Travelling from Vancouver to Nanaimo: what you need to know
Kick off your travels at one of Vancouver's main airports, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base (CXH). Explore your options for booking a flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo departing from either of these.
Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base (ZNA) and Nanaimo Airport (YCD) are the chief entry points to Nanaimo.
The most popular route for flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo is Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Nanaimo Airport (YCD). Pick from 134 services between the two airports every week.
Give yourself enough time to get on your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling during a popular month such as August? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
For a flight within Canada, you don't need a visa or even a passport. However, you'll have to present some form of identification, like a driver's licence or ID card. Once you've found cheap flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo, make sure your ID is up to date.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Set off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo. From YVR, you can fly directly into Nanaimo Airport (YCD).
At YVR, there's a range of carriers offering direct flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo, including:
Located around 14 kilometres from central Vancouver, YVR can be reached in approximately 26 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport will take roughly 33 minutes.
In search of a handy hotel close to Vancouver International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Consider adding a stop at Sechelt Airport (YHS). It's a major stopover on a flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo leaving Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport. Use a long layover to explore nearby, or take advantage of a short break to get a snack at the airport.
You can reach CXH from central Vancouver in approximately 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey by public transport takes roughly 16 minutes to cover the 2 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not book another night away? Consider kicking back in one of these hotels near Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport the day before your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo:
Arriving in Nanaimo
Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA)
Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) to central Nanaimo is roughly 0.48 kilometres. It takes about 2 minutes to reach the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 12 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo. Stay at one of these accommodation options near ZNA instead:
Nanaimo Airport (YCD)
Central Nanaimo is about 18 kilometres from Nanaimo Airport (YCD). As soon as your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo has landed and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 21 minutes.
You can expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes on public transport.
After getting off your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo, find your comfort zone at a hotel near YCD. Consider staying at Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Oyster Bay Ladysmith. Kiwi Cove Lodge is another option where you can rest up before exploring the city.
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo
ر.ق. 99 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Vancouver to Nanaimo. A return flight starts at ر.ق. 228. These fares may change based on availability.
Book 8 months before your departure date. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from Vancouver to Nanaimo.
April is the cheapest month for flight tickets from Vancouver to Nanaimo. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Vancouver to Nanaimo. You don't need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped. We'll notify you when there's a change in price.
Take advantage of filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, arrival and departure times, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Nanaimo
July is the most popular month for flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo. To steer clear of the crowds, go to Nanaimo in April.
The warmest month in Nanaimo is August, with the temperature ranging between 13ºC and 24ºC. Lock in your flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, lock in a cheap ticket from Vancouver to Nanaimo in December when temperatures average between -1ºC and 7ºC.
More about Nanaimo
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Nanaimo right here. Check out these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo:
Every great holiday has to include a little sightseeing. Newcastle Island Park, The Bastion and Harbourfront Walkway are must-visits when exploring Nanaimo.
Complete your Nanaimo trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and easily compare your options. Plus we give you all the info you need to drive in Nanaimo, from the most popular rental company to the best time to book.
