovers like 'skookum'. They affectionately refer to Vancouver Island simply as 'the Island' and to the rest of Canada as 'the mainland'.
Only here
- The World Championship Bathtub Race, the largest of its kind.
- The Nanaimo bar, a dessert invented in the city.
- The name 'Nanaimo' comes from the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
- The Bastion is one of the oldest wooden structures in BC.
New here? A few tips
- Try a Nanaimo bar at a local bakery—it's a must.
- Learn to say 'Skookum'—it means strong or good.
- Traffic on the Island Highway can be busy in summer; plan for ferry waits.
- Embrace the rain: it keeps the island green.
- Take the ferry to Newcastle Island for a quick escape.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaLadysmithBritish ColumbiaA friendly harbour on the edge of the wild.Central IslandBritish ColumbiaSalt air, old growth, and small-town warmthParksvilleBritish ColumbiaWhere the forest meets the sea, and time slows down.Sunshine CoastBritish ColumbiaWhere the forest meets the tide.DuncanBritish ColumbiaWhere the river meets the sea and totems stand tallVancouverBritish ColumbiaWhere the sea meets the skyPort AlberniBritish ColumbiaWhere the rainforest meets the PacificSquamishBritish ColumbiaWhere the mountains meet the sea, and every day is an adventure.
Nanaimo. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.