Explore Kingston’s rich music, literature, and film histories through archival images, video clips, and behind-the-scenes stories with nine walking tours.
Kingston Haunted Walks
Kingston Haunted Walks Inc. was founded in 1995 and offers a variety of spooky historical walking tours in Kingston. Best known for their evening tours of local ghost stories and darker history, the tours present the city the way it was meant to be seen – up close and on foot.
Kingston Food Tours
Kingston Food Tours is a walking tour of Kingston’s hip and historic downtown that blends tastings at our best local restaurants with an insider’s perspective on our city’s history and culture. The tours focus on unique shops, restaurants, artisans, and farmers who contribute to Kingston’s thriving local food movement.
Kingston City Hall Self-Guided Tour
The Kingston City Hall self-guided tour takes you through the national historic site built in the 1840s when Kingston was the first Capital of Canada. Art lovers will appreciate City Hall’s largest known portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, and the stained-glass windows of Memorial Hall depicting many battles of the First World War.
Waterfront Pathway Tour
Visit the former home of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald on this 8km waterfront pathway tour! This route is part of the Waterfront Trail, a 900 km marked tour that connects 41 communities between Niagara area and Quebec. On the tour, you’ll also see of Kingston’s historic sites like Kingston’s City Hall, and well-known Fort Frontenac.
The K&P Trail
The city’s multi-use recreational trail ideal for walking, hiking, cycling, horse-back riding, and cross-country skiing. This 15 km trail, extending from the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area, formally served as a railway track in the 1800s for steam engines. It provides for a range of scenic experiences with its open landscape, rock cuts, and wetlands.
Old Historical Tour
Trek to the year 1615 and back and identify landmarks you’d never otherwise notice in Kingston’s downtown core. Learn about Fort Frontenac, Fort Henry, City Hall, the Market Square, Princess Street, the industrial waterfront of the days of yore and all the fascinating occurrences that led to the creation and dissolution of Kingston as the First Capital of Canada.
Old Stones United Empire Loyalist First Capital Tour
The Old Stones United Empire Loyalist Walking Tour takes you back to when Kingston was Canada’s First Capital and looks at many historic landmarks on King Street as well as the stories behind them.
Queen’s University Outdoor Sculpture Tour
The Outdoor Sculpture Tour takes you through the campus of Queen’s University to view the historical sculptures. Sculptures that will be seen include: Bent Yellow – Raymond Spiers, Iron Man – Jordie Bonet, A Minute of My Time – Micah Lexier, and much more.
Kingston Mills Walking Tour
The Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada is part of a national system of parks and historic sites managed by Parks Canada. The waterway is a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and canal cuts joining Kingston, at the head of Lake Ontario, to Ottawa, Canada’s capital. It’s one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century and incredibly, has been in operation since its completion in 1832.
Wolfe Island Self-Guided Tours
Wolfe Island is the largest of the world-renowned Thousand Islands. Located where Lake Ontario ends and the St. Lawrence River begins its flow to the Atlantic, its beautiful sunrises, breath-taking sunsets and spectacular night-time skies are a big part of its charm. The Wolfe Island self-guided tour takes you through the majestic farm land of Wolfe Island and by 86 wind turbines that can generate up to 594,000 megawatts hours per year.
Historic Walking Tours
The City of Kingston has 11 walking tours available in English and French on their mobile app. Discover the history and heritage of Kingston’s historic downtown with a free download from the Google Play or Apple App store.
Frost Walks
Walk through the lovely village of Marysville and learn about its lively past. Includes ferry tales, the historical background of prominent buildings, and what life was like for Islanders in the past few centuries.
Kingston Walks
Step into our city’s past shaped by wind, fire, trade, art, and war. Join us for a 90-minute walking tour with one of our expert guides. Explore Kingston’s historic 19th century golden age, learning how Kingstonians of old lived, worked, worshipped and shopped. Tours are lead by a live guide and enhanced by headsets from AudioConexus.
Sick City: Guided Outdoor Walking Tour
Walk in the footsteps of some of Kingston’s earliest residents and arrivals as they engage in a quest for health care in the Limestone City. The story of the establishment of one of Canada’s oldest public hospitals, Kingston General Hospital, is one full of success and sacrifice, triumph and tragedy. Join us for a fascinating look into the lives of those that lived, arrived, and died here, as we unlock the secrets of Kingston’s medical history.
Details: Offering tours Friday-Sunday at 10:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm.