tourism in kingston jamaica

Founded in 1692, Kingston was first a place for the survivors of an earthquake that resulted in the destruction of Port Royal. Before that date, Kingston was an agricultural area, but the survivors of the earthquake established their tent community on the sea front. The town really began to grow after pirates did further destruction and burned Port Royal in 1703. By 1703, Kingston had become the biggest town on the island and a center of trade. It is the largest English-speaking city in Jamaica and the nation’s capital. Central Kingston comprises the historic downtown area and New Kingston, both reached by Norman Manley International Airport.

2) Devon House Devon House is an important national monument and represents the island’s cultural diversity. It receives thousands of visitors every year who come to see its lush 11-acre lawns and learn about Jamaican history. Devon House was constructed in the 19th century for George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire, although some buildings on the property are thought to predate Stiebel’s house. Devon House is a popular place for ice cream lovers too and offers 27 natural flavors of ice cream, including coconut coffee, sour sop, and Devon stout.

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The 16 Best Things to do in Kingston Jamaica For Every Type of Traveler

Planning a trip to Kingston, Jamaica? If you’re wondering what to do – here is a list of 16 things you must add to your itinerary!

When most people plan a trip to Jamaica, their intention is to relax on the beach at an all-inclusive resort, maybe hike Dunns River Falls, and have a cocktail at Rick’s Cafe. I’m here to tell you that even though Kingston, Jamaica may not be as world-renowned as it’s beachside counterparts, it’s got a unique charm of it’s own with plenty of tourist attractions just waiting to be explored. Culture fanatics and those who enjoy experiential travel will love this vibrant Caribbean capital. I had the pleasure of attending the JA Food and Drink Festival and got to visit Kingston for a week, and there was no shortage of fun things to do!

Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean, and Kingston is the largest English-speaking Caribbean city south of the United States. It’s the largest city in Jamaica, made up of two parts: the historic Downtown Kingston, and New Kingston. Located on the south eastern coast of the Jamaica, Kingston is accessible via the Norman Manley International Airport and also by the smaller domestic Tinson Pen Aerodrome airport. Here is a list of 16 of the best things to do in Kingston:

Visit the Bob Marley museum

This is one of the most popular places to visit in Kingston, and an obvious choice for Bob Marley fans. You’ll learn all about the reggae star’s musical accomplishments as well as his activism. Bob was born in St. Ann Parish, but the museum was his personal residence until he passed away in 1981. Visiting the Bob Marley Museum is an especially moving experience if you’re a fan of his music, and you’ll have the opportunity to step into his personal recording studio where his sons still occasionally record today. You’ll also tour his bedroom, kitchen, and backyard.

Address: 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6

I’m a huge Bob Marley fan and loved the experience at the museum. They also have a great cafe!

Hang out at lifeyard jamaica

The Life Yard should be high on your list of places to see in Kingston. No matter what your vibe is, you’ll find something to enjoy. It’s a multicultural eco-village created by a group of young Rastafarians dedicated to effecting positive change in their community. There is beautiful street art to admire and pose in front of if you’re an avid instagrammer , a restaurant serving up vegetarian dishes, a fresh juice bar and educational workshops for the local children. Get in touch with them if you want to schedule a tour with one of their registered tour guides. It is a residential area, so you’ll definitely want to be accompanied by someone in the know.

Coronation Market

This is the place to pick up local souvenirs, crafts, fruits, and vegetables. It’s one of the largest farmer’s markets in Jamaica, and the biggest market in the English-speaking Caribbean. Visiting the Coronation Market may be overwhelming if you aren’t a fan of crowds. Tourists are advised to hire a guide to help them expertly weave through the maze of vendors. Just don’t take unauthorized photos of the stalls or pick up the fruits without purchasing first, as most vendors simply do not appreciate it.

Address: Pechon St, Kingston, Jamaica

The market is full of fresh fruits and vegetables!

Tour the Jamaica Blue Mountains

Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is famous for it’s superior quality, and coffee aficionados will be thrilled to know that not only is Blue Mountain coffee a fraction of the price in Jamaica – it’s also possible to visit the Blue Mountains with a tour guide! Even if you aren’t a coffee drinker, the experience is a spectacular one. It’s quite obvious how this mountain range got it’s name – to the naked eye, the mountains really do look blue.

Spend an afternoon at Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill is a gorgeous hilltop boutique hotel that was once an 18th century coffee estate. Back then, Jamaica was the world’s largest coffee exporter. Today, this lush estate is the perfect Kingston hideaway. The infinity pool is the star of the property and offers 360 views of downtown Kingston and the Blue Mountains. You can spend the afternoon here if you make a reservation at the spa or dine at the restaurant for lunch.

Address : Island Outpost, Crooked River 00000, Jamaica

The infinity pool at Strawberry Hill has a stunning view!

Wander through Hope Botanical garden and zoo

If you want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, then a stroll through Hope Botanical Garden should do the trick. Hope Gardens is home to many indigenous plants of Jamaica, and boasts one of the largest botanical gardens in the Caribbean. Other noteworthy attractions within the gardens include the Coconut Museum, The Amphitheater, Orchid House, and of course the zoo.

231 Old Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica

Hang out with Rastas in the Hills

Dub Club may be a tourist hangout, but it definitely hasn’t lost it’s cool factor. It’s like a reggae house party, and all are welcome. Nestled high above the city on Jack Hill, this iconic bar has a spectacular view of Kingston. It’s the place to be on a Sunday night, and doors open at 8pm. Bring enough cash to pay for entry ($7 US) and drinks. There is a souvenir shop inside as well.

Address: 7b Skyline Drive ,  Kingston,  Jamaica

Go salsa dancing at the Regency Bar and Lounge

Jamaica may be famous for dancehall and reggae, but let me tell you – Jamaicans are great at salsa too! Located in the heart of Kingston adjacent to the Terra Nova Hotel , the Regency Bar & Lounge is where you’ll want to go for salsa dancing on Saturday nights. The dance floor is small and intimate, and dancers of all levels are encouraged to get up and dance. Keep in mind that there is no salsa the first Saturday of the month.

Stroll Emancipation Park

I went to Emancipation Park for a walk on a Tuesday morning, and it was a blissfully experience. I sat quietly on a park bench surrounded by orchids and palm trees, listening to the birds chirp as joggers make their way around the newly paved track. My favorite part about visiting Emancipation Park was the 11-foot monument called Redemption Song. It features a man and a woman, gazing directly up to the sky. It’s a moving representation of the triumphant rise above slavery, and serves as a reminder that “none but ourselves can free our mind.”

Don’t forget to try a Red Stripe! Pictured at Life Yard Kingston

Explore Port Royal

Port Royal is a must-see in Kingston, especially if you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean. Once considered  the wickedest city in the West Indies, this port was a hub for infamous pirates like Blackbeard, Sir Henry Morgan, Anne Bonny and Calico Jack. The city grew wealthy because of these pirates who raided the Spanish ships looking for treasure. The area went through several natural disasters, from fires to hurricanes to a major earthquake 1962 that caused most of the city to sink below sea level.

Eat a patty at tastees

Kingston is the birthplace of the Jamaican Patty – so it’s only fitting that you eat one while you’re in town!  I asked a few locals who makes the best Patty and the resounding answer was Tastee. They also happen to be the creators of the original beef patty. Tastee now has franchises all over Jamaica and abroad. You can even pick up a pack of frozen patties to take home at the airport! Devon House, Juici Patties , and The Brick Oven are also known to serve delicious homemade patties.

Address: 125 Hagley Park Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Have fried fish at Hellshire Beach

Hellshire Beach is located on the south coast of Jamaica, about 20 minutes away from Kingston. It’s a popular local hangout, known for it’s delicious fried fish served with Jamaican side specialties like fried plantains and festival. As if that weren’t filling enough, you’ll also be tempted by local vendors selling raw Jamaican oysters and spicy prawns in a bag.

Address: Cliff Blvd, Hellshire, Jamaica

Try the infamous KFC

Ask any Jamaican, and they will tell you that the KFC in Jamaica is the best one in the world. They have the numbers to prove it: it’s one of the top-selling KFC’s on the planet. I tried it, and while it didn’t totally rock my world, I can see why people say it’s a step above the rest. The fried chicken at KFC Jamaica has a distinct flavor which is created by using a special blend of spices. Get a BBQ Zinger or the Spicy Chicken wings if you really want to order like a local.

Address: there are several in Kingston. Find the one nearest you by visiting KFC Jamaica’s website.

Have Ice Cream at Devon House

No visit to Kingston is complete without a visit to Devon House. This beautiful colonial mansion was owned by George Stiebel, the first black millionaire in Jamaica. The grounds have since extended from a private residence to include a plethora of shops including Devon House I Scream, a world famous ice cream shop with a host of unique and creamy flavors. Get a double scoop if you have trouble deciding which one to order.

Address: 29 Sovereign North, 6,, Barbican Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

© Skkan Media Entertainment courtesy of Jamaica Food and Drink Festival

JA Food and Drink Festival

The Jamaica Food and Drink Festival is an annual celebration that consists of seven culinary events, each offering its own distinct theme and flavors. Jamaica’s most talented chefs converge in the city of Kingston to participate in this extravaganza that entertains foodies from all across the world. This year’s festival takes place October 26 – November 3rd. Make sure you book in advance as the many of the events during the festival tend to sell out fast.

Attend Jamaica’s Carnival

Jamaica has one of the fastest growing carnivals in the Caribbean. This year’s carnival takes places April 25th – April 30th 2019. Locals and tourists are invited to participate in this massive street party filled with colorful feathered costumes. Also known as Bacchanal, Carnival takes place in the center of Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego bay.

Photo courtesy of the Jamaica Tourist Board

Where to stay:

Consider staying in an Airbnb if you want to live like a local. If you’d rather play it safe and book a traditional hotel, then check out The Pegasus . It’s centrally located and within walking distance of Emancipation Park as well as a commercial center and KFC. For more upscale accommodations, check out the Terra Nova Hotel which prides itself on its suites and fine dining.

There you have it folks! Have you ever been to Jamaica? How about Kingston? Comment below!

Pin this for future reference!

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23 comments.

Violet Jackson

May 31, 2022 at 2:12 am

This is an excellent list of things to see and do in Kingston, Jamaica. I’ll know what to do if I ever find myself there for a trip! This has been pinned for future reference.

June 17, 2019 at 3:36 am

Awesome share! Thanks for sharing this superb post!

Ryan K Biddulph

May 11, 2019 at 6:29 pm

What an awesome place. Jamaica has long been on my list. Good note on fruit vendors too; either pay or just move on.

April 28, 2019 at 1:56 am

Now that is quite an amazing list – with culture and history and nature. My pick would be the carnival for it would help me really get into the place with its promised fun. And then, maybe the botanical garden and the coronation market. Loving the entire list .

April 24, 2019 at 2:05 am

Kingston looks like a lot of fun, I haven’t been anywhere in the Caribbean so I would love to go and explore! I am all about food so visiting the local market (good point about not just taking photos without buying anything, I hate that!) would be fab and the fried fish at Hellshire Beach looks amazing!

Tami Wilcox

April 23, 2019 at 9:11 pm

Love your pictures and the post! It’s a great list of things to do in Kingston, but I had to laugh when I first realized where this Kingston was. I’ve been to a Kingston, Washington and a Kingston, Ontario, but I’d forgotten there was a Kingston in Jamaica as well. I want to spend the day at Strawberry Hill — that looks and sounds amazing!

Afro Muslimah

April 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm

I’ll definitely need to stay at least a month in Jamaica because I want to do it all! That list was amazing and literally something for everyone!

Nicole LaBarge

April 23, 2019 at 1:43 pm

I haven’t been to Jamaica yet but this post makes me want to go to Kingston. And to have some Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. I’m all about the coffee.

Suruchi Mittal

April 23, 2019 at 9:29 am

I must say there is plenty to do in Kingston Jamaica. We are coffee addicts, so visiting blue mountains will top our list. My husband is a Bob Marley fan so visiting his museum will top our list. Colorful Jamaican carnival too looks like a must visit.

April 23, 2019 at 4:58 am

That is a good list of things to do in Jamaica. It was not in my list of must visit destinations till I read this. I love their colorful costume. Do you think we can wear them just for a photograph? The local customs are so different and interesting.

April 22, 2019 at 9:34 pm

I never knew Bob Marley has a museum named after him! I’d love to visit. The market sounds so promising too.

April 22, 2019 at 7:29 pm

Good food, good music and great beaches. Sounds like Jamaica has it all on offer! I love the idea of exploring the Life Village. What’s the coffee like?

April 22, 2019 at 4:09 pm

I’m really trying to set some time aside to explore more of the Caribbean and Jamaica is near the top of my list, these recommendations make me want to go even more!!

Elaine Masters

April 22, 2019 at 2:37 pm

I like the variety of experiences and the local touches you’ve included. I’d love to visit the coffee plantation and that resort pool especially. Nice to know too that the popular Dubs hasn’t been trashed by tourists. Gotta get there.

April 22, 2019 at 5:56 am

My husband wants to go to Jamaica! I would love for us to take the trip, I am definitely showing this to him!

Monique Tillman

April 22, 2019 at 5:09 am

I have had clients to ask about Kingston, but I have always known it to be more for business. After attending the latest Jamaican seminar I learned that they are expanding their tourist areas. I will be pinning this post.

April 22, 2019 at 4:47 am

This is a great list of things to do in Kingston, Jamaica! If I ever find myself there for a trip, I’ll know what to do! Pinned this for future reference.

Debra Schroeder

April 21, 2019 at 7:29 pm

We’ve been to Jamaica but never Kingston. Life Yard sounds like a cool place to grab a bite for lunch. That view from the infinity pool…OMG!

April 21, 2019 at 5:56 pm

I’m Jamaican and loved reading this post. You broguht back so many amazing memories, from eating ice-cream at Devon House to going to Hellshire Beach. Great post

Mimi Robinson

April 21, 2019 at 3:02 pm

This is a great list, I’m pinning it to my travel board. I like to do all the tourist stuff.

April 21, 2019 at 2:34 pm

The market and food all look amazing. The fresh market was real in my mind I could smell the fruit as I read. Overall, I’d love to book a trip to Kingston very soon.

April 19, 2019 at 12:59 am

I pinned this. i have been to Jamaica twice but i would love to go again and check some of you items off of this Kingston guide so thanks girlie for this!

Rochelle | Adventures from Elle

April 17, 2019 at 12:04 pm

This is really a lovely compilation of sightseeing the best of Kingston! Only places I’d add are the Victoria Pier at the waterfront, the National Gallery, Institute of Jamaica and the Trench Town Culture Yard. Take care!

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Tucked in between the Blue Mountains and the world’s seventh-largest natural harbor, Kingston simultaneously impresses you with its setting and overwhelms you with its sprawl, noise and hustle. This is the island’s cultural and economic heart, and a place named a Creative City of Music by Unesco in 2015. Like a plate of spicy jerk washed down with a cold Red Stripe beer, a visit to Kingston is essential to taste the rich excitement of modern Jamaica.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

National Gallery of Jamaica

The superlative collection of Jamaican art housed by the National Gallery is the finest on the island and should on no account be missed. As well as…

Bob Marley Museum

The large, creaky, colonial-era wooden house on Hope Rd, where Bob Marley lived and recorded from 1975 until his death in 1981, is the city’s most-visited…

Devon House

This beautiful colonial house was built in 1881 by George Stiebel, the first black millionaire in Jamaica. Antique lovers will enjoy the guided tour,…

An innovative art and permaculture scheme, Life Yard is regenerating an area of downtown Kingston once beset with gang problems. The program is centered…

Liberty Hall

At the end of a tree-lined courtyard, decorated with cheerful mosaics and a mural depicting Marcus Garvey, stands Liberty Hall, the headquarters of Garvey…

William Grant Park, more commonly known as ‘Parade,’ is the bustling heart of Downtown, and originally hosted a fortress erected in 1694 with guns…

Trench Town Culture Yard

Trench Town, which began life as a much-prized housing project erected by the British in the 1930s, is widely credited as the birthplace of ska,…

Tuff Gong Recording Studios

Tuff Gong is one of the Caribbean’s largest and most influential studios. It was Bob Marley's favorite place to record and is now run by his son Ziggy…

Latest stories from Kingston

Jan 29, 2020 • 7 min read

Is all lost when you show up injured for a destination marathon? As Matt Phillips discovers in Jamaica, there's still much to celebrate, savor and run for.

Feb 17, 2015 • 4 min read

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Plunk a visit to Kingston high atop your must-see Jamaica list as the vibrant city offers so much culture and exuberance for the sophisticated and discerning traveler. Kingston is much more than just the capital city of Jamaica, it’s the cultural mecca of the Caribbean! 

Here, you’ll immerse yourself in the iconic home of reggae, Jamaica’s illustrious musical gift to the world. You’ll walk bustling streets lined with modern high-rises blended right in with preserved antique architecture adorned with vivid murals painted by our most talented. You will savor the flavors of tantalizing local eats from the finest restaurants and you’ll enjoy spirited nightlife of every kind from snazzy piano bars to rootsy beach bonfire open mics and lively street dances that once went on till the rise of the morning sun.

It’s the business center of Jamaica, where it’s not unusual to see multi-million dollar deals signed and celebrated with an ice-cold Red Stripe Beer. From the awe-inspiring mountainside that serves as the city’s backdrop to the hum of the lively streets to the gorgeous waterfront and the panoramic seaside towns , Kingston will forever etch its mark in your heart as you explore all that it has to offer . 

Hotels in Kingston Jamaica

In Kingston, you’ll find the full array of accommodations to choose from. Take your pick from luxury hotels, mountainside chic villas, and guesthouses, urban city dwellings, or suburban comforts away from all the buzz. 

