Your first 72 hours in Kingston

Welcome to Kingston. You're one of the 440+ exchange students who arrive at Smith every year, and the first three days will shape the whole semester more than you expect. Who you meet, how quickly you get connected and how smoothly the boring admin goes all add up to whether week two feels like home or like a hostel. This is the checklist we wish every inbound student got before landing, laid out hour by hour.

Before you fly

Download offline Google Maps for Kingston. Save your residence or landlord's address and phone number somewhere that doesn't need data. Make sure your study permit or entry documents, letter of acceptance and proof of funds are in your carry-on, not your checked bag. If your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM, buy a short travel eSIM before you leave so you have data the second you land; it's a cheap safety net while you sort out a Canadian plan.

Hours 0–6: getting to Kingston

Most international students fly into Toronto Pearson, and some into Ottawa or Montreal. Kingston is roughly halfway between Toronto and Montreal on Lake Ontario. From Toronto, the usual options are the VIA Rail train from Union Station (about two and a half hours, and a comfortable ride with Wi-Fi) or an intercity coach. Some students take a shuttle from the airport. Book ahead in late August and early January, when every exchange student in Ontario is doing the same thing. Kingston also has a small airport, but connections are limited.

When you arrive at the Kingston train or bus station, a taxi or rideshare to campus is the easiest option with luggage. Once you're settled, the bus is how you'll get around.

Hours 6–24: phone, money and sleep

Get a Canadian number as soon as you can, because Canadian banks, landlords, apps and new friends all expect one. Canada has three big carriers (Rogers, Bell and Telus) and a set of cheaper flanker and discount brands such as Fido, Koodo, Virgin Plus, Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile, Chatr and Freedom Mobile. For a single semester, a prepaid or no-contract plan is almost always the right call. Public Mobile and similar online-only brands tend to be the cheapest for data, while the flanker brands have physical stores downtown if you want help in person. Check our 'SIMs, ranked' post for current picks.

Before your SIM swap, make sure two-factor authentication for your home bank won't lock you out, because some banks send codes to your old number. Many students keep their home SIM in a drawer (or as a second eSIM) for exactly this reason.

Then sleep. Jet lag is real, and you have a big day tomorrow.

Day 2: transit, groceries and campus

Kingston Transit is your main way around the city. Queen's students generally get a transit pass included through their student fees and linked to their student card, so ask at orientation how to activate yours as an exchange student. Several routes connect downtown, campus and the big shopping areas on the west end. Download the Transit app or use Google Maps for live bus times.

Do your first big grocery run. Near campus and downtown you'll find chain supermarkets and a few smaller grocers; discount chains like No Frills and Food Basics are noticeably cheaper than the more premium ones. The Kingston Public Market in Springer Market Square, behind City Hall, is a good spot for local produce and baked goods. Buy staples, cleaning supplies and something you can cook on night one.

Walk campus with your timetable. Find Goodes Hall (home of Smith), the library and the gym, and figure out the route from your residence or apartment. Queen's campus is compact and walkable, right by the lake.

Day 3: people

This is the most important day. Go to every international and exchange orientation event you can find, even the ones that sound awkward. The first few days are when everyone is equally new and equally open to meeting people; by week three, groups have formed. Join the exchange-student group chats and follow the Queen's and Smith exchange accounts. Say yes to the first dinner, the first trip to a downtown pub and the first walk along the waterfront.

Things to do in week one

Take the free ferry to Wolfe Island. It leaves from downtown Kingston and crosses in about 20 minutes. It's a classic first outing with great views back over the city. Walk Princess Street, Kingston's main downtown strip, for cafés and bars. If you arrive in the fall, ask about Homecoming and orientation week traditions; if you arrive in winter, find out when the outdoor rink in Springer Market Square opens.

Prepare for the cold

Every inbound student hears the same advice from people who came before them: buy proper winter boots before November. Kingston winters are cold, windy and snowy, and a good waterproof, insulated pair of boots, a real winter coat, a hat and gloves are not optional. Buying in October beats panic-buying after the first snowstorm, when popular sizes sell out.

Quick checklist

Canadian SIM or eSIM active. Transit access set up through your student card. Groceries and basics bought. Campus route walked. At least three new phone numbers saved. Winter gear on the list. Get those done in 72 hours and you'll land in Kingston ready, which is exactly what our Kingston Inbound Kit is designed to help you do.