Guidebook for Nanaimo
Food Scene
The floating dinghy dock pub is bedecked in nautical decor and offers live entertainment frequently. There is seating inside and on the dock, including special areas for parties with children.
86 locals recommend
Dinghy Dock Pub
8 Pirates LnThe floating dinghy dock pub is bedecked in nautical decor and offers live entertainment frequently. There is seating inside and on the dock, including special areas for parties with children.
Fresh fish and chips served on a floating dock in Nanaimo harbour.
29 locals recommend
Trollers Fish & Chips
Fresh fish and chips served on a floating dock in Nanaimo harbour.
Penny's Palapa Restaurant
10 Wharf StMexican food on a floating dock in Nanaimo Harbour.
Friendly cafe on the waterfront in Nanaimo, close to the Protection Island ferry
9 locals recommend
Javawocky Coffee House
90 Front StFriendly cafe on the waterfront in Nanaimo, close to the Protection Island ferry
Bright and cheery Mexican food with a long-standing reputation for great food.
36 locals recommend
Gina's Mexican Cafe
47 Skinner StBright and cheery Mexican food with a long-standing reputation for great food.
Delicado's
358 Wesley StDeli-style Mexican food - yummy!
Comfortable cafe in downtown Nanaimo with indoor and outdoor seating.
Serious Coffee Vancouver Island Conference Centre
60 Commercial StComfortable cafe in downtown Nanaimo with indoor and outdoor seating.
Nice coffee shop with a gluten free selection. Surrounded by interesting shops.
15 locals recommend
Bocca Café
427 Fitzwilliam StNice coffee shop with a gluten free selection. Surrounded by interesting shops.
Excellent organic, locally sourced rice bowls, wraps, etc. Great for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner.
86 locals recommend
Gabriel's Cafe
39 Commercial StreetExcellent organic, locally sourced rice bowls, wraps, etc. Great for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner.
Power House Living Foods Commercial St.
200 Commercial StFresh juices and delicious "raw" salads, wraps, etc.
Funky hipster cafe. Excellent coffees, good food, and licensed for alcoholic beverages too. Live music quite often, open mic some nights.
47 locals recommend
The Vault
499 Wallace StFunky hipster cafe. Excellent coffees, good food, and licensed for alcoholic beverages too. Live music quite often, open mic some nights.
Everything Else
The Protection Island ferry is the only way to get to the island other than by private boat. It leaves Nanaimo hourly at 10 minutes past the hour from 7 or 8am to10pm or later.
Protection Island Ferry
8 Pirates LnThe Protection Island ferry is the only way to get to the island other than by private boat. It leaves Nanaimo hourly at 10 minutes past the hour from 7 or 8am to10pm or later.
This is Nanaimo's hospital. The closest medical clinic to Protection Island is in Port Place Mall across from the Protection Island ferry.
17 locals recommend
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
1200 Dufferin CrescentThis is Nanaimo's hospital. The closest medical clinic to Protection Island is in Port Place Mall across from the Protection Island ferry.
Service to/from downtown Vancouver and to/from Vancouver airport.
14 locals recommend
Harbour Air Seaplanes
90 Front StService to/from downtown Vancouver and to/from Vancouver airport.
Ferry terminal at which one arrives from West Vancouver.
24 locals recommend
BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal
680 Trans-Canada HwyFerry terminal at which one arrives from West Vancouver.
Nanaimo's best indoor swimming pool with kids area, water slides, hot-tub, steam room and sauna.
27 locals recommend
Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
741 Third StreetNanaimo's best indoor swimming pool with kids area, water slides, hot-tub, steam room and sauna.
Essentials
This is the closest grocery store to Protection Island and is a fully stocked grocery store. There is also a government liquor store next to this grocery store.
67 locals recommend
Thrifty Foods
114 Purvis LnThis is the closest grocery store to Protection Island and is a fully stocked grocery store. There is also a government liquor store next to this grocery store.
Shopping
London Drugs has a pharmacy but also carries a large variety of other items from groceries to camping items and more. It is in Port Place Mall across the street from the Protection Island Ferry.
London Drugs
650 Terminal AveLondon Drugs has a pharmacy but also carries a large variety of other items from groceries to camping items and more. It is in Port Place Mall across the street from the Protection Island Ferry.
Used bookstore - one for adults and one for kids! Excellent selection.
Literacy Central Vancouver Island
19 Commercial StUsed bookstore - one for adults and one for kids! Excellent selection.
Sightseeing
A wonderful provincial marine park with lots of history. Has a walk-in campground, easy and more challenging walking trails, a playground, concession stand,etc.
90 locals recommend
Newcastle Island
A wonderful provincial marine park with lots of history. Has a walk-in campground, easy and more challenging walking trails, a playground, concession stand,etc.
Take a stroll along the Nanaimo waterfront to this lovely park. Excellent kids playground.
80 locals recommend
Maffeo Sutton Park
100 Comox RoadTake a stroll along the Nanaimo waterfront to this lovely park. Excellent kids playground.
Another beautiful park with the Millstream and its waterfalls, playgrounds, outdoor swimming pool, lawn bowling, frisbee golf, and more.
46 locals recommend
Bowen Park
500 Bowen RdAnother beautiful park with the Millstream and its waterfalls, playgrounds, outdoor swimming pool, lawn bowling, frisbee golf, and more.
Arts & Culture
Learn about the history of Nanaimo here. Gift shop has some nice items too.
49 locals recommend
Nanaimo Museum
100 Museum WayLearn about the history of Nanaimo here. Gift shop has some nice items too.
Great place to take some yoga classes in downtown Nanaimo, easy walking distance from Protection Island ferry.
7 locals recommend
OmTown Yoga
43 Commercial StGreat place to take some yoga classes in downtown Nanaimo, easy walking distance from Protection Island ferry.
Check out Nanaimo's Art Gallery easy walking distance from the Protection Island ferry.
19 locals recommend
Nanaimo Art Gallery
150 Commercial StCheck out Nanaimo's Art Gallery easy walking distance from the Protection Island ferry.
A variety of musical, theatrical, and other events take place at the Port Theatre across the street from the Protection Island ferry.
56 locals recommend
Port Theatre
125 Front StA variety of musical, theatrical, and other events take place at the Port Theatre across the street from the Protection Island ferry.