One of the newer entrants on the city scene, the R Hotel boasts contemporary art and modern designs throughout the elegant property. With its trendy touches and upscale decor throughout, this spot attracts popular socialites to its District 5 Restaurant for the world-class food and the rooftop pool deck overlooking the city’s business district. 

Recent visitors to the hotel described it as impressive and unforgettable, an amazing way to spend your time in the pulse of the city. The hotel currently offers a buy two nights, get one free promotion . 

If staying in the city isn’t up your alley then you will absolutely love the tranquility and understated charm of Strawberry Hills. Located in the peaceful serenity of Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountains, the source of our world-class coffee, this option is elegance, defined. 

Choose from studio suites, cottages, and villas, each boasting breathtaking views of the mountainside or the Kingston Harbour and the Caribbean Sea. Awake to the gentle sounds of the birds fluttering about singing delightful tunes and the refreshing fresh air wafting in, carrying the pleasant fragrance of the surrounding flora to caress your senses. 

The Spa at Strawberry Hills is tucked away in a private enclave, offering resplendent retreats for your mind and body. Once you’re completely relaxed and glowing in indulgence, you will be pleased to know that the restaurant on property here is well known for its sumptuous menu of delectable meals. 

Relax in the picturesque infinity pool that overlooks the city lights and enjoy the sunset in magnificence. Strawberry Hills also offers a promotion for visitors who can stay three nights for the price of two.   

Kingston Restaurants

You’ll find every type of restaurant in Kingston, from open-air street vendors serving up delicious food prepared before your eyes to the fanciest dining halls offering 5-star menus and 5-star meals. Try some authentic jerk chicken from a roadside pan chicken vendor, some curry goat with rice and peas from a casual eatery or succulent seafood pasta served alongside sparkling champagne in a top-notch restaurant. 

Start by seeking out a cup of our famous brew. It would be a shame to visit the city and not enjoy a true cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee straight from the source. The Cafe Blue’s location in the hills is quaint, serene, and perfect. The drive into the hills takes you out of the humdrum and into nature. Pair your cup of coffee with a slice of Jamaican pastry baked fresh each day or enjoy a homestyle meal at the alfresco dining area etched into the mountainside.

If you can’t make it into the hills, you’ll find Cafe Blue in several popular locations across town. Kingstonians and its visitors enjoy many cafes, delis, sports bars, and fine dining restaurants in all pockets of the town, each offering something a little unique. 

One stop you must make when in the city is to Devon House. This historical site dates back to the 1800s and offers a tour of the mansion that sits at the center of the expansive property. You’ll also find delightful coffee and tea shops, fine dining restaurants, and several casual dining spots for a quick but tasty bite. 

Devon House is also the home to some of the world’s best ice cream and for this reason alone, it attracts visitors from all over the world to sample the indulgent treat in the vibrantly green and lush surroundings. 

• 10 Things To Do In...

The Top Things To See And Do In Kingston, Jamaica

Home to half of Jamaica ’s 2.7 million people, Kingston is a growing metropolis surrounded by mountains in the north and coastline to the south. Like any major city, its neighborhoods vacillate between socio-economic extremes, and while some areas have earned a reputation for violence, Kingston is well worth a visit. While you’re there, you’ll notice that the sometimes tough environment still provides a major source of inspiration to many Jamaica n artists, musicians, writers, and athletes.

Devon house.

Built in 1881, Devon House remains one of Kingston’s greatest landmarks and historic heritage sites. It is a representation of Jamaica ’s rich cultural diversity, with its Georgian Jamaica n architecture , typical of plantation homes built by British colonists at the height of the slave trade. The house is decorated with 19th-century furniture, recreating a view of the past. Tours of both the house and the property are available, on which you’ll learn more about the house’s history and what it represents for Jamaica ns today. On the grounds of the estate, there are many shops, restaurants, and cafes.

National Gallery of Jamaica

The National Gallery of Jamaica is the largest and oldest public art gallery in the English-speaking Caribbean. Started in 1974, it showcases modern, contemporary, and early art from Jamaica , the Caribbean, and other countries in the surrounding regions. With five permanent galleries, you’ll be able to see everything from Pre-Colombian art created by the island’s indigenous communities to some of Jamaica ’s most celebrated artists like Edna Manley and Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds. The gallery also features several temporary exhibitions every year.

Though Jamaica is surrounded by some of the warmest, bluest water in the Caribbean, Jamaica ns don’t make it to the beach as often as you might imagine. Beach days are usually reserved for the weekends, and for some Kingston residents, that means taking the ‘canoe’, or ferry, out to Lime Cay. The small cay is located just off the coast of the mainland, close to Norman Manley International Airport. Hired boats shuttle visitors to and from at either Morgan’s Harbour or Y-Knot . We recommend taking your own food, water, and supplies, as there aren’t any vendors on the cay. With a beautiful white sand beach and calm surrounding water, it’s the perfect escape for anyone looking for a break from city. The bar at Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records | Courtesy of Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records

Bar hopping

Jamaica is one of the rum capitals of the world and Kingston is one of the best places to explore the country’s bar scene. Our list of the top ten bars in the city is a great place to start your night. Get to know a few of the friendly locals for more information on the most current events happening in the city, as special parties tend to be seasonal in Jamaica .

Hiking in the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains loom over the northern areas of Kingston, shading the region from the harsh Caribbean sun. The Blue Mountain National Park is a wonderful escape for anyone hoping to enjoy a bit of wilderness and untouched beauty while visiting Jamaica . Hiking to the peak can take anywhere from four to eight hours depending on where you start and your experience. On clear days, the southern coast of Cuba can be seen from the top. If you’re looking for something less challenging, head to Hollywell National Park for a outdoor picnic.

Spa day at Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill is a hotel and estate located in the hills of the lush Blue Mountain Range. The main house and surrounding cottages are typical of Jamaica n colonial homes with simple, wooden antique furnishings. It is the perfect mountain escape for anyone who hopes they won’t have to compromise luxury for wilderness. Along with it’s luxurious accommodations, the property also has an incredible spa open to anyone looking for some R&R. They provide a wide range of services, but we recommend going for one of their massages. Treat yourself to their coconut hydro-scrub massage – it is pure decadence for body and mind.

Bob Marley Museum

Jamaica ns often say their greatest export is reggae music, and the genre would be nothing without Bob Marley . Seen in many ways as a cultural hero, he remains one of Jamaica ’s most honored and influential people. The museum is located at the musician’s old home. Still owned by his family, it showcases his incredible life from humble beginnings in one of Jamaica ’s poorest communities to worldwide recognition for his contribution to music and society. He is seen by many as a national hero for hoisting Jamaica ‘s culture and people onto the world stage.

Nightlife in Kingston seems never ending, and there is always a party, ‘fete’, or ‘session’ happening. Major parties and events tend to be seasonal, so the best way to find out what’s going on is to talk to a few locals. Perhaps the best time of year to visit Kingston is between February and April, when the celebrations for Carnival are in full swing. There is a party every week where patrons dance, wave and sing to soca , dance hall, and reggae music. The carnival season ends with the island’s biggest party of the year, where people take to the streets to celebrate in some of the most colorful, intricate, and revealing costumes you’ve ever seen.

Attend a sports game

Jamaica ns love sports, especially football, cricket, and track and field. With local athletes dominating internationally in all these disciplines, it’s no wonder some offices are known to close early so their employees can go watch major matches or meets. Any sporting event in Jamaica is going to have the most lively and exciting fans you’ve ever seen – it will be a party no matter who wins. The national football team, called The Reggae Boyz , play home games at the National Stadium, while the national cricket team, The Jamaica Tallawahs , usually play at Sabina Park.

Tour Port Royal

Once known as the “wickedest city in the world,” Port Royal is famed for being the pirate and shipping capital of the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries. Famous plunderers like Captain Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, and Calico Jack all visited the city on numerous occasions, seeking refuge from law enforcement and gathering supplies for upcoming journeys. In 1692, half of the city sank after a devastating earthquake, but the remnants of pirates, Admirals, and battles still remain in the architecture and rusty canons that still keep watch at Fort Charles. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips , compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips .

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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17 of The Best Things to do in Kingston Jamaica

Sep 27, 2019 | Things to Do in Jamaica | 0 comments

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The capital city Kingston gets a bad rap. As a city girl “born and grow,” I hear all the time how much there’s nothing to do here. That is until we start looking. The truth is that there are lots of amazing things to do in Kingston Jamaica and I’m about to list all my favourites for you plus some that are on my to-do list.

Kingston is the cultural mecca of Jamaica. Everything you heard about Jamaica, you can find in Kingston. It’s the birthplace of reggae, where the greats like Alton Ellis, Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, and Dennis Brown finessed their musical skills.

In this small metropolis, you’ll find the rough and rugged streets Junior Gong describes in Welcome to Jamrock only minutes away from poui and poinsettia dotted suburbs with grandeur homes boasting ornamental pools and lavish landscaping inside their decorative electronic gates.

You’ve got to have your smarts about you to enjoy this city, no doubt about it. But if you’re brave enough to step outside and explore, you’ll find lots to enjoy. Ok, that’s a little dramatic. If you’ve been to New York City then Kingston is easy pickings. I’ve lived here all 30+ years of my life and I recommend it to everyone. Now let’s go do see!

In this post:

Tourist Attractions in Kingston Jamaica

Let’s get the obvious things out the way first. These are the attractions in Kingston that locals have probably never been to but every tourist has seen because they’re on every top ten list in every travel magazine. Some of them are worth it so do go see if you’re here, but some of them have better options that locals will share with you (that’s me!)

Bob Marley Museum

You knew it was coming. This is where Bob Marley lived when he made it. It was his home until his death and displays his personal belongings like his grammies and one of his favourite guitars, kitchen items he used, his personal recording studio, stage clothing he wore at some humungous concerts and much more. The tour is fascinating and was definitely worth it but you should definitely also check out the Trench Town Culture Yard and the Tuff Gong tour if you’re a serious Bob Marley or reggae music fan.

Trench Town Culture Yard

I admittedly have not been here yet but it’s definitely on my to-do list. Why? Because Trench Town is one of those neighbourhoods you don’t venture into unless you know someone. But that’s all being changed as the years go by. The community has built up and preserved the spots that young Bob Marley grew up and wrote songs like No Woman No Cry. Now you’ll find the Trench Town Culture Yard , a flourishing recording studio and a whole culturally immersive experience to enjoy. The people who live here are welcoming and very protective of their name as the birthplace of reggae music.

Devon House Tour

I’ve been going to Devon House for ice-cream since I was a wee little child and I’ve still never taken the tour of the house for which it’s named. I tried to remedy that this summer but was heat beat by our afternoon at the National Heroes Park so it’s still sitting pretty on my list. Nevermind not actually taking the tour, Devon House is absolutely lovely.

It’s an oasis in a stony city with lush gardens, beautiful ponds alive with tropical golden fish, delightful epicurean eateries and the best ice-cream in the world. I may be biased but I encourage you to go and judge for yourself. Try the rum ‘n’ raisin, the stout or any of the tropical fruit flavours then tell me you’re not hooked. It’s the best.

Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records

It’s weird to place a sports bar on a list of tourist attractions but if you’re a fan of the man or the sport then you must visit his flagship restaurant. Everything here is an ode to track and field and UB himself. I mean, the door handle is a replica of his shoe for crying out loud. The inside is built to mimic a stadium with stands watching over the race track with of course a random bar in the infield.

The dining area is lined with decor replicating a Kingston street dance with party flyers papering street lights and pepper lights hanging above. Try the Jerk Chicken Spring Rolls, the Red Stripe BBQ wings or my personal fave the Jerk Pork Platter when you go and grab yourself a t-shirt signed by the man himself from the gift shop.

Visit Port Royal Jamaica

Once dubbed “the wickedest city on earth” Port Royal is now a quiet fishing village that was destroyed by a terrible earthquake and accompanying tsunami that killed over 3000 people and left half of the city buried below the sea. It was a pirate’s hub before then and relics of a time long gone live on today. Our coast guard and defense forces use it as a training camp now and you can tour sections of the fort to learn about what was once a flourishing seaside town.

Snap pictures on the canons and inside the giddy house, left leaning after the quake. Then enjoy some of the best seafood you’ve ever had with glorious views of the Caribbean Sea. Go early and catch a boat over to Maiden Cay or Lime Cay and spend the day perfecting your tan on tiny deserted islands just off Kingston’s coast with sparkling white sandy beaches and not much else.

Go to the Beach!

There are a few beaches you can visit around the city of Kingston. One of my favourites is Helshire Beach. Kingstonians have a love-hate relationship with this beach, partly because it’s been eroded a lot and there’s not much beach left to actually swim in and partly because it’s always crowded and loud. I love this beach because it has the best fried fish this side of Jamaica and I love to people watch here. Read my tips on visiting Helshire Beach . Lime Cay and Fort Clarence Beach are also popular beaches in Kingston.

Fun Things to Do in Kingston

Ok so we’ve covered all the touristy things that you should check off your list. Now let me take you into my Kingston. These are the places you hang out when you live here. Wanna live like a Jamaican for a few days? Come roll with me.

Bar Hopping Kingston Nightlife

The nightlife in Kingston is definitely on and popping and in fact, you can find a party happening somewhere every single night of the week. From raunchy street dances that go until way past the crack of dawn to swanky parties inside fancy dance clubs with high-end bottle service to live music reggae sessions in the hills, there’s a party here for you to enjoy.

Want help with a specific itinerary? Start with dinner at your favorite restaurant on Friday then pregame at a sports bar. Most will have DJs on the weekends playing the latest tunes. From here, head to a party spot. This could be a club, a street dance or a specific event happening that weekend. This can be your final stop for the night but for extra excitement, head to a gentleman’s club as your last stop. Get you a Jamaican lap dance.

Go Kart Racing

Here’s another one I have on my to-do list. There are two spots that offer go-kart racing for thrilling weekend excitement, Palisadoes Go Kart Track and Rocket GoKarting Experience. If this is your thing, then have a go at it with your friends or other competitors there.

Try Blue Mountain Coffee at its Source

If you’re a coffee fiend then you must head up the Blue Mountains and reward yourself with a cup of one of the best coffees in the world. You can do this at the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory after their quick 45-minute tour of the facilities, giving you an inside look at coffee processing here in Jamaica, or at a number of coffee shops in the mountains or on the flat around the city.

Visit the National Heroes Park

If you’re into history and getting to know the real culture of where you’re visiting, then a stop at a museum is a must. At the National Heroes Park, monuments have been erected to honour Jamaica’s seven national heroes, some of whom are buried here in the park. One most famous hero buried here is Marcus Garvey, making this visit an essential. Other Jamaican leaders and cultural icons are also laid to rest here and the park is beautiful, an oasis in the surrounding concrete jungle. Try to get here for midday to see the changing of the guards, Jamaican style. A real treat if you’re visiting with kids.

National Gallery of Jamaica

Speaking of museums, the National Gallery of Jamaica is another excellent place to peek into the history and culture of Jamaica. There are roaming exhibitions as well as resident exhibits for you to enjoy here. You’ll get a look into the life of the Tainos, the first inhabitants of Jamaica, the history of our music with instruments used many years ago on display and relics from colonial times long gone. My little one enjoyed this tour immensely.

Emancipation Park

In the centre of the business hub New Kingston, close to where you may be staying if you’re here for business travel is Emancipation Park. It’s a beautiful park with gorgeous gardens, a jogging trail and outdoor gym equipment, an entertainment area where outdoor concerts and movies are occasionally held and it’s right next door to one of my favourite jerk spots making it a great treat to stroll after dinner. One of the entrances to the park is marked by a statue of two slaves baring all. It’s caused much controversy of course and is a revered spot for photographs.

Out in the neighbouring parish of St. Thomas you’ll find the Jamnesia Surf Club close to Bob Marley Beach. Surfing isn’t a popular sport in Jamaica by any stretch but here in St. Thomas the waves get high enough to learn and play.

It’s a great spot to go have fresh vegetarian meals and watch the surfers go at it if you’re not wanting to jump up on a board yourself. The beach here is rocky but gorgeous. The owners of the surf club are also musicians and host amazing reggae jam sessions every month right by the beach against the backdrop of a crackling bonfire.

Boston Bay Beach is another surfing spot in Jamaica.

Romantic Things to Do in Kingston

Lovers aren’t short of hot date spots in Kingston. The best restaurants, romantic sunset views and cute picnic areas can be found in the city providing endless entertainment for young lovers or longstanding pairs.

Dine at the Best Restaurants in Kingston

Date night is made easy in Kingston with so many restaurants to choose from. Pick one each weekend to try. The Courtyard at the Marketplace is a great place to start. Here you’ll find a plethora of restaurants serving up international cuisines in a semi-fine dining setting. My favourite Indian and Sushi spot can be found here as well as popular Chinese and Italian restaurants, a few bistros, delis and open-air eats.

People Watch on the Waterfront

This is one of my favourite things to do whether with my friends, lover, kiddo or by myself. It’s such a relaxing experience to sit on the waterfront and watch the little kids play. I like to head here to watch the sunset especially. There are a few spots here to eat, grab drinks or share an ice-cream cone and on Sundays it really comes alive with reggae music and a lively street vibe.

Head up to Holywell Park

Holywell Park is an awesome time. It’s nestled in the Blue Mountains and offers cabins, campsites and grill pits if you want to come here for a day or to stay over. You’ll enjoy an amazing view of the city on clear days and can hike several paths down into the valley to play in the stream below. There’s a small monkey bar play area for kids or big kids to enjoy and you may find a vendor or two offering fresh coffee berries or raspberries that grow wild in the mountainside. I love outdoorsy dates like these, tucked away in nature with nothing to do but chat, laugh and explore.

