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Spend the day exploring Kingston’s waterfront, catching a guided cruise or strolling Confederation Basin. Get a taste of city life by touring the grand halls of Queen’s University or catching a concert or event at INVISTA Centre. No matter your interests, there are plenty of area attractions, as well as dining options, within easy reach of the hotel.

Events & Attractions

Property:events-and-attractions

Housed in a historic limestone building downtown, Wooden Heads turns out crisp, wood-fired pizzas topped with everything from roasted garlic to smoked duck. Grab a table on the hidden back patio—it’s one of Kingston’s best dinner spots in summer.

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Wooden Heads Gourmet Pizza

Bright and modern, Mesa Fresca serves Mexican-inspired dishes that go well beyond standard taco-night territory. Signature margaritas, colourful plates and a lively patio crowd make it especially good for a long dinner that turns into another round.

Mesa Fresca

This intimate Italian spot has been a downtown standby for decades, serving handmade pastas, seafood dishes and old-school hospitality in a cozy brick-walled dining room. Linger over a glass of wine and don’t forget some tiramisu.

Casa Domenico

Part craft brewery, part laidback hangout, Riverhead pours small-batch beers brewed on-site alongside pizzas, trivia nights and live music. The industrial beer hall vibe—complete with canoes hanging overhead—makes it an easy place to spend a long evening after a day on the water.

Riverhead Brewing Company

Kingston locals treat Toast & Jam like a weekend ritual, thanks to towering breakfast sandwiches, lemon ricotta pancakes and house-made jams worth smuggling home in your suitcase. Expect a cheerful, bustling room made to perk up your day.

Toast and Jam

Tucked inside a former limestone stable, Chez Piggy is known for its eclectic menu, lively patio and artsy energy. The kitchen jumps comfortably from wood-fired pizza to Thai-inspired noodles to locally sourced brunch plates.

Chez Piggy

A longtime Kingston favourite, Tango Nuevo specializes in globally inspired tapas designed for sharing. Don’t miss the duck confit tacos. Dim lighting, vibrant cocktails and waterfront proximity set the atmosphere.

Tango Nuevo

Scattered across the St. Lawrence River, the park is a collection of postcard-worthy islands, quiet coves and pine-lined shorelines. Paddle between islands, hike short scenic trails or simply take in the view from the water.

Thousand Islands National Park

About an hour west of Kingston, Sandbanks is famous for its sweeping dunes and turquoise water and some of Canada’s best beaches. Come early in summer; locals know parking fills up fast once the heat kicks in.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Red House blends upscale comfort food with one of the city’s better craft beer and whiskey selections, all inside a warm, exposed-brick space downtown. It’s especially popular before concerts and hockey games thanks to its location near the waterfront and arena district.

Red House West

Once one of Canada’s oldest and most notorious prisons, Kingston Penitentiary now offers guided tours through cellblocks, exercise yards and historic corridors. The stories are fascinating, unsettling and surprisingly human all at once.

Kingston Penitentiary Tours

Housed inside one of Canada’s oldest waterworks, the museum blends industrial history with hands-on exhibits that make engineering and invention feel fun. Set right on Kingston’s waterfront, it’s worth visiting as much for the massive steam pumps and limestone architecture as for the interactive displays inside.

Pump House Museum

Set inside Kingston’s historic Pump House, this museum dives into the region’s shipping and maritime history through interactive exhibits, model ships and stories of storms and shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.

Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston

This hop-on trolley is one of the easiest ways to get your bearings in Kingston, especially if you want a crash course on the city’s limestone architecture and military history.

Kingston Trolley Tours

Cruising through the Thousand Islands remains one of the area’s signature experiences, with routes passing grand cottages, tiny tree-covered islands and castle-like estates rising unexpectedly from the water. Sunset tours are especially beautiful in peak summer.

Kingston 1,000 Islands Cruises

Set right on the water, the Kingston Yacht Club offers front-row views of sailboats drifting through the harbour and some of the prettiest sunsets in the city. Even non-sailors can appreciate the breezy, lakeside atmosphere around the marina.

Kingston Yacht Club

With its limestone buildings and leafy campus, this stately university gives Kingston much of its youthful energy and architectural character. Wander through campus and you’ll quickly understand why students—and plenty of visitors—fall hard for the city.

Queen’s University

On the downtown waterfront, Confederation Basin anchors Kingston’s marina district with walking paths, sailboats and easy access to restaurants and shops. It’s one of those places that naturally pulls you into an evening stroll.

Confederation Basin

Perched above the water, this 19th-century fortress brings Kingston’s military history to life with guard demonstrations, cannon firings and sweeping views over Lake Ontario and the Rideau Canal. Time your visit for sunset and the scenery alone is worth the climb.

Fort Henry National Historic Site

This sprawling sports and recreation complex is where Kingston locals come for everything from hockey tournaments and skating to concerts, community events and big weekend competitions. Even if you’re not lacing up yourself, the steady buzz of activity gives the place an energetic, hometown feel.

Things to Do in Kingston, Canada | Hyatt Select Kingston