15 Tours in Kingston to Build a Day Around

1.Heart of the Thousand Islands Riverboat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 771 reviews · 3 hours · from $49Our pick

Spend three hours aboard Kingston’s triple-deck Island Queen, a Mississippi River style paddlewheeler, sailing through the Admiralty group of the Thousand Islands. You’ll pass Napoleon’s Hat, Wanderer’s Channel, Bateau Channel, Mandalay Mansion, and historic Kingston sights while an English-speaking host shares local history and folklore. Live music, a bar, and a canteen are available onboard.

“It was very enjoyable the commentator was well informed and we could hear everything said quite clearly anywhere you sat. The entertainment was delightful Everyone very friendly”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Lunch Cruise of Thousand Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 212 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Spend three hours sailing from downtown Kingston through the Admiralty Group of the Thousand Islands. You’ll enjoy a three-course lunch, live music, and commentary on Kingston’s waterfront, island homes, Napoleon’s Hat, Bateau Channel, and Mandalay Mansion. The boat may be the Island Queen or Island Star.

“Lovely tour. Courteous staff and lovely lunch. The commentary could be better and the trip a bit shorter. But otherwise fully recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Sunset Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 197 reviews · 3 hours · from $98

Spend three hours cruising Kingston’s Admiralty Islands at sunset while enjoying a 3-course dinner, live music, and commentary. The Island Queen operates Mondays and Tuesdays, while the Island Star sails Wednesday through Sunday. Expect assigned seating, a full-service bar at extra cost, and scenic views of cottages and grand waterfront homes.

“The sunset cruise was good. I would’ve liked the entire boat to be open. Maybe it was a bit crowded but it was still a good time. It was nice that you could go to the back of the boat and be able to look out and get a good view of the sunset. Entertainment was good. Food was good, I would recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Ghosts and Mysteries Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 158 reviews · 1h 30m · from $40

Ride through Kingston after dark while an English-speaking guide blends local history with ghost stories and unsettling mysteries. The route passes Fort Henry Hill, Deadman’s Bay, Kingston Penitentiary, and Rockwood Asylum. Guides including Kimberly, Jonathan, Jenna, and Brian have brought strong energy and humor to the tour, with ghostly characters appearing at select stops.

“Our tour guide Brian was excellent! He was passionate about what he was telling us! Extremely knowledgeable and a great sense of humour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Haunted Night Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 144 reviews · 1h 15m · from $23Best value

Follow a cloaked English-speaking guide from Ontario Street into Kingston’s old Sydenham Ward. Hear stories tied to haunted hotels, hidden burial grounds, grave robbings, hangings, and haunted bed-and-breakfasts. The 75-minute walk runs outdoors in all weather, with guides such as Alison, Liam, Rebecca, and Maya praised for lively storytelling and careful group management.

“Very interesting. Love the scenery! Amazing stories! Guide was courteous and watched out for everyone's safety. Need more info on the different places though.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Brunch Cruise of Thousand Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 132 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Spend three hours aboard the triple-decked Island Queen, cruising Kingston’s Thousand Islands while brunch is served on the second deck. You’ll pass Fort Henry, Kingston Penitentiary, cottage islands, and grand private estates. English commentary, live entertainment, and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-friendly meals are available by request.

“The Brunch Cruise of the 1000 Islands with my mom was fantastic. Every staff member was so personable, warm and friendly. Anna, our waitress was lovely. Greg Webb, especially made our day by offering timely and informative commentary as we travelled through the islands. Very professional and friendly. I would highly recommend this venue for Kingstonians and out-of-town travellers alike.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Waterfront Discovery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 129 reviews · 1 hour · from $32

Cruise Kingston’s historic waterfront aboard the Island Belle for one hour. An English-speaking guide points out Fort Henry, Kingston Penitentiary, Royal Military College, local islands, and Lake Ontario’s wind turbines. Sit under cover or on the top deck, but collect your boarding tickets at 1 Brock Street before joining the line.