Get a Spa Treatment at Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill is a small boutique hotel nestled in the Blue Mountains that offers amazing views, delectable eats and lovely spa treatments to pamper you in nature. If you’re not a spa person then try them for Sunday brunch or a romantic dinner in the hills. You won’t regret it.

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15 Things To Do In Kingston: Complete Guide To Jamaica's Coastal Capital

Kingston is one of the Caribbean's hidden gems. Here's everything to know about visiting the tropical city.

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More Things To Do In Kingston: Complete Guide To Jamaica's Coastal Capital

Although Montego Bay is widely considered Jamaica's crown tourism jewel, Kingston is undoubtedly one of the Caribbean's hidden gems.

Situated on the southeastern coast of the island country, Jamaica's capital city is brimming with adventure. Flanked by the Blue Mountains range, Palisadoes peninsula, and Kingston Harbour— the seventh largest natural harbor in the world —Kingston is a nature lover's dream.

Of course, the vibrant city has some of the most pristine Caribbean coastlines, with its sandy shores and clear, turquoise waters. But Kingston has much more to offer tourists than just beaches . From its botanical gardens and breathtaking waterfalls to its gourmet cuisine and trendy galleries—the city is a melting pot for incredible art, music, culture, and everything in between.

UPDATE: 2023/06/04 13:52 EST BY DYLAN MYERS

A vacation to Kingston is an experience that excites all the senses, from sunbathing at incredible beaches and exploring the thick Jamaican flora to tasting delicious Caribbean cuisine. This complete guide was expanded to include even more things to do in Kingston, like taking a day trip to the gorgeous Lime Cay. The guide was also expanded to include more ways to get around the Jamaican capital, and the best times of the year to visit.

Top Things To Do In Kingston, Jamaica

There are many adventures to be had in Jamaica . From its beautiful mountain range and sandy beaches to its delicious eats and luxury hotels, here is the ultimate travel guide to Kingston.

1 Visit Emancipation Park

Located across from the iconic Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, a stop at this public park is a must. Featuring an evocative sculpture of a Black man and woman looking up at the sky at its center, this public park serves as a symbol of hope and freedom.

• Address: 2636+53W, Oxford Road and, Knutsford Blvd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open Mondays to Thursdays from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm and Fridays to Sundays from 5 am to midnight

2 Stroll Hope Botanical Gardens

Nestled in Kingston's St. Andrew Parish, this 200-acre park has much to explore. Also known as the Royal Botanical Gardens , highlights include the 11-acre Chinese Garden, plant nursery, Sunken Garden, Bandstand Gazebo, Shell Bandstand, Pavilion Garden, and a sweeping Annual Lawn.

• Address: 231 Old Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open daily from 6 am to 6 pm
• Cost: Free (parking is $200 for cars and SUVs)

3 Soak In The Sun On The Beach

Jamaica has some of the best beaches , many of which can be found near the beautiful city of Kingston. For an afternoon of splashing in the sea, head to:

• Fort Clarence Beach
• Hellshire Beach
• Sugarman Beach
• Boardwalk Beach

The beaches are located beyond the city of Portmore.

4 Tour The Bob Marley Museum

Don't worry about a thing, and head to the Bob Marley Museum for an exciting afternoon spent learning about the eponymous popular reggae musician. Explore Bob Marley's home and discover all of his amazing memorabilia .

The site, which was home to the reggae label Tuff Gong, also features a recording studio.

• Address: 6, 56 Hope Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open daily Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 4 pm
• Cost: Tours start at $25 for adults and $12 for children

5 Wander Through The Devon House

A popular wedding venue, the historic Devon House dates back to 1881 and is the former residence of Jamaica's first Black millionaire, George Stiebel.

Fast-forward to today and the heritage site is now designated as a gastronomy center, offering visitors a plethora of dining options, from the Crepe House to Devon House Bakery.

• Address: 26 Hope Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.
• Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 8 pm; Saturday from 8:30 am to 7 pm; and Sunday from 8:30 am to 1 pm
• Cost: Mansion tours are $15 for adults and $13 for children (costs for other attractions vary; check the website for full pricing details )

6 Visit The National Gallery Of Jamaica

Founded in 1974, this fantastic art museum boasts a wide range of early, modern, and contemporary Jamaican art collections. Nestled on the Kingston Waterfront, a promenade that offers amazing views of the harbor, the museum is a must-see attraction for any Kingston vacay.

• Address: BLOCK 3, Kingston Mall, 12 Ocean Blvd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 am to 4:30 pm; Friday from 10 am to 4 pm; and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm
• Cost: $400 for adults; $200 for senior citizens; children ages 0-16 are free

7 Set Sail On A Kingston Harbour Cruise

One of the largest natural harbors in the world, the nearly landlocked Kingston Harbour provides many opportunities for a tropical adventure atop the water.

Set sail on a Friday evening cruise aboard a 69-foot catamaran, departing from the Ribbiz Ocean Lounge in downtown Kingston. Or explore Maiden Cay on the Sunday Beach Day tour, which sets sail from the Grand Port Royal Hotel.

Both all-inclusive cruise options feature yummy eats and a live DJ for maximum fun.

• Address: Loose Cannon Tours, Victoria Pier, Downtown Kingston
• Hours: Check the website for availability
• Cost: Tours start at $48 for the evening tour and $65 for the beach day tour

The pricing noted above is for pre-booked tickets only. Tickets purchased after 7 pm on Thursday or Saturday for the following day's tour will incur an extra $10 fee.

8 Splash In Falling Edge Water Falls

Those on the prowl for the least touristy things to do in Jamaica should look no further than the island's spectacular waterfalls, from the popular Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios to Westmoreland's Mayfield Falls.

But nestled in the Stony Hill neighborhood of St. Andrew Parish is the hidden gem of Falling Edge Water Falls. Visitors must embark on a 10-minute, scenic hike through the green canopies to get to the picturesque waterfall, which cascades from about 40 feet above.

• Address: Bowden Hill Road, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
• Cost: $500 JMD per person (around $3.30 USD)

9 See The City From The Look Out

For spectacular panoramic views of Jamaica's capital city and the harbor beyond, head to the Look Out Point on Red Hills Road. (The nighttime views of the dazzling city lights are equally memorizing.)

• Address: 3525+C42, Red Hills Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Hours: Open 24 hours

10 Hike Jamaica’s Blue Mountains

Located in eastern Jamaica, the 30-mile Blue Mountains range is certainly a sight to see. The highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, stands 7,402 feet high for breathtaking views of the island.

For guidance traversing the green jungle, book with Blue Mountain Tours, which offers hiking, bicycle, and bus tour options.

• Address: Shop 15-16, 121 Main St, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
• Hours and cost: Check the website for availability

The tours offer roundtrip transportation to and from Kingston.

11 Rejuvenate On Strawberry Hill

Hikers venturing into the Blue Mountains don't need to sacrifice luxury. Nestled in the mountains is Strawberry Hills , a luxury resort boasting traditional Jamaican colonial homes overlooking the scenery.

Travelers can stay in the antique cottages or unwind after a day in nature at the property's incredible spa. The spa offers treatments for everyone , from deep-scrub massages to wellness treks and rejuvenating yoga sessions.

• Spa Treatments: massages from $100 per person
• Wellness Treks: from $65 per person for a 3-hour trek
• Yoga Sessions: from $60 per person for one hour

12 Chill At Life Yard Jamaica

The Life Yard initiative is one of the coolest things to do in Kingston. An urban project started by a group of young Rastafarians, Life Yard is a multicultural eco-village seeking to uplift awareness and art in the community.

Travelers can wander through the neighborhood and check out or take photos with the stunning street murals. Later, replenish reserves at a vegetarian restaurant or juice bar. Life Yard also offers many workshops for children.

• Hours: Daily , 10 AM - 5 PM

Life Yard is located in a residential area, so the best way to experience it is to contact them and schedule a tour through their Facebook page .

13 Browse Local Stalls At Coronation Market

The colorful Coronation Market is Jamaica's biggest farmer's market and the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean. This is the best place to find souvenirs in Kingston.

• Hours: Monday - Saturday, 5:30 AM - 7 PM | Closed Sundays
• Address: Pechon St, Kingston

Wandering through the fruit, vegetable, and craft stalls in Coronation Market is a fantastic non-touristy thing to do in Kingston and an excellent way to experience a local's perspective. Hire a guide for navigating the maze of vendors, as the market can sometimes get crowded and overwhelming.

Tourists shouldn't take pictures of the stalls without permission, as the vendors often do not appreciate it.

14 Explore Port Royal

Once known as the wickedest city in the world, Port Royal is a must-visit in Kingston . History buffs will love exploring the site where infamous pirates sought refuge, like Captain Henry Morgan, Calico Jack, and Blackbeard.

No stranger to natural disasters, the Caribbean's pirate capital has suffered from numerous earthquakes, with entire sections of the town sinking. Nevertheless, tourists can still view remnants from pirates, battles, and rusty canons at the historical Fort Charles .

Start the day by touring the fort, and later, follow this independent walking guide to Port Royal .

• Fort Charles Hours: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM
• Price: about $10 (1,500 JMD) per person
• Note: Admission includes a tour guide

15 Take A Day Trip To Lime Cay

Finally, for the gorgeous beaches near Kingston, beachgoers can venture out by boat to Lime Cay for an all-day outing spent on the tiny island.

Only fifteen minutes by boat from Port Royal, Lime Cay is one of the most beautiful beaches in Jamaica, with soft white sand and crystal clear waters ideal for snorkeling. The tiny island is virtually empty throughout the week but explodes with life, food, and music on Sundays when Kingstonians escape their city lives.

The best way to get to Lime Cay is to take a small ferry from Y-Knot in Port Royal . Visit the wooden docks behind the bar to inquire and plan the trip over.

• The price should not exceed $10 per person .

Bring food and water on a journey to Lime Cay since the island offers no facilities.

16 Best Time To Go To Kingston

To avoid the hurricane season, which runs from June to November, visit Kingston in the winter months. The island has warm weather year-round, so the tropical destination will still have fantastic temperatures during this time.

Plus, attraction prices like hotel accommodations shouldn't be as expensive. Keep in mind, there is rainfall throughout the year, so pack accordingly.

• Best Time To Visit Kingston: December - February
• Temperatures: Highs in the lower 80s to lows in the lower 70s

November - December

These are the best months to visit Kingston, the sweet spot between the hurricane season and the heaviest months for tourism. The weather is beautiful, and rates are cheapest in mid-December.

January - March

These months offer gorgeous weather but are also the busiest. Beachgoers flock to Kingston during the winter, especially in March, so travelers should book their accommodations well in advance.

April - June

The spring in Kingston can signify more rain and fog, but several hotels offer deals to visit since tourism is low. The hurricane season technically starts in June.

July - October

The summer into early fall months in Kingston is prime hurricane season. Jamaica typically experiences the worst weather in late August and early September. However, warm-weather travelers will be met with high temperatures and few crowds during the summer.

Hotel and flight rates are at their cheapest, but tourists should come prepared for inclement weather.

It's always wise to purchase travel insurance when traveling to Kingston during the hurricane season.

17 Best Ways To Get Around Kingston

Since the city is not compact and its various attractions are relatively spread out, Kingston is not as walkable as other tourist destinations. Some parts of town may also be unsafe for tourists, so walking is highly discouraged.

Carshare options like Uber and taxis are readily available, making an excellent transportation option for getting around.

By Taxi In Kingston

Taxis are the best way to get around Kingston. Tourists should only take official taxis, recognizable by the acronyms JUTA or JCAL. Many of these are communal route taxis, meaning they only pick up and drop off at specific locations.

Many taxi meters are broken, so travelers should always establish a price before the ride. Tips are typically between 10 and 15%.

By Car In Kingston

The great thing for tourists about renting a car in Kingston is the flexibility and independence to explore the city and the rest of Jamaica. Drivers can find the most reliable car rental companies like Hertz and Budget at the airport. However, travelers renting a car should plan for poor road conditions, sparse road signage, and impulsive drivers.

Travelers from the United States can drive in Jamaica with only their national license for three months before needing an International Permit.

18 Where To Eat In Kingston

There are plenty of options for dining out in Kingston, whether visitors are looking for local fare or international cuisine.

Breakfast In Kingston

Tea Tree Crêperie

• Address: Unit # 2, 80 Lady Musgrave Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Cuisine: French fusion-style fare

Mr. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Address: 17 Holborn Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Cuisine: Continental-style breakfast

Lunch In Kingston

Marianna's Kitchen

• Address: 67 Constant Spring Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Cuisine: Vegan fare made with local ingredients

Fromage Bistro

• Address: 8 Hillcrest Ave, Kingston, Jamaica
• Cuisine: European Jamaican fusion fare

Dinner In Kingston

• Address: Shop 20, 24-28 Barbican Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
• Cuisine: Lebanese and Italian fare

Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records

• Cuisine: Jamaican classics

Drinks In Kingston

CRU Bar & Kitchen

• Address: 71 Lady Musgrave Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Regency Bar & Lounge

• Address: Terra Nova All Suite Hotel Jamaica, 17 Waterloo Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Related: This Is One Of Jamaica’s Safest Cities & It Has Plenty Of Resorts

19 Where To Stay In Kingston

Can't decide where to stay in Kingston? Consider these options at various price points.

Budget-Friendly Accommodations

Eventuality B&B New Kingston

• Address: 4 Pawsey Road, Kingston
• Amenities: Terrace/patio and bar/lounge

Shirley Retreat Hotel

• Address: 7 Maeven Ave, Kingston 10, Kingston 00000
• Amenities: Room service and free parking

Mid-Tier Hotels

Courtyard by Marriott Kingston, Jamaica

• Address: 1 Park Close, Kingston 5
• Amenities: Outdoor pool, restaurant, coffee shop, fitness center, bar/lounge, and free parking

ROK Hotel Kingston Tapestry Collection by Hilton

• Address: 2-4 King Street, Kingston JMAKN02
• Amenities: Outdoor pool, fitness center, and bar/lounge

Upscale Hotels

Terra Nova All Suite Hotel

• Address: 17 Waterloo Road, Kingston KGN 10
• Amenities: Outdoor pool, restaurant, room service, coffee shop, fitness center, bar/lounge, and free parking

AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston, Jamaica

• Address: 38 Lady Musgrave Rd, Kingston
• Amenities: Outdoor pool, restaurant, fitness center, bar/lounge, and coffee shop

Related: Romantic Getaway: Book These 10 Best Resorts In Jamaica For Couples

20 Tips To Know When Visiting Kingston

Tourists looking for tips for visiting Jamaica for the first time have come to the right place.

Unfortunately, Jamaica is known for being one of the most violent countries in the Caribbean and has the highest murder rate of any country . Tourists visiting Kingston should always be vigilant when traveling through the city and its surrounding attractions.

In terms of currency, the country uses the Jamaican dollar, however, U.S. dollars are widely accepted. (1 JMD equates to 0.0066 USD.)

And, since it's a former British colony, people on the Caribbean island do drive on the left side of the road.

Related: A Travel Guide To Jamaica: 11 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip

Kingston Travel Guide: Top Tourist Attractions in Kingston Jamaica + Insider Tips

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (for which I am deeply grateful) at no additional cost to you.

Jamaica’s capital and largest city is Kingston. In the southwest of the island, Kingston is between the world’s 7th largest natural harbor and the Blue Mountains. Bustling and soulful, the city of 662,426 people is a hub of tourism in Jamaica and the Caribbean .

More than 1 million tourists visit Jamaica every year, with almost all of them coming to Kingston. Our Kingston travel guide looks at the city’s top attractions, how to reach them, how to get around, the weather, and the best time to visit. We will also share travel tips for visiting Kingston.

With lush green hills in the north, a natural harbor in the south, and stunning beaches all around, Kingston is sure to delight you. It also has a vibrant party and food scene. Caribbean music, art, food, and natural delights… you will find everything here.

Jamaica is best known for its picturesque beaches and world-famous coffee. Kingston offers many historic sites and cultural experiences. Visit the colonial-era Devon House mansion to see period furnishings. The Botanical Gardens & Zoo is impressive for its native fauna and flora.

There is also the Bob Marley Museum, the former house of the iconic musician. The Blue Mountains, north of Kingston, offer many scenic views, waterfalls, and hiking trails. This is a famous coffee-growing region.

Kingston is also a busy port and the economic heart of Jamaica. Once a small fishing village, it is now an important trading center. Conveniently connected to the world, Kingston is a good starting point to see the other attractions of Jamaica. It’s also the perfect gateway to visit other Caribbean destinations .

UNESCO has termed Kingston a ‘Creative City of Music’ in 2015. Bob Marley, the famous reggae songwriter and singer used to live here.

Kingston – 10 Quick Facts

• Capital of Jamaica and the biggest city
• Population – 662,426
• Area – 190 miles or 480 square kilometers
• Established – 1692
• 7th largest natural harbor in the world
• Most popular language – English
• Kingston is the birthplace of the patty, Jamaica’s famous fast food
• Hosted the 1966 Commonwealth Games
• It is also a busy port and trading city
• Time zone – UTC−5 (EST)

Top Reasons to Visit Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the third capital of Jamaica after Spanish Town and Port Royal. Kingston became the capital city in 1692 after an earthquake devastated Port Royal.

How to Reach Kingston

Most tourists arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport. This is the country’s 2nd busiest airport after the Sangster Montego Bay airport of Montego Bay.

There are more than 150 international flights a week to London–Gatwick, Miami, New York–JFK, Atlanta, Panama City, Orlando, and many other places.

By Road – Many international tourists arrive from Montego Bay by road. Montego Bay on the other side of the island is 181.23 kilometers from Kingston. There are regular government and private bus services connecting the cities and regions. Taxis are also available on hire.

Tip: I would suggest booking a private transfer prior to arrival .

