Kingston
Around Kingston
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Metro area · Ontario · 172k people
Kingston
“Limestone City”
A limestone city on the water.
Queen's University and Kingston Frontenacs goldQueen's University blue
Welcome to Kingston, where the limestone buildings meet the lake breeze. Grab a coffee by the waterfront and soak in the blend of history and student energy. You'll find friendly faces and plenty of local pride here.
Clubs for Kingston
No clubs for Kingston yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Kingston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Kingston. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Queen's University Historic limestone campus with a lively student atmosphere.
- Royal Military College National historic site with military heritage.
- St. Lawrence College Modern college contributing to the city's energy.
- Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute One of Canada's oldest high schools, near downtown.
- Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School Well-known local secondary school.
- Bayridge Secondary School Large public high school in the west end.
- Outdoors Hike the K&P Trail
- Outdoors Kayak in the Thousand Islands
- With kids Visit the Kingston Museum
- With kids Explore Fort Henry
- Evenings Catch a show at the Leon's Centre
- Evenings Pub crawl on Princess Street
- Locals love Patio bars
- Locals love Waterfront cafés
Through the year
- Kingston Canadian Film Festival March Annual celebration of Canadian cinema in March.
- Kingston Jazz Festival July Live jazz performances across the city in July.
- Busker Rendezvous July Street performers take over downtown in July.
- Kingston Fall Fair September Agricultural fair with rides, animals, and local food in September.
- Kingston Waterfront Festival August Family-friendly activities and music on the harbour in August.
Kingston has four distinct seasons: cold snowy winters, mild springs, warm summers, and crisp autumns. The best time to be out is late spring to early fall. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “Limestone City”
- Nickname for Kingston, referring to its limestone buildings.
- “the K&P”
- Short for the K&P Trail, a popular rail trail.
- “the Islands”
- Refers to the Thousand Islands area.
- “the 401”
- Highway 401, the major freeway connecting Toronto and Montreal.
Getaways
- Watertown, NY Cross-border shopping and the Salmon Run Mall.
- Belleville Waterfront trails and the Glanmore National Historic Site.
- Brockville Railway tunnel and the Brockville Museum.
- Ottawa Parliament Hill, museums, and the ByWard Market.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kingston Frontenacs OHL
- Queen's Gaels U Sports
Also rooting for Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays, Ottawa Senators
Eat and drink
- Thousand Islands dressing Originated in the nearby Thousand Islands region
- Poutine Canadian staple, popular in local chip trucks
- Lake Ontario pickerel Fresh fish from local waters
Where people go
- Historic forts (Fort Henry)
- Limestone architecture The city's iconic 19th-century limestone buildings
- Waterfront boardwalks Along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River
- Thousand Islands The archipelago just east of Kingston
- University pubs Historic bars and taverns near Queen's University
Heritage and traditions
Kingston is proud of its historic role as the first capital of the Province of Canada, its stunning limestone architecture, and its vibrant university culture centred on Queen's University, all set against the backdrop of the Thousand Islands.
This time of year in Kingston
- Fall colours Fall Fall foliage in the Thousand Islands and local parks.
Say it like a local: “pop” — Soft drink, e.g., 'I'll have a pop.'
Festivals
- Kingston Pride Parade June A colourful celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with a parade and events.
- Kingston Scottish Festival June Highland games, pipe bands, and Scottish culture.
- Kingston Ukrainian Festival September Ukrainian music, dance, and food, celebrating the community's heritage.
- Kingston WritersFest September A literary festival featuring Canadian and international authors.
Landmarks with a story
- Kingston City Hall A neoclassical landmark from 1844, once the seat of the capital.
- Bellevue House Home of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.
- Kingston Penitentiary Opened in 1835, a former maximum-security prison now open for tours.
- St. George's Cathedral An Anglican cathedral with Gothic Revival architecture.
- St. Mary's Cathedral A Roman Catholic cathedral with a striking limestone facade.
- Murney Tower Museum A Martello tower from 1846, part of Kingston's defensive works.
Food traditions
- Ukrainian perogies Served at the Ukrainian Festival and in homes, reflecting the city's Eastern European heritage.
- Scottish shortbread Baked for Robbie Burns Day, a nod to the city's Scottish roots.
- Irish soda bread For St. Patrick's Day, from the Irish community.
Music and arts
- Indie rock scene Kingston is known for its indie rock, with The Tragically Hip as the most famous export.
- Kingston Symphony A professional orchestra performing classical music.
- Kingston WritersFest An annual literary festival attracting authors.
- Kingston School of Art A community art school offering classes and exhibitions.
A little history
- 1841-1844 Kingston served as the capital of the Province of Canada.
- 1835 Kingston Penitentiary opened, one of the oldest prisons in Canada.
- 1832 The Rideau Canal was completed, connecting Kingston to Ottawa.
- 1876 The Royal Military College was founded, Canada's first military college.
- 1812 Kingston was a key naval base during the War of 1812.
Rivalries
- Queen's vs. RMC Historic football rivalry between the universities.
- Kingston Frontenacs vs. Ottawa 67's Ontario Hockey League rivalry.
- Kingston vs. Belleville Friendly competition for regional pride.
- Kingston vs. Gananoque Local hockey and community rivalries.
- Game day Kingston Frontenacs hockey
- Game day Queen's Gaels football
- Outdoors Paddleboarding
- Outdoors Sailing
Kingstonians speak with a typical Canadian accent, using phrases like 'eh' and 'sorry'. They often say 'pop' for soda and 'washroom' for restroom.
Only here
- Kingston is known as the 'Limestone City' for its many limestone buildings.
- It was the first capital of the Province of Canada from 1841 to 1844.
- Home to the Royal Military College, Canada's only federal military college.
- The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins at Kingston.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for cold winters; dress in layers and invest in a good winter coat.
- Try the local poutine and Thousand Islands dressing.
- Learn about The Tragically Hip; they are local legends.
- Take a walking tour of the historic downtown to see limestone architecture.
- Visit Fort Henry for a glimpse of military history.
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Nearby
Every areaLeeds and GrenvilleOntarioRiver towns, open skies, and the quiet of the St. Lawrence.NapaneeOntarioWhere the lakes meet the maple grovesWatertownNew YorkWhere the North Country meets the waterPrince Edward CountyOntarioWhere the lake meets the vineyard.Belleville–Quinte WestOntarioA friendly harbour on the Bay of Quinte.BrockvilleOntarioSmall-town charm on the St. Lawrence.MassenaNew YorkSmall towns, big river, endless sky.SyracuseNew YorkA city of salt and soul
Kingston. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.