Port Guide | Canada | Worth a Wander

Nanaimo

Samantha Cruz | Editor

Published on 2025-04-26

Congratulations, intrepid traveler-you've successfully docked in Nanaimo, a charmingly quirky seaside city perched on Vancouver Island's lush eastern shore, where the mountains seem to wink knowingly at your cruise ship's floating grandeur. If you're unfamiliar with Nanaimo so far, rest easy: You're now at ground zero of the world-famous Nanaimo Bar, that absurdly delicious, triple-layer confection which locals guard with pride, mild fanaticism, and gentle mockery toward lesser desserts. Have a wander along the vibrant waterfront parks and historic downtown streets, where intriguing indigenous culture blends harmoniously with hipster coffee shops, art galleries, and delightfully peculiar street art. You've got a few days on your hands, so skip the generic postcards and settle instead into a kayak, sample fresh seafood at one of several quirky harborside pubs, or immerse yourself in tales of coal-mining bootleggers and bathtub-racing daredevils. Whatever you do, savor the quirkiness, embrace the relaxed pace-and yes, definitely have another bar. After all, calories consumed in port don't count.