Getting Around in Kingston

There are many ways to travel within Kingston.

Bus – There are now express and air-conditioned buses apart from the traditional unconditioned buses. However, the traditional buses are being phased out gradually.

Taxi – There are 2 types of taxis within the city –Route taxis – They work on set routes only. They will pick up many people during the journey, much like buses. You have to pay for each seat. These taxis are quicker and costlier than buses.

• Route taxis – They work on set routes only. They will pick up many people during the journey, much like buses. You have to pay for each seat. These taxis are quicker and costlier than buses.
• Charter taxis – Conventional taxis. But you have to negotiate the price before taking one.

The official taxis all have a red license plate. There are stands, and you will also be able to hail one down on the road.

Rental cars – You will find many car rental services in Kingston. Your hotel may also be able to arrange for a car.

Top 10 Places to Visit in Kingston: Best Attractions in Kingston, Jamaica

1. Blue Mountains – Just north of Kingston. The country’s longest mountain range. Good for hiking, camping, and outdoor activities.

There are many hiking trails and waterfalls. Head to the Holywell Recreational Park or the Strawberry Hill Resorts for a breathtaking view. Try the famous Jamaican coffee that is grown here.

We suggest taking a tour of the Blue Mountains with coffee tasting included.

2. Devon House – One of Jamaica’s most famous historical sites. It belonged to the first black millionaire in the country. This beautiful Georgian-era mansion is now a museum. See the beautiful façade, artifacts, and furniture from that period of time inside.

3. Port Royal – Presently the home of Fort Charles, it was one of the richest regions in the Caribbean. Listen to the stories of pirates and their colonial past. Sample the seafood.

4. Emancipation Park – A public park in Kingston opened in 2002, a day before Emancipation Day. The 6-acre park has many fountains and artworks. See the 11 Feet Redemption Song sculpture of Bob Marley.

5. National Gallery – A public art museum opened in 1974. It is located in Kingston Mall and exhibits works by various international artists. Montego Bay has another branch of this museum.

6. National Heroes Park –This botanical garden is one of the largest in Kingston. It measures 50 acres. There are numerous monuments, as well as burial sites of cultural leaders, national heroes, and prime ministers.

7. Bob Marley Museum – A museum for the legendary reggae musician. This is also a former home of Marley. There was a failed murder attempt on Marley here in 1976. Take a tour of his home. Learn about his life and music.

8. Mavis Bank Coffee Factory – Some of the best mountain coffee you will find, available in the ‘Jablum’ brand. Drive-up a hill to visit the factory.

9. Hope Botanical Gardens – The Royal Botanical Gardens spread over 200 acres. The garden has many species of trees, flowers, and orchids, and attracts plenty of birds. Don’t miss the Cassia Siamea grove near the entrance. There are many lily ponds. Spot the National Flower of Jamaica – Hibiscus Elatus.

10. Lime Cay – Small island Cay with beautiful beaches only 15 minutes from Port Royal by boat. It gets submerged in high tide. The cay is extremely popular with many locals and tourists visiting it during the weekends. Relax on the beach, swim, snorkel.

Best Time to Visit Kingston, Jamaica

The weather in Kingston is humid almost throughout the year. June, July, and August have the most heat. January, February, and April are comparatively drier.

• The best time to visit Kingston is between March and April. It will be still hot but there will be more sunny days this time of the year. However, the room prices will be higher.
• For lower room rates, try May. It may be around $15 cheaper.
• Other good times are during the Independence week, which is July 29th to August 14th, and during the Christmas week.

May and December are the busiest months in Kingston.

Tips For First Time Kingston Visitors

1. Try the food – Famous Jamaican foods like jerk chicken, ackee & salt fish, and patties are a must-try. Yes, it can be spicy, but you must still have it.

2. Seafood – Make sure that you have only local seafood. Many hotels will prepare seafood that is not local, such as tiger prawns and salmon to please their guests. Imported food won’t be fresh. Locally, you will get grouper, mackerel, shrimp, mahi-mahi, and snapper. Lobster is available between March and July. Try the shacks beside the beach. They are not fancy places but prepare some of the best seafood you will find.

3. Avoid walking too much – Kingston is not a very walking-friendly city. You will find everything spread out. Plus, some areas may not also be safe.

4. The carnival – Remember, the carnival is in the month of April here. Jamaica prefers the celebrations to stand out from elsewhere in the world.

5. Money – The Jamaican dollar is the local currency, but the US dollar is accepted widely. Many places will also accept credit cards. But check with your bank first regarding the foreign currency fees.

6. Driving – Left-side driving. Jamaica was once a British colony.

7. Safety – Stay safe. Keep your possessions close to your body. Don’t travel with your passport or important documents. Only a photocopy. Use a theft-proof backpack or carry it in front. Have someone watch your things at the beach when you have gone for a swim.

8. Use mosquito spray – These little bugs can be a problem, especially after dark. Use a spray.

9. Punctuality – The locals are laid-back people. The popular saying is ‘irie’ and ‘ya mon’, which means ‘everything is ok’. Kingston’s laid-back vibe gives you a vacation spirit, but you will be disappointed if you are expecting punctuality. Restaurants may be slow in taking orders. Tour groups will sometimes depart later. Embrace Jamaica’s slower pace.

We hope that you enjoyed this detailed Kingston Travel Guide, including the best attractions in Kingston, and that you are already planning your own visit to the amazing capital of Jamaica,

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THE 10 BEST Kingston Sights & Historical Landmarks

Kingston landmarks.

• Historic Sites
• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• Churches & Cathedrals
• Arenas & Stadiums
• Architectural Buildings
• Neighborhoods
• Sacred & Religious Sites
• Historic Walking Areas
• Monuments & Statues
• Universities & Schools
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Kids
• Good for Couples
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Honeymoon spot
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Bob Marley Museum

2. Devon House

Recommended Sightseeing Experiences (126)

3. Port Royal

4. Fort Charles

5. Trench Town

6. University Of The West Indies - Mona

7. Touch The Road

8. 41 Fleet Street

9. Sabina Park Cricket Stadium

10. Holy Trinity Cathedral

11. Fort Walker

12. Half Way Tree

13. Fort Morgan

14. The National Stadium

15. fort rupert, 16. swallowfield chapel.

17. The Synagogue

18. pat stanigar's creations in southside, 19. fort carlisle.

20. Fort Nugent

21. holy cross catholic church.

22. Black Ethiopian International Congress

23. trinity moravian, 24. the synagogue, 25. bob marley home tour, what travelers are saying.

• Bob Marley Museum
• Devon House
• Trench Town
• University Of The West Indies - Mona
• Fort Charles

• Learn To Speak Patois
• Travel Guides

What to Visit in Kingston Jamaica?

Welcome to the vibrant heart of Jamaica! Kingston, the capital city, is a treasure trove of attractions and experiences just waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, nature lover, music aficionado, or foodie, Kingston has something to captivate your senses. But with so much to see and do, where should you start? Let us be your guide as we take you on a journey through the top sights and must-visit places in Kingston Jamaica.

From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we’ll show you the best of Kingston, giving you a glimpse into the city’s rich culture, natural beauty, and vibrant music scene. Are you ready to explore this Caribbean gem like never before? Let’s dive in and discover what Kingston has in store for us.

Key Takeaways:

Table of Contents

• Kingston, Jamaica offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors to explore.
• The city is known for its rich culture, natural wonders, music scene, and culinary delights.
• Top sights include cultural landmarks, botanical gardens, historic sites, and exciting festivals.
• Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in Jamaican art, explore the stunning mountains, and experience the rhythm of reggae music.
• Indulge in the flavors of Jamaican cuisine and explore the city’s historic landmarks to truly appreciate its history and heritage.

Explore the Cultural Connoisseur’s Side of Kingston

To truly experience the culture in Kingston Jamaica , start your journey in downtown, the heart of the city. Immerse yourself in the vibrant arts scene by visiting the National Gallery of Jamaica , which showcases an exceptional collection of Jamaican art. Admire the intricate details and captivating stories behind each masterpiece. The gallery provides a unique insight into the rich artistic heritage of the country.

As you venture through the streets, you’ll be greeted by a vibrant tapestry of colorful murals that adorn the walls. Take a moment to appreciate the talent and creativity of the local artists who bring life to these urban canvases.

After indulging in the visual feast, satisfy your taste buds at one of the charming local cafes. Enjoy a cup of aromatic Jamaican coffee as you soak in the relaxed atmosphere and mingle with the friendly locals.

“Kingston Jamaica is a cultural hub that embraces artistic expression in various forms, offering a unique experience for every cultural connoisseur.”

Continue your cultural exploration by visiting the historic Devon House . This architectural gem is renowned for its colonial charm and is home to the famous Devon House Ice Cream. Treat yourself to a scoop of the delicious, homemade ice cream flavors that have delighted visitors for generations. Take a leisurely stroll through the lush gardens and learn about the rich history of this iconic landmark.

For a taste of history, venture to Port Royal , once considered the “wickedest city in the west.” Explore the remnants of this bustling seaport and delve into the intriguing stories of pirates, naval battles, and unimaginable wealth. Visit the historic Fort Charles , a stronghold that stood against various invasions, and explore the Maritime Museum to delve deeper into Port Royal’s maritime heritage.

If you’re looking for a serene beach escape, set sail to Lime Cay . This stunning island, nestled just off the coast of Port Royal , offers pristine white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Bask in the sun, swim in the rejuvenating Caribbean Sea, and immerse yourself in the tranquility of this hidden gem.

Venture off the beaten path in Kingston, Jamaica, and uncover the cultural treasures that await you. From artistic masterpieces and historic landmarks to delightful culinary experiences and serene beach escapes, this vibrant city has it all for the cultural connoisseur in you.

Immerse Yourself in Natural Wonders

Kingston is not just a city; it is also home to breathtaking natural wonders. When you’re ready for a break from the urban hustle, head uptown and discover the beauty of nature in Kingston Jamaica .

Hope Botanical Gardens

One of the must-visit spots is the renowned Hope Botanical Gardens . As you wander through the lush gardens, you’ll be surrounded by vibrant flowers, towering trees, and peaceful ponds. Don’t miss the chance to catch a live reggae music performance at the charming amphitheater. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the harmonious blend of nature and music.

Blue and John Crow Mountains

If you’re an avid hiker or nature enthusiast, the Blue and John Crow Mountains offer an unforgettable adventure. Embark on a trek through this majestic range, where you’ll be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscapes. Keep an eye out for the island’s endemic flora and fauna, as these mountains are home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.

Bath and Cinchona

Just a short drive from Kingston, you’ll find the scenic national botanical gardens of Bath and Cinchona . These natural havens showcase the beauty and diversity of Jamaica’s landscapes. Take a leisurely stroll through the vibrant gardens, breathe in the fragrant aromas, and admire the lush foliage that surrounds you.

Discover the Rhythm of Kingston’s Music Scene

Kingston, Jamaica, is a city that pulsates with the vibrant rhythms of reggae music. As the birthplace of this iconic genre, Kingston offers a music scene like no other. Immerse yourself in the soulful beats and catchy melodies that define Jamaican music culture.

When exploring Kingston’s music scene, be sure to visit the legendary Bob Marley Museum . Located at Bob Marley’s former home and recording studio, this iconic museum pays homage to the life and legacy of the reggae legend. Learn about Bob Marley’s journey and his influence on the global music industry.

“Music is life, and that’s why our hearts have beats.”

In addition to the Bob Marley Museum , there are several other venues in Kingston that showcase the city’s rich musical heritage. Fleet Street and Trench Town are renowned for their local music scenes, where you can experience live performances and feel the energy of reggae music in its purest form.

“The rhythm of music brings people together, transcending all boundaries.”

If you’re in search of a night of dancing and music, pay a visit to Dub Club. This popular venue hosts themed parties that celebrate Jamaican music culture. Dance the night away to the infectious beats of reggae and experience the warmth and vibrancy of Kingston’s music-loving community.

Indulge in Kingston’s Culinary Delights

No visit to Kingston is complete without savoring the flavors of Jamaican cuisine . Start with a visit to Devon House , where you can sample authentic Jamaican dishes and indulge in the famous Devon House ice cream. For a taste of local flavors, head to Market Square , where you can explore the vibrant food stalls and try traditional Jamaican street food. Kingston is also home to a burgeoning food scene with trendy cafes and restaurants offering a diverse range of international cuisines.

Explore the Historic Landmarks

Kingston, the vibrant capital of Jamaica, is steeped in history just waiting to be discovered. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural heritage by visiting some of its iconic historic landmarks.

Begin your journey at the National Heroes Park , a place where you can pay homage to Jamaica’s national heroes. This historic park serves as a tribute to the individuals who played significant roles in shaping the nation’s history.

Continue your exploration by visiting the Kingston Parish Church and the St. Andrew Parish Church . These two magnificent churches stand as architectural marvels, showcasing the city’s colonial past. Admire their stunning facades and step inside to witness their captivating interiors.

No visit to Kingston’s historic landmarks would be complete without a visit to the Ward Theatre . Since its establishment in 1911, this cultural center has been a hub for theatrical performances, showcasing the vibrant arts scene in Kingston. Take in a play or musical event and experience the magic of live performances.

“Exploring the historic landmarks of Kingston is like taking a journey back in time. Each site tells a unique story, weaving together the rich tapestry of Jamaica’s history and culture.”

As you dive into Kingston’s history, make sure to immerse yourself in the stories and significance of these remarkable landmarks. They serve as testament to the city’s past and offer a glimpse into the beauty of its architectural heritage.

Experience Kingston’s Festivals and Events

Kingston is a city that loves to celebrate its vibrant culture through festivals and events. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Jamaica by attending one of the many festivals held in Kingston. From reggae festivals to literary events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“Kingston’s festivals are a wonderful way to experience the true essence of Jamaican culture.”

One of the highlights of Kingston’s festival calendar is the Reggae Sumfest . This internationally renowned reggae festival brings together some of the biggest names in the genre for a week-long celebration of music and culture. Dance to the infectious rhythms of reggae and experience the energy and spirit of Jamaica’s music scene.

“The Reggae Sumfest is a must-attend event for reggae lovers from around the world.”

If you’re a bookworm, don’t miss the Kingston Book Festival . This literary event is a showcase of the city’s literary talents and celebrates the power of storytelling. Immerse yourself in book signings, author readings, and panel discussions, and discover the vibrant literary scene that Kingston has to offer.

“The Kingston Book Festival is a haven for book enthusiasts and a platform for local authors to shine.”

For a lively and colorful experience, join the Jamaica Carnival . This vibrant celebration of music, dance, and Caribbean culture will leave you in awe. Experience the stunning costumes, infectious music, and exuberant energy as you dance through the streets of Kingston. The Jamaica Carnival is a feast for the senses and a true representation of the island’s rich cultural heritage.

“The Jamaica Carnival is a spectacle of color, music, and dance that will captivate your heart.”

Make sure to check the festival calendars when planning your visit to Kingston, as there are always exciting events happening throughout the year. Whether you’re a music lover, a literature enthusiast, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Jamaica, the festivals and events in Kingston will leave a lasting impression.

Kingston, Jamaica’s lively capital, is a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a nature lover, or a music aficionado, Kingston has something to offer everyone.

Begin your journey by exploring the National Gallery of Jamaica , where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant Jamaican art scene. Don’t miss the chance to visit the city’s historic landmarks, such as the Kingston Parish Church and St. Andrew Parish Church , to marvel at their colonial architecture and delve into the city’s fascinating history.

For a taste of the city’s famous music scene, make sure to visit the iconic Bob Marley Museum and experience the rhythmic beats of reggae at venues like Fleet Street and Trench Town . And when it’s time to satisfy your taste buds, indulge in the flavors of authentic Jamaican cuisine at local eateries, such as the renowned Devon House and the bustling Market Square .

With its natural wonders, including the breathtaking Hope Botanical Gardens and the majestic Blue and John Crow Mountains , Kingston is also a haven for nature enthusiasts. So pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable adventure to discover the top sights and must-visit places in Kingston, Jamaica’s vibrant heart.

Join The London Crew: Grab this checklist with 110 things to do in london from a local.

Hues Of Delahaye

20 Best Things to do in Kingston Jamaica [2024]

Are you planning a trip to Kingston Jamaica? You’ve come to the right place! Kingston is often overlooked for the more tourist locations in Jamaica like Montego Bay , Ocho Rios and Negril. However, this vibrant and diverse city has plenty of exciting things to do.

Don’t have time to read the whole article? The epic Bob Marley Museum Tour with a near-perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating.

From cultural activities in Kingston and nightlife to unforgettable adventure experiences, Kingston has something for everyone. Still, trying to figure out where to start?

No worries, as I grow up in Kingston, I’ve put together the ultimate guide for exploring Kingston like a local with a list of the best things to do in Kingston Jamaica.

Best Things To Do in Kingston Jamaica

1. Bob Marley Museum Tour

No visit to Kingston is complete without visiting the Bob Marley Museum , where you will be immersed in the sights and sounds of the great reggae artist. On the museum tour, your knowledgeable guide will take you through this Jamaican Heritage site, which features the Main House, Exhibition Hall, Theatre, Gift Shop and Café along your journey. 

To preserve the authenticity of Bob Marley’s home, all original rooms have been kept just as they were when he occupied them. The museum is one of the best tourist attractions in Kingston Jamaica, with displays including a life-size 3-dimensional hologram from his famous One Love Peace Concert in 1978, his Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and his Recording Studio.

Visitors can also explore Bob’s bedroom filled with his favourite pieces of clothing, an array of Gold and Platinum Records awarded to him from around the world, and costumes worn by his backup singers – known as I-Threes.

This tour is one of the things to do in Kingston Jamaica as you’ll step inside the luxurious, air-conditioned theatre to witness captivating live performances of Bob Marley with modern and sophisticated projection equipment.

