What To Do in Kingston, Ontario on a Weekend Getaway: Come Explore Canada's First Capital

In this article, Bri Mitchell outlines the best way to plan what to do in Kingston, Ontario during a weekend getaway. From a bustling city centre, to local festivals, to great access to scenic walks and the waterfront, there is so much to do in Kingston that will leave you wanting to stay for longer.

A tourist lines up to be part of the Kingston sign down by the waterfront.

Chris and I recently found ourselves planning a weekend away, and settled on revisiting our love for Kingston, Ontario. It’s a charming city with a lot to offer, making it the perfect place to get away. We’ve both spent so much time in this city over the years, but we hadn’t really ever taken a step back and thought about what to do in Kingston for a weekend getaway from a tourist perspective. Seeing as we’ve covered so much other Ontario travel on this site, we figured it was high time.

Not only is Kingston a great place to explore in the modern sense, but it’s also a place of so much history that’s important to Canada. It was actually Canada’s first capital, before Queen Victoria decided that Ottawa was a better fit for the capital. This is because Ottawa was better protected from the Americans than Kingston was.

Regardless of whether you’re keen on this history of Kingston, or just to take in the city by foot and the culture, there are so many great reasons to stay for a weekend or longer.

More About Kingston, Ontario

Kingston is located on the eastern end of Lake Ontario, right at the beginning of the St. Lawrence, and the south end of the Rideau Canal. It’s a popular city because it’s located midway between Toronto and Montreal, and is also located near the Thousand Islands, and not all that far from Prince Edward County either.

On February 10th, 1841, Kingston was named the first capital of the United Province of Canada. It was only the capital city for three years (for reasons we described above), but it remained an important city for a number of reasons. For one, it’s always been an important military city, but it’s also known for its health care sector and education.

Chris, some might know, actually attended Queen’s University in Kingston for his undergrad, and absolutely loved it. His parents, grandmother and many others in his family also went to Queen’s.

In terms of size, Kingston is the 10th largest metropolitan area in the province, so you know there’s plenty to do here. It’s actually a city that hits well above its weight from a tourism perspective since it’s a beacon for festivals and events.

*Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. Simply put, that just means that I may get a small commission from some of my recommendations at absolutely zero extra cost to you.

What to Do in Kingston, Ontario

There are a lot of different things to do in Kingston, and I’ll try to highlight some of our favourite ways to explore Canada’s first capital.

Walk, Walk, Walk

Walking always feels like the best way to get to know a city. If I find myself driving, taking transit or ride shares around a city, there’s always so much I pass by in the window that I feel like I’m missing.

Without looking ahead at the dates, we went in June and happened to be in Kingston on a weekend where there was both the Skeleton Park Arts Festival happening steps from our hotel, and Kingston Pride. It was so great to walk out ready to explore and learn that these two festivals were taking place in the city. Depending on the time of year, it’s very possible that other festivals will be taking place during your weekend getaway, so be sure to walk around and see for yourself, or research in advance.

Some points of interest during your walk will be to explore the downtown core, including Confederation Park and Kingston City Hall, the alley between Chez Piggy and The Toucan, Queens University Campus and walking down to Lake Ontario.

Go Shopping in Downtown Kingston

While you’re walking around, consider carving out some time to pop into some of the locally owned shops in downtown Kingston.

The main street to head for shopping is Princess Street between Barrie Street and Ontario Street. There are several clothing stores, specialty stores and larger names along this stretch of road, with plenty of great treasures to be found.

We always like to try and support the locally owned stores first if we ever need something when we’re travelling, rather than drive to a larger store. It’s easier to get to on foot, and helps support the local economy.

Visit One of Kingston’s Many Craft Breweries

Kingston now has several craft breweries. Three of them are within walking distance of the downtown core. The Kingston Brewing Company (back patio pictured on the right) has a great selection of beer, along with a delicious assortment of BBQ-style gastro foods on their menu. Chris and I indulged in a generous plate of nachos, and asked if we could add their Beer Braised Brisket to it, which was such a delicious decision. We sipped on some of their Yardwork Light Ale, perfect for enjoying in the hot sun on their back patio. Their patio is surrounded by limestone walls—it’s a real treat to sit on if you’re visiting during the warmer months.

Daft Brewing (the left picture up above) is slightly outside of the downtown core in Williamsville. They have a great front patio with several lawn-game style activities to keep you entertained, and a great assortment of craft beers. They’re very focused on community events to bring people together, and have different, unique events on several evenings a week. Think magicians or, if you visited the evening we did, a bad film night. They have a few small food items on their menu. We had a loaded hot dog when we stopped in, and sampled almost all of their beers. We couldn’t find a weak one in the bunch.

Some other great breweries to check out are Stone City Brew Co., which is in the downtown core. A little outside the city, but also worth the trip is Spearhead Brewing Co.

