The Best Hotels in Nanaimo, Canada

Hosted by a retired married couple, this north Nanaimo B&B offers three room types for travelers, each with its own merits. Guests of the Sunset Room have private access to the outdoor hot tub, while those in the Honeymoon Suite have their very own jacuzzi and gas fireplace. All units are equipped with their own private decks for taking in unobstructed sunset views over the water.

This boutique-style hotel in Nanaimo offers 70 rooms of varying sizes and styles. Deluxe rooms are equipped with their own tub and shower, gas fireplace and balcony, while suites go the extra mile to make you feel at home. The hotel is framed by a lush, fragrant garden with roses, fig trees and an olive tree – be sure to wander through it at some point during your stay. And there’s a whiskey bar too – stocked full with over 150 whiskies from all corners of the globe, including Japan, Scotland and India.

Located in downtown Nanaimo, the 179 units at Coast Bastion Hotel each have a Juliet balcony that looks out over the water. For ultra-relaxation, go for the Coast Premium King Suite, which comes with its own jetted tub. This hotel is big on offering guests local experiences – it even has its own beehive that is used to harvest honey. Their on-site restaurant, Minnoz Restaurant & Lounge, serves fresh local seafood dishes such as lobster ravioli and tuna niçoise.

A short 20-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo, Surf Lodge and Pub enjoys a natural setting on the rugged shores of Gabriola Island. Guests can rent entire cabins with one to three rooms, or choose from a selection of individual rooms, all of which offer views to the sea or forest. The Sunset Lounge Dining Room – one of two on-site restaurants – is always buzzing and serves up a rotating menu based on whatever fresh and locally sourced ingredients are available.

All suites at this waterfront bed and breakfast on Long Lake – about a 10-minute drive north of downtown Nanaimo – come with a picture-perfect view of the lake. Choose the Deluxe King Suite, which includes a spa bath and four-poster canopy bed. You can take in the beautiful scenery here, or hire a complimentary kayak or stand-up paddleboard at the property’s floating dock to get a closer look.

Kiwi Cove Lodge spreads over 10ac (4ha) by the waterfront, around 20 minutes south of Nanaimo towards the town of Ladysmith. It has 12 cozy guest rooms and – as you might have guessed – its own kiwi vineyard, which takes pride of place at the property. There are 134 vines here that grow two types of kiwi – you can taste them both at breakfast (and whenever you’re feeling peckish) – and there are even kiwi paintings displayed in the lodge, including impressionistic images created from original digital photographs. Safe to say, the hosts here are mad about kiwis.

The family-owned Buccaneer Inn puts you within a few hundred meters of Nanaimo’s Departure Bay Terminal, so you won’t have to travel far once you reach the island. Its selection of units ranges from smaller ones, such as the nautically themed Cozy Studio, to the newly renovated three-bedroom Seaview Cottage, which comes equipped with a gas fireplace and a private backyard with deck and barbecue. If you’ve come here to laze by the channel, there’s nowhere better to do just that. In your serenity, watch bald eagles swooping down for fish and the BC Ferries boats sailing by.

The four rooms at Quarrystone House Bed and Breakfast on Salt Spring Island invite guests for a tranquil escape on their 5ac (2ha) property. Each room is outfitted with a private patio, where you can enjoy sunset views and look out to the shimmering waters of Stone Cutters Bay. Each room also comes with a jacuzzi tub and fireplace, ideal for a romantic getaway. Note that there aren’t any direct connections between Nanaimo and Salt Spring Island, and the 1.5-hour journey between the two includes a 25-minute ferry ride.

This intimate B&B sits on the western shores of Shawnigan Lake, about an hour’s drive south of Nanaimo, and is an ideal base for those looking for some adventure. You can hire a canoe, or go swimming and hiking in the surrounding area. Inside, there’s just one double room and two suites fitted with a kitchenette, and a balcony or patio with access to a communal barbecue. The home-made breakfasts are a standout feature here, as are the fresh pastries and fruit served in the afternoon.