Then head to the “One Love Café”, where you can indulge in some of Bob Marley and his family’s beloved recipes and juices. But wait, there is more.

The Bob Marley Gift Shop offers a range of souvenirs for anyone looking to bring home a piece of reggae history, making it one of the best places to visit in Jamaica .

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars (16+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  6 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

2. Explore Devon House Tour with Ice Cream

Another Kingston Jamaica things to do is to visit the historic Devon House. The Devon House Mansion is a beloved tourist attraction, a historical landmark in Kingston , and the legacy of Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel.

This architectural masterpiece stands proudly at the Millionaires Corner between Trafalgar Road and Hope Road.

Built during the late 19th century alongside two other extravagant residences by three affluent Jamaicans, only Devon House has miraculously survived modern development projects that destroyed its neighbouring homes. Stiebel’s magnificently maintained estate remains an everlasting reminder of his accomplishments.

Devon House has been designated a national monument declared in 1990 by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and is one of the top historical sites in Kingston Jamaica to visit.

Although it may come as a surprise, the story of Devon House dates back to the mid-17th century when Britain took control of Jamaica from Spain.

Today, this historical site stands in Kingston and features welcoming ornamental fountains and palm trees on its front lawn.

Guide tours throughout the two-story property allow guests to experience louvred balconies, Venetian crystal chandeliers, and silk wall hangings with reproductions reflecting its era and is one of the best places to visit in Kingston Jamaica.

Nowadays, the house is situated on 11 acres of lush lawns in the heart of the city. The adjoining stables and kitchen have been restored into retail stores, art galleries, and restaurants.

Before you leave, take a moment to soak up the atmosphere in the courtyard – where you can pop by Devon House, I Scream and try a scoop or two of some of the best ice cream in Jamaica.

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars (3+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

3. Bike Tour Of The Blue Mountains

One of the most fun things to do in Kingston Jamaica is to explore the majestic Blue Mountains. Where you can embark on an enriching tour of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains with hotel pick-up from selected hotels in Jamaica.

You begin the guided tour by ascending into this majestic mountainous terrain, one of Kingston’s top attractions.

The Blue Mountains peak is one of the best places to visit in Kingston Jamaica for the epic views of the city and the untouched national park.

Then arrive at the renowned Blue Mountain Coffee Company, one of the must-see places in Kingston Jamaica, to see their roasting process and learn about what makes Blue Mountain Coffee so special.

Afterwards, hop on a bicycle and coast downhill through gorgeous scenery that overlooks Kingston – you won’t want to forget your camera!

After a pit stop for lunch, take a refreshing swim underneath one of the many local waterfalls in Jamaica before returning back to your hotel. In this tour, all transportation and bicycling equipment are included.

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars (77+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  9 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

4. Romantic Things To Do in Kingston Jamaica – Spa Treatment at Strawberry Hill

One of the most romantic things to do in Kingston Jamaica is to visit the luxurious Strawberry Hill for a spa treatment.

You can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life in style at Strawberry Hill , a picturesque mountain retreat nestled amongst Jamaica’s lush Blue Mountain Range.

Enjoy luxurious colonial-style accommodations filled with tranquil antique furnishings as you bask in nature’s beauty.

Or take advantage of their acclaimed spa treatments that offer an array of services, like massage therapy specifically designed to help visitors relax and enjoy or take a dip in their infinity pool with 360-degree views of the Blue Mountains .

5. Kingston City Tour

See Kingston like never before on this half-day heritage excursion . From National Heroes Park’s monuments to its national heroes, prime ministers and cultural icons to the ruins of the University of the West Indies Mona, and other tourist attractions in Kingston Jamaica.

You’ll gain insights into Kingston’s history, food, architecture and modern culture through engaging guided commentary.

But that’s not all get an insider’s look at locals making history when you visit Trench Town with stories from the many musicians who lived there including Bob Marley himself.

Don’t leave without stopping by the outdoor markets for lunch and a creamy ice cream treat at Devon House. This tour is excellent for first-time visitors who want to have a few cultural experiences in Kingston Jamaica.

6. Emancipation Park Jamaica

One of the best things to see in Kingston Jamaica, is Emancipation Park in New Kingston, a spectacular public park that opened on July 31st 2002.

This beautiful 6-acre park features fountains and art exhibits, including Redemption Song: an 11 ft. tall bronze sculpture crafted by Jamaican artist Laura Facey.

It depicts a male and female figure gazing up to signify their resilience after enduring slavery. Bob Marley’s iconic song of the same name inspires this powerful piece of artwork at the main entrance of Emancipation Park.

7. Fun Places To Go in Kingston Jamaica – Coronation Market Kingston

Coronation Market is one of the best places to visit in Kingston Jamaica. The Market, otherwise known as ‘Curry’, is the largest and most lively market in Jamaica . Situated in Downtown Kingston, it reflects an accurate image of everyday life for a typical Jamaican.

Vendors from across the country come here to sell their merchandise at wholesale prices or lower costs; plus, you can’t find fresher goods anywhere else on the island. It is one of the best attractions in Kingston Jamaica.

The energy that fills this space is unmistakable: men pushing carts around bustling stalls. At the same time, vendors attempt to get top dollar for each product they have on display – no wonder Curry has become such an iconic spot amongst locals and tourists and is great for shopping in Kingston Jamaica.

Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days at Coronation Market, with a bustling crowd of locals arriving to buy fresh produce. It’s an excellent display of Jamaica’s unique culture.

Jamaica Travel Tip:  You should bring someone or a local guide who knows their way around the market with you. If you want to take photos of a stall, ask the stall owner first; if they say no, respect their wishes and keep it moving. Also, leave any valuables in your hotel for safekeeping and do not touch or unnecessarily fondle the fresh produce if you will not buy it.

8. Explore Port Royal

One of the top tourist attractions in Kingston Jamaica and once known as the “wickedest city in the world,” Port Royal was a notorious pirate and shipping hub for the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Legendary buccaneers such as Captain Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, and Calico Jack often visited this lawless port to stock up on supplies for their next escapade or evade capture from authorities.

Unfortunately, much of Port Royal sank into the sea after an earthquake destroyed it in 1692. Yet, vestiges of its pirating legacy remain from ancient architecture to corroded cannons at Fort Charles that keep a vigilant watch over what remains today. Visiting Port Royal is amongst the top activities in Kingston Jamaica to do for history buffs.

9. Jamaica National Gallery

As the largest and oldest public art gallery in the English-speaking Caribbean, the National Gallery of Jamaica is a must-see for art lovers.

Since 1974, it has presented modern, contemporary and early works from Jamaica and other countries in surrounding regions, from Pre-Colombian creations by indigenous communities to celebrated Jamaican artists like Edna Manley and Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds.

The National Gallery features five permanent galleries offering an extensive range of artistic displays. And if that’s not enough, each year sees a series of special temporary exhibits too.

Visiting the National Gallery of Jamaica is one of the best landmarks to visit in Kingston Jamaica, if you are interested in Jamaica’s culture and history.

10. Trench Town Culture Yard Museum

One of the top things to do in Kingston Jamaica is visit Trench Town the birthplace of Reggae music, birthing icons such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, The Abyssinians and more.

Consequently, the Jamaican National Heritage Trust deemed Culture Yard a Protected National Heritage Site in 2009 – making it Jamaica’s first Inner City Tourism product.

Four years later, in 2016, this site and attraction were also granted an official Jamaica Tourist Board Licence. Visiting Trench Town is one of the top cultural tours in Kingston Jamaica.

This tour is great for sightseeing in Kingston Jamaica and takes you through Jamaica’s music history, offering 45 minutes or 1 to 2 hours of exploration.

Visit six rooms filled with Wailer’s memorabilia, including Bob Marley’s ‘single bed’ where he and Rita slept. Enjoy drinks at Casbah Bar while you converse with locals in this vibrant community before ending your tour.

Experience firsthand why Trench Town is one of the top places to see in Kingston Jamaica and has become an iconic destination for fans of reggae music worldwide.

⭐️  RATING:  3.5 out of 5 Stars (7+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

11. Rockfort Mineral Bath

Escape the stress of everyday life and journey to Jamaica’s renowned  Rockfort Mineral Baths , is one of the top activities in Kingston Jamaica to do for relaxation.

Boasting slightly saline, warm water that is rumoured to carry therapeutic benefits due to its radioactive properties, it is no wonder this gem was declared a national monument in 1992.

The property even contains the historical remains of an old fort constructed in 1694 as part of island defence after Port Royal’s earthquake in 1692.

Whether you are looking for massage or reflexology treatments at their Stress Management Centre or simply soaking up some peaceful vibes surrounded by tropical beauty – The Rockfort Mineral Bath is one of Jamaica’s top mineral baths and spas to visit .

12. Fort Charles

Developed as Fort Cromwell in the middle-1650s, Fort Charles was one of the few buildings that endured a major earthquake in 1692 which sunk much of Port Royal into the sea.

The fort was reconstructed after this seismic event and kept on being used by British forces. Presently, it holds the renowned Fort Charles Maritime Museum.

13. Lime Cay

Lime Cay is one of the best things to see in Kingston Jamaica. Jamaica is encircled by some of the clearest, bluest sea water in the Caribbean, yet most Jamaican are not big swimmers.

Usually, in Jamaica, beach days are saved for weekends, and Kingston residents take a canoe trip or ferry out to   Lime Cay  if they want an escapade.

Lime Cay is one of the hidden gems in Kingston Jamaica situated close to Norman Manley International Airport this small cay can only be reached through hired boats at   Morgan’s Harbour or Y-Knot  so make sure you carry your own food, dry bag, sunscreen , water and supplies since there aren’t any vendors on it.

The tranquil surrounding water makes it an idyllic spot for anyone longing for some restful downtime while visiting Kingston. If you are looking for things to do in Kingston Jamaica this weekend, then Lime Cay should be at the top of your list.

14. National Heroes Park

One of the free things to do in Kingsto n  Jamaica is visit National Heroes Park. In Kingston, National Heroes Park is the largest green area that spans 50 acres and used to be a horse track.

It now includes monuments honouring numerous historical figures and a war memorial for Jamaicans who passed away during World War I. Additionally, Bob Marley’s iconic 1976 Smile Jamaica concert was held here.

15. Hellshire Beach

Another one of the free things to do in Kingston Jamaica is to visit Hellshire Beach Jamaica. This beach offers locals a pristine white-sand beach in Kingston with a hint of black sand due to the ocean tides.

Situated close to Portmore, this popular public beach allows you to indulge in its signature fried fish while having fun swimming safely. Moreover, weekend visitors from Kingston flock here for some much-needed respite or relaxation.

Be ready, though; when there is an incoming tide from the south side, the waters near shore become murky as it stirs up the sand beneath.

Hellshire Beach is not a touristy beach like the beaches in Ocho Rios , Montego Bay, Negril, Falmouth or Portland ; however, it is still rated as one of the best beaches in Jamaica.

16. Spanish Town (De La Vega)

Embark on a historical journey at one of the most popular places to visit in Kingston Jamaica. Spanish Town (otherwise known as Santiago de la Vega or St. Jago de la Vega) is Jamaica’s capital city of St.

Catherine’s parish, having served as its political and cultural epicentre from 1534 until 1872 for both the Spanish and British.

Today visitors to the most popular attractions in Kingston Jamaica will find numerous monuments and memorials commemorating the Town’s rich past, along with one of the oldest Anglican churches outside of England.

17. Explore Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo

Sitting on 200 acres in St Andrew, Jamaica is the Hope Botanical Gardens – also known as the Royal Botanical Gardens. Visiting Hope Gardens is one of the best things to do in Kingston Jamaica.

This park was originally established by Major Richard Hope in 1655 when Britain took over control of Jamaica from Spain.

As a commander with the British Army, he received his estate for helping to gain command of this area. It was then developed into a sugar plantation complete with a watermill and remains today an important historical landmark in Kingston.

Originally established in 1873 from a part of the estate, these gardens are now renowned for their gorgeous palm grove, stunning cactus garden, beautiful orchid house and tranquil ornamental ponds.

18. Try A Tastees Patty

When you pay a visit to Jamaica, the one fast-food joint that stands out is Tastee Patties. It’s cheap and provides delicious food like chicken/beef patties, fried chicken , and warm coco bread.

Growing up eating it myself – I know firsthand how fulfilling yet flavourful each bite of this iconic Jamaican treat can be.

While other patty places exist, such as Juici Patties, save your time elsewhere -Tastees is simply the best option. Additionally, if you want to share some with family back home or just savour its flavour for yourself in the future, they offer frozen patties that you can take on your journey.

19. Best Things To Do In Kingston Jamaica At Night – Kingston Dub Club

Kingston Dub Club has been the beacon of undiluted roots in music and sound system culture for nearly two decades and is one of the best clubs in Kingston Jamaica. Run by Karlyle’ Gabre Selassie’ Lee – a devoted Rastafarian, this club is truly one-of-a-kind with its immersive evening events high above Kingston on Skyline drive every Sunday night .

The Dub club is one of the best places to go in Kingston at night if you want an authentic Jamaican club experience.

At Kingston Dub Club, it’s said that ‘the only good system is a sound system’, meaning its patrons leave each week feeling invigorated from both the edutainment they experience and the powerful energy of Gabre Selassie’s fantastic Rockers Sound System .

If you find yourself in Kingston, dancing the night away at the Dub Club is one of the top things to do in Kingston, Jamaica at night.

20. Bacchanal, Carnival

Visiting Jamaica during carnival season is one of the best things to do in Kingston Jamaica. If you want an experience like no other, the best time to visit Kingston is from February to April .

During this time, Jamaica Carnival celebration s are at their peak, as there’s a party every week. Revellers from all over dance and sing with soca, reggae or dancehall music.

This carnival season culminates in the island’s biggest event – the National Carnival Road March, where people take to the streets to celebrate carnival in Jamaica.

Best Kingston Jamaica Tours

🎟️ friday evening kingston harbour cruise.

Take part in this once-in-a-lifetime tour and immerse yourself fully in the beauty of Kingston. During the journey, you’ll be dazzled as you gaze upon Jamaica’s capital city illuminated against the night sky while cruising across its 7th largest natural harbour – all accompanied by uplifting tunes spun by a live DJ.

The tour departs from Ribbiz Ocean Lounge on a Friday evening, one of downtown’s most popular restaurants and venues for partying after you’re done with your cruise.

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars (175+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3-4 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

🎟️ Nightlife in Kingston Jamaica Tour

Looking for a perfect night out in Jamaica Kingston? On this Kingston Night Life Tour! The knowledgeable local guides will pick you up and take you for a thrilling 30-45 minute drive around the Kingston area, giving you the unique opportunity to experience Jamaican nightlife.

During the day, many restaurants of various cuisines are available to choose from, including Jamaican, American, Italian, and even Japanese.

After dinner, prepare for an unforgettable evening as your guide takes you to some of the hottest nightclubs/bars – dancing and partying into the early morning hours.

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars (2+ reviews) | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  6 hours |  🎟️  BOOK NOW

Where to stay Kingston Jamaica

If you’re looking for the perfect place to stay in Kingston Jamaica, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a brief overview of the best hotels in Kingston Jamaica .

🏨 Spanish Court Hotel

• ⭐  Rating:  9.2 out of 10 Stars
• 🏆  Known for:  Free buffet breakfast, poolside bar, full-service spa
• 🏨  Check Rates & Availability on Booking.com

Spanish Court Hotel, situated in New Kingston’s vibrant hub – only 450 yards away from the famous Port Royal historical district. Here you can revel in the luxury of this hotel’s spa and fitness centre, or take a dip in the rooftop infinity pool whilst admiring spectacular views.

🏨 Jamaica Pegasus Hotel

• ⭐  Rating:  7.6 out of 10 Stars
• 🏆  Known for:  Swimming pool, banquet hall, spa, staff & services

Situated in the business centre of Kingston, just 1.2 miles from Independence Park Jamaica Pegasus Hotel is a haven for business travellers looking for comfort and convenience. Enjoy some sunlight by the furnished terrace with an outdoor swimming pool.

Each air-conditioned room provides free Wi-Fi, a safety deposit box, flat-screen cable TV, and a complimentary coffee maker or fridge upon request. You can reach Norman Manley International Airport within 25 minutes of driving distance, while National Heroes park only takes 1.9 miles away; Bob Marley Museum is a 5 minutes drive to explore some Jamaican cultural heritage.

🏨 Backpackers Hostel

• ⭐  Rating:  7.4 out of 10 Stars
• 🏆  Known for:  Coffee shop, laundry facilities, front-desk safe

At Backpackers Hostel in Kingston, budget travellers can stay in a tranquil garden oasis and take advantage of the shared lounge. The property provides free private parking and an airport shuttle service for an additional fee.

Every guest room has a computer, while bed linen and towels are included to ensure maximum comfort during your visit. Tinson Pen Aerodrome Airport lies just 5.6 miles away from this Jamaican hostel doors – making it easy to get here or go elsewhere on the island.

What to Do In Kingston Jamaica FAQs

✅ best time to visit kingston jamaica.

For an unforgettable trip to Kingston, the best time to visit Kingston is between December and April/May (for the Jamaica Carnival). This time of year brings a drier climate with milder temperatures. To experience the legendary festivities of Bob Marley Week, come in early February for concerts, exhibitions and more. Avoid June through November, as this is the rainy hurricane season .

✅ Is Kingston Jamaica worth visiting?

Without a doubt, Kingston is an essential destination for any traveller visiting Jamaica. Despite being the capital of Jamaica, it’s often overlooked in favour of tourist hotspots like Montego Bay , Ocho Rios and Negril. But music and history fans should not miss out on this city. With Bob Marley’s former home available to explore and the National Gallery’s impressive array of artworks to appreciate, there are so many unbelievable museums and exhibits in Kingston Jamaica.

