The Old City Quarter is a short uphill walk from the downtown waterfront, so on foot is the easiest way to get there. If your legs say no, a bus to downtown or a taxi drops you at the edge of the district.
Walking up from the waterfront
From the harbour, the route climbs Bastion Street and Fitzwilliam Street into the heritage streets. It is steep for a stretch, which is the part visitors notice. Once you are up, the quarter is easy to stroll, with independent shops, galleries and cafes in painted older buildings. Front Street has the Nanaimo Bastion, built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1853 and the city’s oldest structure, rising above the pedestrian path.
The Downtown Nanaimo Information Centre at 150 Commercial Street hands out a heritage tour map, which is useful if you want a longer walk through the neighbourhood.
Reaching downtown by bus
BC Transit routes meet at the downtown exchange, which is where you transfer to the walk above. Which route serves your starting point depends on where you begin, so open the BC Transit trip planner, enter your address and Old City Quarter, and read the departures for the day. The exchange location has been moving, so go by the planner and not by an old map.
Driving and parking near Commercial Street
Parking in the quarter has changed over the last few years. The city has run free two hour parking on streets such as Commercial Street, Front Street and Bastion Street during construction, and it has used levels of the Bastion Street Parkade at 236 Bastion Street for the same purpose. It has also discussed bringing meters to the quarter. Because the rules shift, read the posted signs and the City of Nanaimo downtown parking page before you leave the car.
Commercial Street construction can also close lanes, so a navigation app with live traffic helps on the last few blocks.
Taxi for a short hop
If you are carrying shopping or arriving late, a cab saves the climb and the parking search. The taxi fare estimator gives a rough fare, and the Nanaimo taxi page lists local companies.