Our most recommended things to do in Kingston, Ontario

1000 Islands: 10, 20, or 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour

1. 1000 Islands: 10, 20, or 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour

Experience the 1000 Islands from the air on a breathtaking helicopter tour. Choose your own adventure with three unique tour options ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Depart from Gananoque Heliport, located within a 20-minute drive east of Kingston via Highway 401 in beautiful Gananoque, Ontario.  Check in at the front desk then relax in the lounge before your pre-flight briefing. Feel the thrill as you rise above lush greenery, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs, admiring the sights from your guaranteed window seat.  Wear audio headsets complete with microphones for easy communication. Enjoy pilot-narrated commentary in English or select one of the recorded multilingual audio tours. The duration depends on your selected option. Choose the 10-minute tour for a taste of the 1000 Islands, including the town of Gananoque, the Admiralty Islands, Navy Islands, and the Lake Fleet Islands. Explore further on an Ontario Signature Experience: a 20-minute tour that includes both the U.S. and Canadian spans of the Ivy Lea Bridge, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island.  The most popular option is a Canadian Signature Experience: an extended 30-minute ‘Two Castle’ tour that sends you flying over sunken shipwrecks and nation-spanning bridges, as well as Boldt and Singer Castles.

Kingston: Haunted Night Walking Tour

2. Kingston: Haunted Night Walking Tour

Experience Kingston like never before. Go on an adventure that takes you through Kingston’s old Sydenham Ward and hear some of the most spine-tingling ghost stories from the earliest days of Kingston. This night tour departs from the ticket office on Ontario Street. Your cloaked tour guide will lead you from the heart of the historic city to the oldest residential area. Listen to chilling tales and see a darker side to Kingston's history. Immerse yourself in haunted hotels, hidden burial grounds, grave robbings, hangings at the old courthouse, and Kingston's haunted bed and breakfasts. You will never look at the city in the same way again. After being led through the streets of Downtown Kingston, your guide can walk you back to the start location, or leave you to enjoy a sleepless night in the city.

Kingston: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour

3. Kingston: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour

Enjoy the beauty of Kingston on a self-guided scavenger hunt walking tour. See the famous City Hall, City Park, several museums, the waterfront, several parks, and monuments, while learning about the history, and some fun facts. Solve challenges as you go. Solve challenges at each step along your way, to discover your next destination. Soak in the warm and vibrant atmosphere while strolling through the streets of the historical town. During the tour, feel free to stop at any part of the tour to spend some more time seeing the sights. Experience a fun adventure with family or friends.

Kingston: Christmas Light Trolley Tour

4. Kingston: Christmas Light Trolley Tour

Experience the beauty of the holiday season in Downtown Kingston with the whole family. Hop aboard a festive heated trolley for a ride around town. Gaze at heavily-decorated homes and lit-up buildings as you snuggle up on the bench-style seats. Look for the stylish red trolley at Crawford Wharf and hop on for a journey full of Christmas spirit. Bring the little ones along on this magical experience through the winter landscape of Kingston. Sing along to classic holiday songs and keep an eye out for the best decorations in town. Capture lovely selfies as you ride and make sure to snap a photo next to the trolley before or after your tour. Jump right into the holiday season with this heartwarming tradition to share with loved ones.

Thousand Islands: Helicopter Tour with Cider Mill and Lunch

5. Thousand Islands: Helicopter Tour with Cider Mill and Lunch

There’s no better way to experience Thousand Islands than the sky. Head to the heliport in Gananoque and hop onboard your helicopter for your 30 minutes aerial adventure.  Soar through the skies and soak up panoramic views of the many islands below. From the helicopter, see famous landmarks including Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaires Row, Thousand Islands International Bridge, and more. Back on land, visit BUSL Cider, the region’s newest cider mill. Enjoy a guided tour of the mill and learn how cider is produced while tasting a selection of ciders. Wander through the mill’s sprawling orchards, and stop at a nearby bakery. End the experience with a light lunch, and sample the region’s world-famous Thousand Islands Dressing.

Add dates

Things to do in
Kingston, Ontario

Kingston, Ontario

Go beyond Kingston, Ontario

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about Kingston, Ontario

What top attractions are a must-see in Kingston, Ontario?

The must-see attractions in Kingston, Ontario are:

What are the best tours to do in Kingston, Ontario with kids?

Other Sightseeing Options in Kingston, Ontario

Want to discover all there is to do in Kingston, Ontario? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Kingston, Ontario

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 604 reviews

Was a delightful way to spend the evening and learn some history of the downtown area. The host was well informed and told some great stories!

This was a lot of fun. Some of the stories were really creepy but more than that it was a great way to see the area.

We totally enjoyed our experience of The Tour very informative. Loved it will definitely be back for another tour

This was both fun and informative, we all learned a lot and had fun scaring eachother with the stories later.

Exceptional trip over the StLaurence on a beautiful day.