✅ What is Kingston Jamaica known for?

Kingston is celebrated for its incomparable cultural attractions, great parks, delicious cuisine and vibrant nightlife. The city’s most beloved tourist destinations include the stately Bob Marley Museum (inhabiting the artist’s former residence), Trench Town — where Marley spent much of his formative years — as well as such attractions as Fort Charles; a 17th-century fortress boasting magnificent sea views.

✅ Is Kingston better than Montego Bay?

No Kingston is better than Montego Bay.  Comparing Kingston and Montego Bay is like comparing apples to oranges. Montego Bay’s sun-kissed beaches make it a great spot for those looking to relax, while Kingston offers something totally different and is the ideal destination for travellers seeking culture and historical education.

What To Do In Kingston Jamaica

To sum up, Kingston, Jamaica has so much to offer! From its vibrant culture and captivating landscapes to the majestic tropical rainforests and waterfalls, you will surely enjoy your visit.

Whether it’s enjoying a delicious local meal or exploring the city sights, hiking in the Blue Mountains National Park, discovering why Kingston is known as the ‘Cultural Capitol of Jamaica’, and soaking up all that beautiful Jamaican sunshine.

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Kingston Travel Guide

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Overwhelming and fascinating in equal measure, Kingston is quite unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. Overhung by the magnificent Blue Mountains to the north and lapped by a huge natural harbour to the south, the city holds as many pockets of opulence as it does zinc-fenced ghettos, and its wide boulevards see top-of-the-range SUVs fighting for space with pushcarts and the odd goat or cow. Nonetheless, in the 1950s, Ian Fleming called Kingston a “tough city”, and that still holds true today. Jamaica’s capital is rough and ready, a little uncompromising, but always exciting – and though its troubled reputation means that few tourists visit (it’s not, perhaps, a place for the faint-hearted), Kingston is infinitely more absorbing than any of the resorts.

East of Kingston

Exploring kingston, fort clarence beach, safety and harassment, spanish town, street dances, theatre and dance, trench town.

With some 700,000 residents (22 percent of the island’s total population), Kingston seethes with life, noise and activity, the glitzy malls of uptown and the faded, rough charm of downtown revealing a side of Jamaica that couldn’t be more different to the north coast. As well as being the seat of government and the island’s administrative centre, Kingston is Jamaica’s cultural and historical heart, the city that spawned Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and countless other reggae stars, and the place where Marcus Garvey first preached his tenets of black empowerment. And, with a plethora of theatres and galleries, it’s one of the best places on the island to fully appreciate the country’s home-grown art, theatre and dance scenes.

If you do decide to visit – and it’s well worth the effort for anyone with even a passing interest in Jamaican culture – you’ll find that not only is it easy to steer clear of trouble, but that there’s none of the persistent harassment that bedevils parts of the north coast. In comparison to Ochi or Negril , the capital feels refreshingly real, with most Kingstonians far more interested in going about their business than trifling with a tourist. That’s not to say that city dwellers are unfriendly; in fact, it’s far easier to strike up a decent conversation here than in more conventional tourist honeypots, where every interaction can seem like a precursor to a sales pitch. The pulsating, live-for-today vitality of the place, combined with the urbane outlook of its citizens, injects a shot of adrenalin that often proves addictive, and the exuberant atmosphere is tempered by a cool elegance and a strong sense of national history. If you follow the herd and avoid the capital, you’ll have missed one of Jamaica’s undoubted highlights.

Brief history

Though the Spanish first settled in Jamaica in 1510, replaced by British colonists in 1655, there was little development in present-day Kingston until 1692. The area held just a small pig-rearing village, glamorously known as Colonel Beeston’s Hog Crawle, and a handful of fishing shacks. All of the action was across the harbour on the island of Port Royal, then Jamaica’s second city (after Spanish Town) and home to most of the country’s leading lights. In 1692, however, a violent earthquake devastated Port Royal; several thousand people died instantly and the rest went scurrying for a more hospitable place to live. The Hog Crawle was the obvious choice – on the mainland but beside the harbour – and the former citizens of Port Royal promptly snapped up two hundred acres of land there.

Within a few months of the earthquake, the plans for the new town had been drawn up. Newborn Kingston was named in honour of William of Orange, king of England from 1689 to 1702, and the town was laid out beside the water to take advantage of the existing sea trade . The road plan mostly followed a grid system (which remains largely intact today) with the big central square of the Parade left open in the heart of town.

Kingston develops

By the early eighteenth century, Kingston had become a major port for the transshipment of English goods and African slaves to the Spanish colonies of South America. Merchants, traders and brokers made rapid fortunes and began to build themselves ostentatious homes, while fresh waves of immigrants piled into the booming city – some from Europe, some from other Caribbean islands, some from other parts of Jamaica, all in search of opportunity.

With its swelling population and rising wealth, the city soon began to challenge for the role of the nation’s capital , though the authorities in Spanish Town – comfortably ensconced in their grand Georgian buildings – proved stubborn in handing over the title to their upstart neighbour. By 1872, when Kingston finally became Jamaica’s capital city, many wealthy families were already moving beyond the original town boundaries to the more genteel areas that today comprise uptown Kingston. Meanwhile, the less affluent huddled downtown and in the shanty towns that began to spring up on the outskirts of old Kingston, particularly west of the city, their ranks swollen by a tide of former slaves hoping to find prosperity beyond the sugar estates.

The twentieth century

Jamaica’s turn-of-the-century boom, engineered by tourism and agriculture, largely bypassed Kingston’s poor and helped to reinforce the divide between uptown and downtown. While the rich got richer and sequestered themselves in the new suburbs uptown, the downtown area continued to deteriorate. Those who could afford to do so continued to move out, leaving behind an increasingly destitute population that proved fertile recruitment ground for the Rastafari movement during the 1920s and 1930s.

There were major riots during the 1930s, with the city feeling the knock-on effects of an islandwide economic crisis sparked by the plunging price of key crops like bananas and sugar on world markets. The riots led to the development of local trade unions and political parties during the 1940s; these organizations spoke for the workers and the dispossessed, but improvements in working conditions and the physical infrastructure were slow in coming. Finally, in the 1960s, the city authorities began to show some interest in reversing the decay. Efforts were made to give the old downtown area a face-lift; redevelopment of the waterfront resulted in a much-needed expansion of the city’s port facility (still a vital part of the city’s commerce today) and a smartening-up of the harbour area with the introduction of shops, offices and even the island’s major art gallery.

A mini- tourist boom was sparked by the new-look Kingston (and by the growing popularity of Jamaican music abroad), with cruise ships arriving to inject a fresh air of hope into the city. Sadly, the optimism proved short-lived. For the people of downtown Kingston, the redevelopment of downtown was only cosmetic. Crime – an inevitable feature in the crowded ghettos – was getting out of control, sponsored by politicians who distributed weapons and patronage to their supporters. At election time (particularly in 1976 and 1980), hundreds of people were killed in bloody campaigns, many of them innocent bystanders. Tourists ran for cover, heading for the new beach resorts on the island’s north coast, and the city sank into a quagmire of unemployment, poverty and crime.

Kingston today

Today, Kingston remains a divided city. The wealthy have moved further and further into the suburbs, coming in to work in the downtown business district or the smart uptown area of New Kingston but rarely venturing downtown after dark; meanwhile, the ghettos remain firmly under the control of gangs, led by infamous characters euphemistically referred to as “area leaders”. Rays of hope are slowly breaking through the tough facade of downtown, with a cautious optimism suggesting that the status quo might be beginning to change.

Top image © Photo Spirit/Shutterstock

Most of Kingston’s hotels and guesthouses are in and around the small uptown district of New Kingston , convenient for sightseeing and close to most of the restaurants, theatres, cinemas and clubs. Only a few of the city’s accommodation options cater specifically to the tourist trade, relying instead on a steady stream of Jamaican and international business visitors, though finding a room here is rarely a problem. Unless otherwise stated, all rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, wi-fi and phone and include breakfast as part of their rates.

If you’re in Kingston between January and April, you can take in Jamaica’s Carnival . Adopted from the Trinidadian event, Carnival is on a smaller scale here and focused more on all-inclusive parties and outdoor street jams, though it does culminate with an early-hours Jouvert (a body-paint-spattered street parade) and a traditional-style costume parade through New Kingston. Though there’s plenty of soca, dancehall is inevitably a big part of Carnival here, and you’ll see lots of DJs and bands (including local stalwarts Byron Lee and the Dragonaires) as well as big stars from Trinidad and the Eastern Caribbean – such as Alison Hinds, Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin. Events are widely publicized on the radio and in the press, and you can also contact the JTB (929 9200) or visit bacchanaljamaica.com .

Flattened by an earthquake in 1907, downtown Kingston has lost most of its grand eighteenth-century architecture, and much of what remains is slowly crumbling into dereliction. Nevertheless, numerous historic buildings can still be found along Rum Lane, Water Lane and King Street, and if you peer into the most unlikely yards you can often find evidence of the intricate structures that used to proliferate here, with their fancy ironwork, marble floors, red-brick facades and wrap-around verandas. In recent years, government tax incentives have been created to encourage redevelopment of the area, although it is alleged that much of downtown has since been bought up by speculators, and the only evident development spawned from these incentives was the building of telecom giant Digicel’s flagship headquarters on the waterfront; their foundation also spent US$1 million restoring the famous Coronation Market to its former glory.

Though many locals still hesitate to walk the downtown streets, you’ll find that exploring on foot is not only the best way to get the full flavour of the area but also feels surprisingly safe . The usual common-sense rules apply, of course, but unless the violence that habitually breaks out in the surrounding ghettos spills over into downtown’s central commercial streets, there’s no reason to expect any problems. It’s not advisable to walk the streets at night in any part of the city; most Kingstonians don’t.

The National Gallery

The pleasantly air-conditioned National Gallery – opened in 1974 – is one of the highlights of a visit to Kingston. The permanent collection here is superb, ranging from delicate woodcarvings to flamboyant religious paintings, while the temporary exhibitions (up to four annually), including the Biennial, showcase the best of contemporary Jamaican art from the new vanguard of Jamaican painters, sculptors and mixed-media artists. Guided tours of the gallery are well worth taking, providing essential background to, and interpretation of, the works on show, and can be tailored to personal tastes.

The permanent collection consists of ten chronological galleries housed on the first floor, representing the Jamaican School, 1922 to the present. Dominating the earlier rooms are works by artists deemed to have been the forerunners of the art movement in Jamaica, including Edna Manley, John Dunkley, Albert Huie and David Pottinger. Later galleries feature the prolific work of Carl Abrahams and show a move towards abstraction which was capped by Colin Garland and David Boxer (a longtime curator of the gallery). Realism returned later with Barrington Watson, Kay Brown and Dawn Scott, whose A Cultural Object is a particularly unique and powerful re-creation of a Kingston ghetto and not to be missed. Look out for colourful, spiritual works by Everald Brown, Karl Parboosingh, Gloria Escoffery and Ralph Campbell. There is also an entire room that houses the Larry Wirth Collection of African-style sculpture and paintings by Revivalist Shepherd Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, as well as a slew of beautiful wood sculptures.

Jamaican art

Although the Tainos left paintings on cave walls and visiting British artists captured the colonial era on canvas, Jamaican art really only came into its own in the twentieth century. The island’s modern art movement was led by Edna Manley (1900–87), an English sculptor who had married prime-minister-to-be Norman Manley and moved to Jamaica in 1921, and whose arresting work has come to be seen as a turning point in Jamaican art. In 1939, she led a group of artists who stormed the annual meeting at the Institute of Jamaica to demand an end to the domination of Anglophile attitudes to art, and the replacement of the colonial portraits that hung in the galleries with works by local artists. Though more symbolic than revolutionary, their gesture did galvanize Jamaican painters and sculptors, and Manley’s classes at the Jamaica School of Art (now the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts), which she co-founded, helped give direction to a new wave of local artists.

There were two distinct artistic styles in the work of this new crop of Jamaican artists. Most studied in England at one time or another and followed a classical European approach. Albert Huie (1920–2010) and Barrington Watson (born 1931) used natural forms and landscapes as reference points, incorporating the lives of black Jamaicans into their work for the first time, while Gloria Escoffery (1923–2002) played with abstract themes, depicting a range of subjects, from quiet pastoral scenes to the traditional Saturday market.

The paintings of the self-taught artists, known as “ intuitives ”, were perhaps more distinctive. The prodigious John Dunkley (1891–1947) made his name by covering every inch of his Kingston barber shop with pictures of trees, vines and flowers; his later paintings (now much sought after) continued his obsession with dark, brooding scenes from nature. Many intuitive artists focused their work around religious imagery. Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds (1911–89), the shepherd (head) of a Revivalist group in Kingston, became the first self-taught Jamaican painter to be fully accepted by local and foreign audiences, and is still seen as the island’s foremost intuitive sculptor and painter. Other artists such as Albert Artwell (born 1942) and Everald Brown (1917–2002) – a priest in the Ethiopian Coptic Church – concentrate on Rasta beliefs.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Jamaican art became more experimental, most noticeably in the surrealism represented by the work of David Boxer (born 1946) and Australian-born Colin Garland (1935–2007). Today, Jamaica’s art scene continues its diversity. At the bottom end, it’s dominated by the huge carving and painting industry that has grown up around mass tourism, and although much of it is relentlessly mediocre, there is some decent art at the craft markets in Kingston and across the north coast, and in Kingston’s clutch of galleries. The establishment of the National Gallery in 1974 gave the art scene an important institutional infrastructure, and the regular exhibits of Jamaican art continue to encourage the development of young painters and sculptors, as witnessed by the proliferation of studios and galleries islandwide. You can also see the best of contemporary Jamaican art during the annual Kingston on the Edge arts festival.

The main route east out of the city, Windward Road follows the coastline out of Kingston, scything through an industrial zone of oil tanks and a cement works that towers over the ruined defensive bastion of Fort Rock, now the Rockfort Mineral Baths . If the scenery looks familiar, you may be recalling the classic scene in the James Bond movie Dr No , in which Bond leaves Norman Manley Airport in a nifty red Sunbeam Alpine. A kilometre or so further on, turning right at the roundabout takes you onto the Palisadoes , a narrow sixteen-kilometre spit of land that leads out past the international airport to the ancient city of Port Royal , from where it’s a short hop to the tiny island of Lime Cay .

Jamaica on film

From Dr No to the Blue Lagoon , with Club Paradise and The Mighty Quinn in between, Hollywood has long used Jamaica as a tropical backdrop against which tales of international adventure and romance are set. Dig a bit deeper, though, and you’ll find a solid tradition of Jamaican film-making. The island’s best-known and best-loved movie is Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come , which tells the story of Ivan (played by Jimmy Cliff) as he strives to make a better life for himself in Kingston. Pulling no punches in its gritty depiction of life in 1970s Jamaica, it offers a unique window into the life of the “sufferer”, and has rightly become a cult classic. Equally realistic but with a dollop of humour, Smile Orange (1974) features Ringo, a head waiter in a resort hotel, played by Carl Bradshaw, who uses all his guile and wit on tourists to overcome the harsh economic realities of contemporary Jamaica. Unsurprisingly, it still has plenty of relevance today, and is well worth seeking out despite the often poor audio quality.

The man who brought Bob Marley to the attention of the world, Jamaican impresario Chris Blackwell, also had a hand in classic Jamaican films. As well as acting as location scout on Dr No in 1962 and releasing the soundtrack of The Harder They Come on his Island label, he established Island Pictures in 1982 with the production of Countryman , a gorgeous tale woven around a scheme operated by corrupt government officials to discredit their opposition through the framing of two innocent American tourists as CIA gunrunners, and with a killer soundtrack to boot. Island were also behind The Lunatic , adapted by Jamaican author Anthony Winkler from his novel. An engaging, achingly funny mixture of burlesque humour, folklore and satirical comment on the sexual tourism prevalent in Jamaica, it stars Paul Campbell as the insane Aloysius. Campbell also starred in both Dancehall Queen (1997) and Third World Cop (1999), which together defined modern Jamaican cinema. The former tracks the fortunes of Marcia (played by Audrey Reid) as she struggles to support her family by way of being crowned dancehall queen; its underlying themes of incest and the exploitation of women generated plenty of controversy in Jamaica, and it still makes for a gripping watch. Third World Cop , meanwhile, takes the stock characters, action sequences and narrative cliché associated with the modern Hollywood action thriller and fleshes them out with distinctively Jamaican motivations and language, with Campbell playing the truly sinister baddie, Capone.

A Jamaican take on the classic gangster movie, Shottas (2002) mines the same vein of violence, albeit much more graphically, with Kymani Marley and DJ Spragga Benz playing two Kingston boys who take their life of crime from Jamaica to the US. Released in 2005, the sweet and delightful One Love represents a departure from the action genre; producer Sheelagh Farrell deliberately avoided focusing on the drugs-and-guns Jamaica, instead choosing to concentrate on the social tensions created when a pastor’s daughter falls controversially in love with a Rasta musician. Other recent films include Ghetta Life from veteran director (of Third World Cop and Dancehall Queen fame) Chris Browne, and Better Mus Come from emerging film-maker Storm Saulter, both of which revisit the theme of bridging the great divide of warring ghettos and political strife through self-empowerment and star-crossed romance.

PORT ROYAL , a short drive from downtown Kingston, once captured the spirit of early colonial adventure. For several decades in the late seventeenth century, Port Royal was a riotous town – the notorious haunt of cut-throats and buccaneers, and condemned by the church as the “the wickedest city in the world”. Little of that past remains, and it’s now a pleasant and hospitable little town, home to the base of the Jamaica Defence Force Coastguard and a small fishing and tourism industry. Most people who visit come for the seafood at famous Glorias , while others use the area as a launch pad for day-trips to nearby Lime Cay, a small sandy spot that offers lovely swimming and snorkelling.

