Kingston Inbound Kit
New to Kingston and Canada? SIM, bus route and friends by week one.
SIM
Canadian prepaid plans, compared.
- ●Public Mobile: cheapest data
- ●Fido / Koodo prepaid
- ●eSIM for arrival day
Transit
Kingston Transit routes to campus.
- ●Express routes to Queen's
- ●Transit access via your student card
- ●YGK airport / train station → downtown
Budget
Rent and groceries near campus.
- ●Shared rooms in the student ghetto
- ●Groceries: No Frills, Metro, Food Basics
Calendar
Highlights.
- ●Homecoming: Oct
- ●Winter skating at Springer Market Square
- ●Reading week: Feb
Hangouts
Where students actually go.
- ●Free ferry to Wolfe Island
- ●Princess Street cafés
- ●Lake Ontario waterfront
Peer voices
“Buy proper winter boots before November.”
Meet other incoming exchange students
Join the incoming-exchange Instagram group: find roommates, hockey buddies and your week-one crew before you land.
Join the group →Kingston exchange FAQ
What should I do in my first week as an exchange student at Queen's?
Get a Canadian prepaid SIM, set up transit with your student card, buy groceries and go to every exchange social. Proper winter boots should be bought before November.
How do I get to Queen's campus by bus in Kingston?
Kingston Transit runs several routes to campus, and Queen's students typically get transit access through their student card.
Is the Wolfe Island ferry really free?
Yes. The ferry from downtown Kingston to Wolfe Island is free and a favourite exchange-student day trip.
Get the inbound week-one checklist
Deadlines, new school guides and Postcards, once a week.