“Many landmarks to see in one hour. The guide provided factual info along with local stories. His narrative helped us decide on other places to visit which is a great bonus.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Orignal Haunted Walk of Kingston 75-Minute Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $25

Walk Kingston’s historic center after dark with a local storyteller, stopping at City Hall, the Public Market, Hochelaga Inn, Chalmers United Church, and St. George’s Cathedral. Guides such as Rebecca, Allison, Tamara, and Arianne bring the tales to life with humor, drama, and local history. Expect a small group, some low-lit streets, and a few spooky surprises.

“The tour gives you the opportunity to see many sites in the downtown area with a rich history and many impressive buildings. The guide of our tour Arianne was quite knowledgeable with answering our questions and had a great storyteller presents that grabbed your attention.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Trolley City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 99 reviews · 1 hour · from $33

Ride Kingston’s bright red trolley through downtown with an English-speaking guide such as Richard, who brings more than 300 years of local history to life. You’ll pass Queen’s University, Kingston Penitentiary, museums, galleries, and Fort Henry, with time for photos. The tour departs near Ontario Street and is family-friendly.

“un tour complet très intéressant. À faire absolument.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Heart of the 1000 Islands Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 80 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $50

Spend about three hours aboard Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, sailing the Admiralty group and historic Kingston waterfront. Your English-speaking guide points out Napoleon’s Hat, Wanderer’s Channel, Bateau Channel, Mandalay Mansion, and cottage islands. Food and drinks cost extra, seating is unassigned, and the boat returns to Brock Street.

“A real hidden gem for those traveling north of Toronto. The scenery is spectacular.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 57 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $37

Ride Kingston’s historic red trolleys through the old town, downtown shopping district, Fort Henry, Queen’s University, and more. Your English-speaking driver-guide brings over 300 years of local history to life. A 24, 48, or 72-hour pass lets you hop off, explore, and rejoin the figure-eight route every 30 minutes.

“Excellent way to learn about the city's history. Our driver was informative and friendly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Kingston Bike Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $56Top rated

Spend about 2.5 hours cycling Kingston with guide Jeff Stilwell, in a group capped at six. You’ll see the waterfront, Queen’s University, Cooke’s Fine Foods, the Kingston Penitentiary Museum, public art, and Leon’s Centre while hearing stories about Canada’s first capital. Bikes and a bottle of water are provided.

“We had a great time. Jeff really knows his city and its history. He is also a great storyteller which makes it very entertaining. A fun guy to hang out with, we loved our afternoon and would definitely recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Trolley City Tour of Kingston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $34

Ride through Kingston’s old town and downtown aboard a 32-passenger trolley, with an English-speaking guide and GPS-triggered narration in English, French, German, and Chinese. You’ll see City Hall, Fort Henry, Queen’s University, the waterfront area, historic towers, and Kingston Penitentiary before returning to the Visitor Experience Center.

“End of season tour so only a small amount of people on it but cannot recommend highly enough. We’ve been in Canada for 2 weeks but this was one of the best tours. First class guide (wish I’d got his name) just couldn’t have been better - with perfect weather as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Historic Downtown Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 24 reviews · 1 hour · from $23

Walk central Kingston with Arthur Milnes, a local historian and celebrated storyteller. In about an hour, you’ll see Market Square and City Hall while hearing stories about Sir John A. Macdonald, Molly Brant, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, and Arthur’s own remarkable encounters with public figures. The tour is in English and costs $23 per person.

“Arthur is great, lovely guy, knows so much about the area and wider history of Canada, great to get the chance to spend time with people who can share so many interesting stories and facts. Our kids, aged 13 and 10, enjoyed it too!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Waterfront Shipwreck Cruise with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 14 reviews · 1h 30m · from $36

Join a 90-minute English-language cruise through Kingston Harbour with a Great Lakes Museum guide. You’ll see the historic waterfront, hear stories of wrecks such as the Comet and Wolfe Islander II, and examine video and recovered artifacts when available. The boat is accessible to narrow mobility devices, but washrooms require stairs.

“All experience was good, speed of ship was good, not so crowded and excellent service, only recommend to turn volume up for speakers. Great experience”

Check availability →Read our full review