In 1655, when the English sailed into what is now Kingston harbour, they passed a cay known as “cayo de carena”, as it was where the Spanish careened their vessels to clean and caulk them. Having captured Spanish Town, the invaders set about fortifying this point, eventually building five separate forts to defend the inner harbour (the world’s seventh largest) and the town, soon to be called Port Royal, that grew up within. Over the next fifteen years, Port Royal grew through trade and was enriched by the booty of the buccaneers armed with royal commissions. It was recognized that its location at the entrance to the harbour of what became Jamaica’s capital city, Kingston, needed to be strengthened, and several fortifications were built in the tumultuous period between 1655 and 1692, the year of the catastrophic earthquake , which swallowed two-thirds of the landmass. Port Royal never recovered its mercantile prominence, although it remained the western Caribbean headquarters of the Royal Navy for two centuries.

Lime Cay and around

Just fifteen minutes from Port Royal, Lime Cay is a tiny uninhabited island with white sand, blue water and easy snorkelling. It was here that Ivanhoe (“Rhygin”) Martin – the cop-killing gangster and folk hero immortalized in the classic Jamaican movie The Harder They Come – met his demise in 1948. Though you’ll often find the beach deserted on weekdays (bring your own refreshments), it’s a very different story at the weekends, when hordes of Kingstonians descend to display their latest designer swimwear and relax with friends, and music blares from the stalls selling cooked meals and cold beers.

Pirates and buccaneers

To assist with the defence of their new Caribbean colonies, English, French and Dutch governors turned to the buccaneers , who were more than willing to plunder Spain’s towns in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The earliest buccaneers were a ragged assortment of deserters, fugitives and even runaway slaves who banded together on the island of Tortuga on the Atlantic coast of present-day Haiti. They lived by hunting wild pigs and cattle (brought to the island by European settlers), smoking their meat on a wooden frame over a pit known as a boucan (hence the name boucaniers ). When the game became scarce they took to the open sea to prey on shipping, especially Spanish.

As their numbers and their skills increased, the buccaneers became a serious fighting force under resourceful leaders like Henry Morgan , who had arrived with the English army. Morgan’s successful sack of the city of Panama with three thousand men in 1671 coincided with the conclusion of a peace treaty between England and Spain. After a brief incarceration in the Tower of London to appease the Spanish, Morgan returned to Jamaica as Lieutenant Governor with a mandate to eradicate what was now deemed piracy.

Reminders of the era of piracy at Port Royal include Gallows Point at the end of the promontory and, offshore, Rackham’s Cay where “ Calico Jack ” Rackham , after being executed, was squeezed into a cage and hung in the air as a warning to others. His two accomplices, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, escaped punishment by declaring themselves pregnant.

After the sun goes down and the heat lifts, the Kingston area is hard to beat for eating . Particularly uptown – which is where you’ll want to be in the evenings – you’ll find a wider choice of restaurants than anywhere else in Jamaica and an excellent standard of food. Most places offer variations on traditional Jamaican fare, from tiny jerk bars to exquisite local seafood establishments, but there’s also good Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine, as well as a good spread of vegetarian restaurants.

Kingston’s main sights are divided between the area known as “downtown”, which stretches north from the waterfront to the busy traffic junction of Cross Roads, and “uptown”, spreading up into the ritzy suburbs of Jack’s Hill and Cherry Gardens at the base of the mountains with the division lying roughly at Half Way Tree. It’ll take you a couple of days to check out the main sights downtown, and about the same amount of time to catch those uptown. Downtown is the city’s industrial centre, its factories and all-important port providing most of the city’s blue-collar employment; the law firms, stock exchange and the Bank of Jamaica are also prominent features. Uptown is different, and you may be surprised at how attractive and easy-going it feels, as suited businessmen and office workers go about their daily routines. Most of Kingston’s hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping centres are here, and it’s where you’ll spend most of your time.

Finding your way around Kingston is pretty straightforward. Downtown uses a grid system, while uptown is defined by a handful of major roads. You’ll quickly get used to the main landmarks, and as a reliable fallback, the mountains to the northeast and the high-rises of New Kingston serve as good compass references should you lose your way, while locals are invariably helpful with directions.

Portmore and the Hellshire Hills

Southwest of Kingston, off Marcus Garvey Drive, a causeway connects the city to the bland but booming dormitory town of PORTMORE . Home to an estimated 200,000 people (and built to accommodate far fewer, as the recent strain on the sewerage system illustrates), Portmore itself has nothing much of interest save its racecourse and a few shopping malls. But Port Henderson , a brief detour away, has a handful of colonial-era relics and fine views across Kingston harbour. Below Portmore, the road cuts across the eastern fringe of the Hellshire Hills – a vast and scrubby limestone expanse – and down to Hellshire’s white-sand beaches .

Caymanas Park

In its heyday Caymanas Park Racetrack was one of the best racetracks in the Caribbean, with its gorgeous backdrop of the Blue Mountains and Kingston shimmering across the harbour. Now under the ownership of the government, the course and facilities are in decline, showing years of wear and tear without any real indication or inclination from the government of future improvement. Still, it has the potential to be a great day out and shouldn’t be overlooked, if only for the commentary and cursing from racegoers making for a colourful scene, though it’s best visited with a tour guide. You can sit either in the air-conditioned North Stand or, for a lot less, in the Grand Stand or outdoor bleachers, a more raucous affair with plenty of catcalls and shrieks of encouragement from the punters. Race meetings are held most Wednesdays and Saturdays (call ahead to check).

The Hellshire Hills

Covered in low, dense scrub and towering cacti, the arid Hellshire Hills extend for around 160 square kilometres west of Kingston. From Port Henderson, the signposted road to the Hellshire beaches runs under the flanks of the Hellshire Hills, passing a huge scar in the mountainside gouged out to provide marl for the construction of Portmore’s homes. Just before the quarry stands an abandoned high-rise building, formerly the Forum Hotel , built by the government in an unsuccessful attempt to entice tourists to the area. Past here, the road hits the coast again beside the Great Salt Pond . An old Taino fishing spot, the pond is a site of ecological significance that continues to be polluted by excesses from Portmore’s woefully inadequate sewerage system.

Owned by the Urban Development Company (UDC), Fort Clarence beach is often used as a venue for dancehall stageshows and pay parties, but it’s also the preferred choice for Kingstonians seeking a less harassing, slightly more upscale venue to have a beach day (rather than Hellshire Beach). It’s a decent place for a swim, with clean changing rooms and toilets and a bar/restaurant where you can order up delicious fried fish. Busy particularly on the weekends and especially (almost to the point of avoiding) on public holidays. Lifeguards are on duty during opening hours.

Hellshire Beach

Much more atmospheric than its just-across-the-reef counterpart, Hellshire beach has been a day-trip destination for Kingstonians since as far back as anyone can remember. With its maze of zinc shacks, salty fishermen, hustlers, higglers, herds of roaming goats and piping hot white sand, guests come here as much for the sights, sounds and sea as they do for the famous Hellshire fried fish, best eaten with festival and vinegary home-made escovitch sauce, which is utterly delicious. Bring towels to spread on the beach or get there early enough to nab one of the wooden loungers set up under the shady eaves of the area’s multiple fish joints – delightfully ramshackle and wholeheartedly Jamaican affairs which compete to sell the freshest fish, lobster and festival. Hellshire is buzzing at the weekends, with sound systems (particularly on a Sunday) and a party atmosphere. Also present at the weekends are watersports operators touting jet skis and snorkelling equipment, while horses (wearing fetching eye-gear to protect against flying sand grains) parade up and down giving children rides. If parking, be aware of hustlers offering to “watch your car” – in itself not a bad idea although you should never leave any valuables in sight – with the unspoken understanding that when you leave you’ll provide a small tip (at your discretion) for the service.

The pestering of tourists, irritatingly widespread on the north coast, is refreshingly uncommon in Kingston. Nevertheless, Kingston’s crime statistics are undeniably ugly and, as with any big city, there are some places that you should steer clear of. There is serious poverty in the eastern and western residential areas of downtown Kingston – these ghettos are not places for casual sightseeing and, with the exception of visiting the Trench Town Culture Yard for example, there is no reason to venture into them. If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of an attempted robbery, do not, under any circumstances, resist your assailant – hand over whatever they’re asking for, and get away as quickly as possible.

The more central part of downtown , covered in this guide, has its share of impoverished enclaves, and violence occasionally spills over from the surrounding ghettos to the core commercial streets described in this book, but if you use your common sense and don’t flash cash, jewellery or fancy cameras, you’re unlikely to have any problems during the day. However, once the area’s office workers have departed – around 5.30pm – there is little reason to linger.

During the day, the uptown area feels fine, particularly once you’re familiar with the main roads. At night, you’re best off getting a taxi if you’re travelling any distance. If you’re driving late at night, be aware that some local drivers may not stop at traffic lights to prevent potential robberies; whether or not you choose to follow suit, it’s wise to slow down and look each way at junctions even when you have a green light.

As you’d expect, reggae fans are in shopping heaven in Kingston with downtown’s Orange Street having some of the last remaining record shops and pressing plants on the island. Art and crafts also make great souvenirs, with more authentic pieces available here than on the north coast.

Spanish Town , which was called St Jago de la Vega when it was founded by the Spanish in 1534, remained the island’s capital under the English until 1872. It sits nineteen kilometres west of Kingston and these days contains only vestigial traces of its former glory. The town itself lies west of the Rio Cobre, with Burke Road, the main highway from Kingston, running across its southern end, fifteen minutes’ walk from the central square. Once here, the main sights can easily be explored on foot, as the city is still laid out on its original neat grid system. Although it has its volatile hotspots, and attracts few tourists, it’s still worth a half-day visit, preferably however with a tour guide.

When leaving Spanish Town, it’s possible to pass the old Iron Bridge that spans the Rio Cobre on the eastern end of town, just up the road from the Prison Oval on Burke Road. No longer in use for vehicular traffic, the bridge was cast in England by British engineer Thomas Wilson at a cost of £4,000 and erected after the prefabricated parts were shipped to Jamaica in 1802. At 25 metres long and 4.5 metres wide, standing on a cut stone abutment, it was the first of its kind in the western hemipshere and now, because of its state of disrepair is on the UNESCO endangered monuments list.

Held on street corners, in town squares, local rum shops or empty car parks across the island, street dances make up an important part of modern Jamaican culture. Drive anywhere across the island and you are bound to see a brightly decorated sign tacked to a lamp-post or hear a local “ town crier ” (a car with massive speakers attached to its roof) blaring news of a neighbourhood street dance. Raw, earthy and intensely atmospheric, these (typically free) dances attract huge crowds who dress to impress and come to hear a local sound system spin reggae, dancehall, oldies and other popular hits. In Kingston these street dances are immensely popular with dancehall and reggae aficionados who come to hear the island’s best selectors as well as rub shoulders with the big names in the dancehall fraternity – from dancers who come to “bring out” their latest move to Jamaica’s best-known DJs, who might take to the mic for an impromptu performance.

Your security at a street dance is pretty much guaranteed – anyone foolish enough to ruin everyone’s fun by starting trouble or attempting a robbery will inevitably be swiftly dealt with by irate locals. Nonetheless, it’s obviously sensible to keep your wits about you, leave your valuables at home and, if possible, go with a local escort. Similarly, avoid street dances if there’s been recent trouble in any of the areas – just ask around.

Parties come and go, and every town and village in every parish have their own events (both weekly and occasional) but at the time of writing, the main jams in Kingston were: Early Monday at Savannah Plaza (Constant Spring Road); Cadillac Saturday at Limelight (Half Way Tree); Dubwise on Wednesday (no fixed location, check facebook.com/dubwisejamaica ); and Old Hits Sunday (Rae Town). Weddy Wednesdays, staged at Stone Love’s headquarters on Burlington Avenue, is the only regular uptown street dance; the action doesn’t start until the small hours of Wednesday morning, though, and there’s not much point turning up before 1am.

Next to nightlife, theatre is Kingston’s strongest cultural suit. The performance scene is limited but buoyant, with a small core of first-rate writers, directors and actors – including Oliver Samuels and David Heron – producing work of a high standard. Most of the plays are sprinkled with Jamaican patois, but you’ll still get the gist. Comedies (particularly sexual romps and political satire) are popular, and the normally excellent annual pantomime – a musical with a message, totally different from the English variety – is a major event, running from December to April at the Little Theatre . For details of performances, check the Gleaner or Observer newspapers, particularly the Friday entertainment sections. Many of these venues also stage dance performances featuring the acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company or L’Acadco; check the press to see what’s on.

Eulogized in Marley and the Wailers’ Trench Town Rock, No Woman, No Cry and Natty Dread , Trench Town – one of the government social housing communities of West Kingston – has earned the title of the birthplace of popular Jamaican urban culture. This was the first Kingston home of Bob Marley, who earned his nickname – the “Tuff Gong” – on the community’s football fields after his mother relocated to the capital when he was a small boy and moved into a government-built house at 19 Second Street. In Trench Town Bob Marley found a community rich in music, religion, nationalism and sports. Though the area’s “government yards”, built in the colonial 1940s, were conceived as part of a planned community and were seen as desirable places to live when Mother Booker (Marley’s mum) moved there in 1956, the political violence of Jamaica in the 1970s soon took its toll. Trench Town today is as infamous for garrison politics and gang feuds as it is for having spawned some of the biggest names in the rock steady and reggae pantheon, including the Wailers, Joe Higgs, Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, Ernie Ranglin, Dean Fraser and the Abyssinians. Also from here are numerous Jamaican notables, from Labour leader and Garveyite St William Grant to the late Rastafarian elder Mortimer Planno, and famous sports personalities such as cricketer Collie Smith and footballer Carl Brown. Trench Town is also home to two top Premier Club League football teams, Boys Town and Arnette Gardens.

Though Trench Town remains one of Kingston’s poorest areas, the picture isn’t entirely bleak. Over recent decades, enterprising members of this tight-knit community have clubbed together to find ways in which to regenerate their area using their heritage and cultural status for economic development. The first initiative was the establishment, in 1993, of the Trench Town Reading Centre on First Street, a library and resource centre with a mission to arm local people with information rather than weapons. By 1996, the aim had widened, and the Trench Town Development Association was formed to address the pressing issues of sanitation, security, housing, health and employment.

While your safety is assured in and around the Culture Yard (there’s a community-based vested interest in ensuring the success of the project, after all), wider Trench Town itself remains a volatile place.

Kingston’s ghettos

Taking up huge swathes of downtown, Kingston’s ghetto communities are the country’s urban nightmare. Bob Marley sang fondly of growing up in the “government yards in Trench Town”, but the contemporary reality is a huge underclass confined to crowded, makeshift homes enclosed by rusting, graffiti-daubed zinc, their communities bearing suitably conflicted names, from Dunkirk and Jungle to Tel Aviv and Zimbabwe.

In the city’s early years, downtown was a popular residential zone – well laid out and central. Trench Town’s government yards were planned communities that proudly boasted all the modern conveniences and for a time (despite their cramped nature) provided a desirable place to live for Jamaica’s working class. Before long, however, the combination of a high influx of rural job seekers, a soaring rate of unemployment and a lack of housing made downtown a grim place to live. Criminal elements were quick to take advantage of these conditions, recruiting and arming gang members from the ranks of the poor. The crime problem was exacerbated in the 1970s as politicians provided guns and favours for their supporters, asking them to intimidate – at the very least – opponents or drive them out of their “ garrisons ” or constituencies. The “PNP zone” or “JLP enter at your own risk” graffiti that you’ll still see plastered over downtown walls stand testament to the strong political allegiances of the communities, many of which remain divided along political lines.

While political violence still flares up at election times and army-enforced night-time curfews are sometimes in effect for months on end, the people of the ghettos of West Kingston have largely washed their hands of a political class that seems to have done them no long-term favours despite the years of promises. Instead, many now give their allegiance to high-profile “ area leaders ” or “ dons ”, who earn the favour of their communities as much as by staging free “fun days” for local people and doling out school books and cash to the needy as they do by “keeping the peace” through sheer fire-power and their publicly declared truces with rival areas. Over the years, various government-established anti-crime initiatives have led to several high-profile arrests – most notably that of Christopher “Dudus” Coke in 2010, a drug lord and leader of the violent Shower Posse gang which had controlled Western Kingston since the 1980s. But with continued profits from drug trafficking and protection rackets said to be worth millions, the government faces a seemingly insurmountable task of ever truly ridding the ghettos of dons and their gangs. These days it’s money, not party politics, that rules.

If you’re considering a visit to Trench Town, it’s worth keeping an ear out for reports of trouble in the area. Don’t carry too much money with you, and it’s also a good idea to start early, to avoid being here after dark. But you’ll be fine if you come for the night-time concert that’s staged here around the time of Bob Marley’s birthday – and there’s something very special about, in the words of Bob Marley himself, “grooving in Kingston 12”.

For more on the capital’s ghettos, Laurie Gunst’s book Born Fi Dead , David Howard’s Kingston and Orlando Patterson’s powerful novel Children of Sisyphus provide an interesting insiders’ view of life here. For a cinematic perspective, check out Third World Cop , while Perry Henzell’s seminal The Harder They Come , though released in the early 1970s, still has much relevance today.