Walk Down to Breakwater Park

This part of Kingston is walking distance to downtown. It looks onto the meeting point between Lake Ontario and the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, which leads all the way out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Breakwater Park is known for having a nice variety of accessible picnic tables, barbecues, access to the water at Gord Downie Memorial Pier, and for the sculpture “Time”, which frames the waterfront view nicely.

On a weekend, you’ll find families playing on the shores, couples walking along the boardwalk, and many people reading and relaxing. It’s a very nice spot to stop and catch your breath on a sunny afternoon.

Wander Queen’s University Campus

Chris and I strolling around Queen’s Campus.

Seeing as Queen’s is Chris’s alma mater, as it is for many of his family members (it’s even where his parents got married!), the university holds a special place in our hearts. Queen’s even hosted the international teaching fair where we landed our contracts to work in Istanbul for three years, so it’s all around an important place to us.

Regardless of whether Queen’s holds a special place in your heart, the campus dates back to the 1800s, with many of its original buildings (and you guessed it—they’re limestone) still intact.

Some highlights on a walk around Queen’s campus are the Old Medical Building, which was the first permanent building on campus and was built in 1855. The oldest building on campus is Summerhill, which was built in 1839. Theological Hall is another iconic place to visit, especially when it’s covered in ivy in the summer months, and multicoloured in the fall.

Take a “Bite” Out of Kingston’s Restaurant Scene

Kingston, Ontario is known for having some very impressive places to sink your teeth into. The most famous is arguably Chez Piggy, which was opened in the late 70’s by Zal Yanovsky, a local member of the 60’s pop band, The Lovin’ Spoonful. It has been a downtown staple in Kingston ever since, and is a wonderful restaurant to go to celebrate a special occasion or graduation.

Atomica Kitchen & Cocktails is another great place to stop near the downtown core. Atomica is known for having a menu full of pizzas, pastas and dishes with a Mediterranean flare.

If you’re more in the market for brunch, check out Northside Espresso + Kitchen for a phenomenal cup of joe and a proper sit down brunch.

The Grocery Basket is another great local cafe and one-stop-shop grocer, perfect for a quick coffee or breakfast on-the-go. They even make ready-to-go charcuterie boards, perfect for bringing back to your accommodations if you’re staying in an apartment-style place like The Smith Hotel. A final note about this spot is that if you are up to the climb, several flights of stairs will lead you to a panoramic view of Kingston from the rooftop. They have a little patio where you can eat your food, and look around the city from above.

Speaking of rooftop patios, there are many other great options to choose from in Kingston, but you might be surprised that I’d recommend checking out the Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill. This isn’t usually the type of recommendation I’d make, but hear me out! They have a great rooftop bar overlooking Kingston’s City Hall, Market Square and the harbour. If you’re keen on a nice birds-eye view of the city, definitely stop here.

The rooftop at the Grocery Basket is something else!

Take in Some of the Loyalist History

Seeing as Kingston was named by settlers as “King’s Town”, it’s no wonder it has such strong roots connected to England. If moseying around town without a set schedule isn’t as appealing to you, there are two historic sites worth squeezing into your weekend getaway that demonstrate the scope and scale of Kingston’s history.

The first is Fort Henry. You’ll need a car to get to this one, as it’s located on a hill overlooking Kingston and the St. Lawrence River, just east of the city. This historic fort was built in case an attack by the Americans ever happened. Fortunately, the fort was never needed to defend the city, but tours and visits to this historic site today open a window into the past during your visit.

A slightly more sinister landmark is the Kingston Penitentiary, or “Kingston Pen”, as it’s more commonly referred to. This opened back in the 1800’s, and was the most maximum security prison in Canada for quite some time. Today, you can take a guided tour through the grounds and buildings of the penitentiary to get a sense of all that has taken place on this site over the years.

Where to Stay in Kingston

Staying in the downtown core is your best bet on a weekend getaway in Kingston. The downtown area of Kingston has a lot of history, and puts you in a great position to walk around most of the city. It’s a comfortable city to explore on foot, which is one of Chris’s and my favourite things to do when we travel.

We opted to stay at The Smith Hotel during our weekend getaway. It’s a new hotel-alternative in a converted limestone church. We loved it because it has the history and character that represents so much of what Kingston was built on (limestone), while offering the conveniences of living in your own chic and beautifully designed apartment in town. Plus, since it’s located in the Skeleton Park neighbourhood of Kingston, it’s so convenient to walk around the city from here.

Click here if you’re interested in booking a few nights at The Smith Hotel.

Exploring Kingston, Ontario

Regardless of the time of year you plan on visiting, there are a lot of really great places to check out in Kingston. The time of our visit was during June, but there are some beautiful scenes to take in and pubs to cozy up in during the winter months, too.

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