Kingston History and Culinary Scene
More restaurants per capita than almost every other city in Canada
Kingston has many attractions to experience. Some of the top attractions include:
visitkingston.ca is a great resource for things to see and do in Kingston, restaurants, and attractions.
With more restaurants per capita than almost any other city in Canada, Kingston has something for everyone. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it here, from bāo to roti, comfort food to haute cuisine.
Book a table or grab some takeout for a picnic by the waterfront. Take a guided food tour or take part in a food and wine pairing event. Fuel up at one of Kingston’s independent coffee shops, cafés, and bakeries. Grab a latte or a cup of tea, add some freshly baked treats, and plan the rest of your day.
Make sure you don’t miss out on a Canadian staple – the restaurant patio. Kingston has plenty of options, from rooftop patios to cozy courtyards. Kingston is also located in the heart of Frontenac County farmland. Frontenac farms feed Kingston tables, and Kingston chefs utilize fresh, seasonal ingredients from local growers and producers.
Kingston has a long history of beer brewing. The first breweries in the city operated in the 1790s. Rideau Street, in the city’s downtown, was then known as Brewery Street. Farther west, Morton’s Brewery and Distillery was established in 1832. One of its original buildings is now home to the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning. Established in 1986, the Kingston Brewing Company is Ontario’s oldest brewpub and Canada’s oldest wine-producing pub. It is now one of nine beer and cider makers in the city. You can sample some of Kingston’s brews at bars, restaurants, and festivals across the city. Several beverage makers also offer take-home and delivery options.
By car
Via Highway 401 westbound, take exit 623. Via Highway 401 eastbound, take exit 615. Scenic eastbound route: take Highway 33 along Lake Ontario into Kingston. From Cape Vincent, N.Y., take Horne’s ferry to Wolfe Island, then the Wolfe Island Ferry to Kingston.
By air
FLYGTA’s service between Norman Rogers Airport and Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island operates four days per week, with two daily trips on Thursdays and Fridays, and four flights on Saturdays and Sundays. Learn more.
Pascan Aviation will begin providing airline service from Montreal (Pierre Trudeau/Dorval Airport) to the Kingston Airport in May 2022. Flight service will be offered three-times daily Monday – Friday, and twice daily Saturday and Sunday. Flights are now available for booking.
By train
VIA Rail offers service to Kingston from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. Visit viarail.ca or call 1.888.VIA-RAIL. VIA Rail’s Bike Train offers bike racks on board select passenger rail trains. Visit biketrain.ca.
By bus
Coach Canada/Trentway-Wager Bus Lines (coachcanada.com) and Megabus (ca.megabus.com) offer service to Kingston. Please check with operators to confirm service and schedules.
By boat
Kingston has both city-operated and privately owned marinas. Confederation Basin Marina (City of Kingston): 613-546-4291 ext. 1823 (seasonal) Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (City of Kingston): 613-546-4291 ext. 1827 Collins Bay Marina (West end): 613-389-4455 Treasure Island Marina (East end): 613-548-1239
Getting around Kingston is easy. While many attractions are within walking distance of the downtown core, you have other transit options as well. Kingston also has accessible transportation options, as well as accessible tours and attractions.
Kingston Throughout the Seasons
What to enjoy in the various seasons
In the spring, you can experience:
Enjoy pancakes with warm maple syrup at Maple Madness at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. This family-friendly event takes place every March. Bring your family for a guided sugar bush tour, wagon rides, scavenger hunts, and more. And of course, sample some maple syrup.
Tapping sugar maple trees for their sap in the springtime is an ancient tradition in this region, originating with the Indigenous Peoples, who traditionally harvested and celebrated the gift of “sweet water.” Learn more at the Maple Madness interpretative talks and demonstrations.
In May, Kingston parks, community spaces, and gardens come alive with tulips, daffodils, lilacs, and more. Explore the Queen’s University campus, where you will see curated gardens set against the backdrop of historic limestone buildings. The green space in front of Summerhill, Queen’s oldest building (1839), was also once the site of Canada’s first botanical garden. Today, this space is home to the Queen’s arboretum, featuring a wide variety of trees.
There’s so much to do in Kingston in the summer, from golfing and boating to diving and fishing to hiking and biking. Kingston’s waterfront trail is easy to navigate on foot or by bike. Keep an eye out for the wayfinding signs along the trail, which will provide directions and teach you about the history of the region. If you didn’t bring your bike or kayak, don’t worry. You can rent one!
Discover the unique shopping experiences in Kingston’s walkable downtown. You can explore the city and learn its history with a guided trolley tour and take in the beauty of the Thousand Islands on a sightseeing boat cruise. A number of hotels and inns offer special packages that bundle Kingston experiences and attractions with your stay.
In the summer, you can experience:
Cool off this summer with a dip in the pool – or in the lake. Breakwater Park in downtown Kingston offers an accessible lakeside beach, as well as picnic amenities. Grass Creek Park, in the city’s east end, also offers a large sandy beach and swimming area (plus an off -leash area for your canine friends). To the west, Lake Ontario Park, Kingston’s largest urban waterfront park, has a cobble beach, splash pad, beach volleyball court, and boat launch. Kids will enjoy the wading pool at McBurney Park and the Outdoor Aqua Park at the Memorial Centre.
Autumn is the perfect time of year to take in Kingston’s architecture and historic sites. Take a guided tour or explore on your own. Today, some of these historic limestone buildings are home to restaurants, bookstores, boutiques, and more.
In the fall, you can experience:
Kingston is home to more than 20 museums, national historic sites, art galleries, and archives. Explore geology, Canadian history, baroque and modern art, hockey, technology, medicine, and more. Enjoy hands-on learning with the kids or savour a quiet moment with a favourite painting.
Kingston loves winter. As the winter evenings grow darker, downtown Kingston lights up in response. Enjoy the ambiance as you window-shop. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Bring your skates and take a spin around the public rink at Springer Market Square.
Outside of downtown, there are plenty of other opportunities for you to get active in Kingston this winter! Go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or tobogganing. Or stay in and explore the many Kingstonlicious prix fixe dining options offered throughout the city.
In the winter, you can experience:
Art After Dark
Holiday markets
Reelout Queer Film Festival
Winter lights in downtown