Travelling from Nanaimo to Vancouver: what you need to know
Start your travels at one of Nanaimo's main airports, Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) or Nanaimo Airport (YCD). Check out your options for booking a flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver taking off from either of these.
The chief entry points to Vancouver are Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH).
Around 25 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Nanaimo to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver is one hour ahead of Nanaimo and observes the UTC-7 timezone.
The most popular route for flights from Nanaimo to Vancouver is from Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) to Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH). You can select from 56 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from ZNA to CXH is the 07:00 Helijet Airways option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the final scheduled service is at 18:25 with Harbour Air.
For hassle-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your Nanaimo to Vancouver flight.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Nanaimo to Vancouver
To pick up cheap Nanaimo to Vancouver flights, book as early as possible. Airlines usually offer lower prices when tickets are first released.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Nanaimo to Vancouver is more likely if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices across each month and walk away with a sweet deal.
You don't need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Nanaimo to Vancouver.
Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your Nanaimo to Vancouver flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The distance from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is roughly 10 kilometres. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
Reserve a hotel close to YVR if you have a late flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis to explore Vancouver and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your ride from Vancouver International Airport about one week ahead of your Nanaimo to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
After your flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver has arrived, you can make your way to the city centre in around 5 minutes by car. Central Vancouver is approximately 0.80 kilometres from Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH).
The journey will take roughly 15 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to lay your head close to CXH. Settle in and get cosy after your Nanaimo to Vancouver flight at any of these well-located options:
Usually, the earlier you book, the more you save and the better your options. Secure your ride from CXH once you know your travel dates.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Abbotsford Airport (YXX) is around 64 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver. It takes about 1 hour to reach the city centre by car after your flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver.
Public transport will get you there in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
If you don't want to make the trip to the centre, head for a hotel near YXX. Make yourself comfy at one of these options after your Nanaimo to Vancouver flight:
Whether you want a mini for a solo trip or an SUV to fit the whole crew comfortably, you'll find the ideal Abbotsford Airport rental car for you. Browse wheels available here from companies such as Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
About one week before your flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver is the ideal time to book your vehicle from YXX. You're more likely to find a cheaper rate or get access to early bird discounts.
More about Vancouver
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Vancouver right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Nanaimo to Vancouver:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are attractions you won't want to skip in Vancouver.
Explore more of Canada
Surrey is just one of the many places in Canada waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Vancouver. Around 32 kilometres to the south-east, top sights here include Senator Reid Park, Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park.
If you're ready to explore another side of Canada, consider Victoria, roughly 97 kilometres south of Vancouver. Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour are key reasons to visit.
