New to Queen’s on Exchange? Here’s Your Guide to a Perfect Kingston Night Out (feat. Exchange 101 Queen’s)
If you’re new to Queen’s on exchange, welcome to one of the most fun (and chaotic) student cities in Canada. Kingston is small, walkable, and packed with enough bars, pubs, cafés, and hidden gems to make every week feel like a new adventure.
We teamed up with Exchange 101 Queen’s, who help hundreds of exchange students settle into life here, to share some of our favourite night-out ideas that make it easy to meet people, make memories, and explore Kingston the way locals do.
Whether you’re trying to build your friend group, make your first night out less intimidating, or just see what a “Kingston night” actually looks like, this one’s for you.
1. Try a Low-Pressure Pub Night First
If clubbing feels like jumping into the deep end, Kingston’s pubs are the perfect warm-up.
Some of our favourites:
The Brass for karaoke
Queens Pub (QP) for trivia
The Mansion for live music
You’ll meet tons of students here, and conversation starts way more naturally when you’re not yelling over a DJ.
2. The Ale House Experience (You Have to Try It Once)
Ale House is basically a Queen’s rite of passage. Loud music, big energy, packed dance floor — and yes, you’ll meet people instantly.
Don’t be shy. Exchange students always get lots of love here. Locals love hearing accents, and everyone is looking to chat.
Tip: Wear sneakers. Your future self will thank you.
3. Go to Themed Nights or Club Mixers
Kingston thrives on themed events.
Look out for:
Trivia nights
Cultural nights
Student club mixers
Karaoke
DJ nights
Themed bar events
These are built for meeting people. You already have a shared activity, which makes introductions natural.
Tip: Check our Instagram stories @outandaboutkingston — we update weekly events so you always know what’s happening.
Closing Thoughts
Meeting people on exchange can feel scary, but Kingston truly makes it easier than you think. The student community is friendly, the nightlife is social, and most students are excited to welcome new faces. Put yourself out there just a little bit, and you’ll build your group faster than you expect.
And if you want tips specifically from exchange students themselves, check out the blog post that Exchange 101 Queen’s wrote for this collab. They share their perspective on how nightlife helps exchange students make friends:
https://songnhinguyen0904.wixsite.com/exchange101-1/post/want-to-make-new-friends-as-an-exchange-student-at-queen-s-here-s-how-kingston-nightlife-makes-i
Until next time,
Chanelle, Sophie, Jenn :)