Trench Town Culture Yard

The Trench Town Culture Yard (TTCY) is set in the government yard where Bob Marley sought refuge after returning from living in the US, and where he was taught to play the guitar by his mentor, community elder Vincent “Tarta” Ford, who himself wrote No Woman, No Cry here. Shaded from the street by a lush canopy of mango-tree leaves, it’s also where Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob formed the Wailers and wrote the Catch a Fire LP. The museum is a work in progress; its galleries have greatly improved, but it’s still awaiting funding grants to complete the museum installations and minor infrastructure. Even so, the overall restoration of the buildings has been successful, the experience and presentation commendable, and it was declared a National Heritage Site by the Government of Jamaica in 2007. It’s also possible to stay here.

The collection

The tour of the museum’s collection begins in one of the property’s restored residential buildings. These well-designed buildings are oriented around the yard’s central open-air courtyard, where residents would have washed clothes, gardened and socialized; the rusting remains of Marley’s powder-blue VW van sit in a corner, while around the back is Jah Bobby’s original, colourful and rather odd statue of Marley with his preferred guitar and football, which formerly graced the front yard of the Hope Road museum. Sensitively refurbished and retaining many original features and fittings, from “Tarta” Ford’s graffitied bedroom walls to the single bed on which Bob and Rita slept, the rooms also hold one of Tarta’s and Marley’s first acoustic guitars and a selection of Adrian Boot’s beautiful photographs of the man himself taken during his time in the yard. Tours end at the Casbah Bar at the front of the property which, together with the shady veranda outside, provides a lovely space to kick back and reflect on the life and work of a man whose music and message has achieved such long-standing and universal appeal.

Tuff Gong Recording Studios

If you’re a Bob Marley devotee, you might want to head to Marcus Garvey Drive, a battered but wide thoroughfare lined with warehouses and factories. The state-of-the-art Tuff Gong Recording Studios , established by Bob Marley, is now one of Kingston’s premier recording studios, as well as one of its biggest CD pressing plants. It’s a commercial venture rather than a tourist sight, but you can tour the facility to see the self-same mixing board used on Wailers’ classics such as Stir It Up, Concrete Jungle and No Woman, No Cry . If the studios are in use, you may not get access to all areas – it’s up to whoever’s recording. While not wildly exciting, it’s a nice stop for Marley disciples, with a gift shop for that essential CD, LP or T-shirt.

The phrase “uptown Kingston” is used as a catch-all for areas of the city north of Cross Roads, including the business and commercial centres of Half Way Tree and New Kingston as well as residential areas like Hope Pastures Mona and Beverly Hills .

The Bob Marley Museum

For reggae fans, the Bob Marley Museum is the whole point of a visit to Kingston and, even if you’re not a serious devotee, it’s well worth an hour of your time – though don’t expect a Disney-type theme-park ambience. Hidden from the street by a red-, gold- and green-painted wall and marked by fluttering Rasta banners, this beautiful colonial-era wooden building was Marley’s Kingston home from 1975 until his death from cancer in 1981, and was designated a National Heritage site in 2006. It’s been kept much as it looked when he lived here, and is a gentle monument to Jamaica’s greatest musical legend. The hour-long tour starts as soon as you pass through the gates (no photography, filming or taping is allowed inside the house), with the guide pointing out photographs of the singer and his family mounted on the walls, a battered jeep formerly owned by Marley, and Pierre Rouzier’s fine sculpture of the man himself. You’re then led around the back of the house to the room where Marley was almost assassinated during the 1976 election campaign. Blown-up newspaper reports from the time cover the walls, with space left for the bullet holes that riddle the brickwork. After the shooting, Marley left Jamaica for a two-year exile in Britain.

Inside, the house is decorated with gold and platinum discs depicting sales of the albums Exodus (1977), Uprising (1980) and Legend (1984), as well as the covers of all of his LPs, a commemoration of Marley’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously presented in 2001, and his Order of Merit from the Jamaican government. Upstairs, there is a re-creation of Wail ‘n’ Soul, Marley’s tiny, shack-like Trench Town record shop, where he once hung out with band members Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, while the walls of another room are entirely covered with yellowing newspaper articles from home and abroad, which make fascinating reading. There’s also a chart of all the cities the Wailers played in worldwide – prominence is given to shows in Africa, particularly the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe in 1980, but the band clearly worked hard, notching up performances in places as far-flung as the Mediterranean party island of Ibiza. You can peek into Marley’s bedroom and kitchen, the latter complete with the blender in which he made his natural juices.

The tour ends behind the house in the air-conditioned movie theatre that once housed Marley’s Tuff Gong recording studio. There’s moving footage of the “One Love” concert held during the bloody election year of 1980, at which Marley brought together rival party leaders Michael Manley and Edward Seaga, and interviews with the great man cut together with appropriate music videos – the return to Africa and Exodus , celebration of “herb” and Easy Skanking .

The National Stadium

The forty-thousand-capacity National Stadium was built to coincide with Jamaica’s independence celebrations in 1962; the first event here was the raising of the new nation’s black, green and gold flag, and the 1966 Commonwealth Games were held here. Known affectionately to local sports fans as “The Office”, the stadium hosts most of Jamaica’s premier sporting events; the facilities for athletics, swimming, netball, basketball and cycling are first-rate, but the centrepiece is the refurbished football pitch and athletics track – home to the national football team, fondly known as the Reggae Boyz, and Jamaica’s track and field superstars – surrounded by towering aisles of bleachers and overlooked by arc lights. Just inside the railings by the car park is a statue of Jamaican athlete Herb McKinley coming off the starting blocks; at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, McKinley became the first man in the world to run in the 200-, 400- and 800-metre races.

Jamaica’s track and field success

Although historically famous for its contribution to West Indies cricket, Jamaica’s outstanding achievements in the area of track and field continue to propel the island nation into the limelight of the sporting world. Its record of achievement, remarkable for such a small country with limited resources, began in 1948 when the island, still a British colony, entered its first Olympics and has included the successes of medallists such as Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, Don Quarrie and Merlene Ottie. In more recent years, team Jamaica, spearheaded by the likes of Usain “Lightning” Bolt and team members Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Nestor Carter, Shelly Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker and Veronica Campbell-Brown, have broken records and created history in both the Beijing (2008) and London (2012) Olympics.

Despite their base in Jamaica, it is rare to see Bolt and others in action on their home turf. A great way to see Jamaica’s rising stars, however, is to catch the annual Inter-Secondary Boys and Girls Championship , otherwise known as Champs ( w trackandfieldja.com). This four-day event (usually held the week before Easter) at the National Stadium sees the very best high-school athletes competing against each other; it is here that university coaches and sporting companies – such as Puma and Adidas – come in search of the sporting stars of the next generation.

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Kingston is making a comeback as culture capital of Jamaica

Bob Marley helped create a musical mecca. Now the city is betting that a vibrant mix of art, food, and heritage will restore its title as a cultural epicenter of the Caribbean.

In the 1960s, Kingston, Jamaica , was a musical mecca, where Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert, and other artists were drawn by the recording studios and record shops lining so-called Beat Street . But political unrest and rampant crime marred the following decades. Now downtown Kingston is forging a comeback as a Caribbean cultural capital.  

“This place is just buzzing,” says Janet Crick, the deputy director of Kingston Creative . The nonprofit is responsible for the colorful concourse covered in murals of Jamaican landscapes and icons that runs from the National Gallery of Jamaica to the museum district. “We’ve done tremendous work in the past six years, and bit by bit we’re stripping off some of the negative images that have become attached to Kingston.”

While the tourist impression of the island is frequently limited to all-inclusive resorts and reggae music, Kingston is where the creative spirit of the island lives. It’s cleaned up its urban core so artists, chefs, and musicians throughout the region can showcase their talents. Here’s what‘s new in Jamaica’s capital city.  

A new hotel signifies rebirth

The centerpiece of downtown’s revival is the ROK Hotel , an acronym for “Rebirth of Kingston” but also a nod to a Scandinavian term for “room and kitchen.” The capital’s lone Hilton Tapestry property stands on the waterfront as an icon of urban resurgence; its restaurant Palate has won multiple awards as best in the nation.

( Visit these cultural hot spots in 2024 .)

“The vision is to bring Kingston back as this epicenter of the Caribbean,” says Marlene Bruckridge, ROK’s director of sales and marketing. “We’re a city of culture, and it’s important that people know Jamaica isn’t just sun and sand.”

As we sip pinot grigio beside the hotel’s rooftop pool, she explains that the government plans to build along the waterfront and that Caribbean cellular giant Digicel has moved its offices a few blocks away.

“Kingston is the only place in Jamaica you can go to where everything is raw,” says Buckridge. “It’s not watered down.”

A changing food culture

Port Royal, Kingston’s historic seaport district, just opened a new cruise terminal, which Donovan White, director of tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board , says has been instrumental in the city’s recent revival. But on this cool night in early November, the ships are a distant afterthought as the Historic Naval Dockyard hosts its annual Jamaica Food and Drink Festival , which showcases Kingston’s booming dining scene.

“The idea of going out to eat was not common,” says festival director Alicia Bogues. “Eating out was a treat, and if you were going out to eat, it was fast food or Chinese food. Now we have complete eateries; you can go to any marketplace, and there’s a whole slew of restaurants.”

( Meet the legendary community that fought for its freedom in Jamaica .)

Chief among those spots is Broken Plate , where chef Damion Stewart takes culinary inspiration from his travels and incorporates Jamaican twists. Simon Levy and Doms Pearson of Roast Specialty Meats are putting similar spins on barbecue, slow smoking meats alongside sweetie peppers, bacon jams, and scotch bonnet rum. At Jamaica Food & Drink Kitchen , guests can take classes from chef Celeste Gordon on incorporating the island’s flavors into global cuisine.

Despite the rise of chef-driven concepts, Bogues insists the city’s Caribbean take on Chinese food is still its distinguishing culinary style, thanks to the island’s sizable Chinese population .  

“Scotch bonnet–infused soy sauce is mandatory at a Chinese restaurant,” she says. “Each restaurant has their take on the popular dishes, but I think they’re always incorporating elements of what we love as Jamaicans: big, bold flavors with heat.”

Patties—golden crescents stuffed with beef, curry chicken, or vegetables—are still a must-try while in the capital, but they’re far from Kingston’s only street food to sample. Pan chicken is the late-night snack of choice, a modern adaptation of jerk chicken cooked over coal in a repurposed oil drum. For something more adventurous, sample chicken foot soup, a rich broth served with veggies like corn, peas, and carrots. Bag Dawg Sausages has recently introduced the aroma of grilled bratwurst and onions to Kingston’s streets.  

Arts renaissance

Enjoy these delicacies while strolling mural-lined Water Lane , a testament to the visual arts’ return to downtown. On the last Sunday of every month, Kingston Creative hosts a free public art walk where musicians and dancers join the artists who made the murals for a daylong cultural showcase. The new event has played a big part in bringing people back to the urban core.

“People were saying, ‘Hey, why don’t we turn some of these areas into art and create interest, so people would want to come and [experience] our culture?’” says Dwayne Little, curatorial assistant at the National Gallery of Jamaica. The gallery is downtown’s artistic centerpiece, a two-story museum carved out of an old department store.  

White says new highways are connecting traditional tourism destinations like Ocho Rios with Kingston, so visitors to the beaches and waterfalls in the north can immerse themselves in Jamaican culture by driving only an hour south.

“There’s so much to do now,” says White. “With our cultural activities, music festivals, and access to the city, Kingston has turned into a metropolis in the Caribbean people want to be a part of.”

Related Topics

• CULTURAL TOURISM
• FOOD TOURISM
• WALKING TOURS
• STREET FOODS

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18 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Jamaica

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Mar 18, 2024 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Karen Hastings spent many happy days exploring Jamaica with her husband and their two children.

Known as the "birthplace of reggae," Jamaica offers tourists a treasure trove of natural attractions and a colorful African vibe. Golden beaches ; lush, green mountains; turquoise seas; coral reefs; rainforests; and rivers are just some of the island's enviable assets.

Nature lovers will find plenty of things to do in Jamaica. You can hike and bird-watch in the jungle, or dive and snorkel along the fringing reefs. Jamaica is also renowned for its many historic plantations, where you can sample tropical fruits and tour the property. You'll also find some of the Caribbean's most luxurious all-inclusive resorts here.

Lively Montego Bay is one of the most popular resort towns. Ocho Rios is the island's major port of call for cruise ships, and Negril is famous for its long and lazy beach lined with clear waters and coconut palms. Ecotourists love peaceful Port Antonio , thanks to its proximity to the spectacular Blue Mountains.

In Kingston , Jamaica's edgy capital, you can tour reggae legend Bob Marley's former home and explore the city's museums and historic sites.

Learn more about the best places to visit with our list of the top attractions in Jamaica.

1. Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios

2. seven mile beach, negril, 3. blue hole, ocho rios, 4. rainforest adventures mystic mountain, ocho rios, 5. rose hall great house, montego bay, 6. doctor's cave beach, montego bay, 7. rafting the martha brae river, 8. negril cliffs, negril, 9. the bob marley museum, kingston, 10. mayfield falls, pennycooke, 11. reach falls, portland, 12. port antonio, 13. black river safari boat tour and ys falls, 14. zipline adventure tours, 15. blue and john crow mountains national park, 16. rio grande river, 17. falmouth, 18. kingston, frequently asked questions, when is the best time to visit jamaica, where is the best place to stay in jamaica.

Dunn's River Falls is one of the top attractions in Ocho Rios . These gently terraced waterfalls tumble over rocks and limestone ledges into the sea.

You can climb the natural tiers to the top of the falls with the aid of a guide and cool off in the refreshing pools at the base. It's a good idea to wear water shoes and clothing that you don't mind getting wet. Also, try to plan your visit around the cruise ship crowds — this is one of Jamaica's most famous waterfalls , and it's a popular place to visit for tourists.

Tours: For a fun full-day outing, try the Dunn's River Falls and Bob Marley's Nine Mile tour. This tour stops by the village of Nine Mile, birthplace of Bob Marley, and then heads over to the Dunn's River Falls for a guided hike up to the falls and a slide or swim in the natural pools. Extend your adventure by adding on an optional Mystic Lagoon night boat ride and dinner. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, and a guide are included.

Alternatively, take a Jamaica Catamaran Cruise to Dunn's River Falls from Ocho Rios or Montego Bay. Snorkel over coral reefs, enjoy an ocean cruise, and relax and play in the water at the falls.

Seven Mile Beach, also known as Negril Beach, is one of Jamaica's most beautiful stretches of white sand and aqua sea. Backed by the famous Negril Cliffs, it's also one of the best beaches in Jamaica and a top place to visit for families.

Although it's actually closer to four miles long, the beach extends from Bloody Bay to Long Bay . Tucked within groves of coconut palms, resorts fringe the shore here, from large all-inclusive resorts to smaller boutique properties.

Water sports abound, and snorkelers will find schools of fish swimming in the clear waters. But be prepared for persistent hawkers prowling the beach. There are restrooms and changing rooms on hand, which is a plus for tourists traveling with children.

High in the rainforest-cloaked mountains outside Ocho Rios, the Blue Hole is a series of picturesque waterholes fed by gushing cascades. It's also called Island Gully Falls or the Irie Blue Hole.

Guides lead you around the area, where you can explore the falls and jump off cliffs into the refreshing pools below. The higher up the falls you climb, the less people you will probably encounter, but negotiating the trail can be tricky. The adventure involves clambering over slippery rocks, so appropriate water shoes are recommended.

Visiting these beautiful falls is one of the most popular things to do in Ocho Rios.

Ready for an adrenaline fix? Head to Rainforest Adventures Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios. Here, you can zoom down the mountain on Bobsled Jamaica , a single-person roller coaster ride through the forest, or glide through the treetops on ziplines.

You can also enjoy panoramic views of the town and sea on the Sky Explorer , a chairlift ascending the mountain.

Other attractions here include guided nature walks, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, a ropes course, rides, an infinity pool and waterslide, and a climbing wall.

Built in 1770, Rose Hall is a restored plantation house with beautiful ocean views. Legendary Annie Palmer (the White Witch) ruled here with cruelty, and met a violent death. Today, her home is adorned with period furniture.

Rose Hall offers several tours . You can choose a day tour, but if you're a fan of ghost stories, opt for the spooky evening tour by candlelight. Guides dressed in character share plenty of spine-chilling tales of ghost sightings, and they'll definitely keep you on your toes. Who knows, you might even see the White Witch herself!

Address: Rose Hall Road, Montego Bay, Jamaica

One of the best beaches in Montego Bay, Doctor's Cave Beach is an alluring strip of white sand fringed by clear waters.

Changerooms, restaurants, and shops are all available nearby, and you can rent beach equipment here, too. Note that there's a fee to access the beach.

This famous beach actually helped shape the fate of this popular tourist town. In the early 1920s, a famous British osteopath declared that the water had curative powers after swimming here, a claim that began to lure visitors from around the world. Hotels sprouted up, and the area became a thriving tourist destination.

The namesake cave was destroyed by a hurricane in 1932, but the beach is as popular as ever — hanging out here is one of the top things to do in Montego Bay, and it's often crowded with cruise ship passengers.

Rafting the Martha Brae is one of the most popular things to do in Jamaica for couples. At Martha Brae Rafter's Village, you can glide down a picturesque stretch of the river on bamboo rafts poled by local guides .

This relaxing trip is a great way to soak up some of the tropical scenery, and you can even stop at local vendors along the way to purchase souvenirs or refreshments. Best of all, some of the guides will entertain you during the trip, singing reggae songs or sharing interesting information about the flora and fauna.

This is a popular day trip from Montego Bay (about 37 kilometers away) and Ocho Rios (abut 70 kilometers away). You can also do this from Negril, but it takes about two hours one way to reach the Martha Brae Rafting Village, where the tours launch.

If you're staying in Montego Bay, the Martha Brae private river rafting tour is a great option. It includes pickup and drop-off from and to your hotel or cruise terminal, a tour of a medicinal garden, and a professional guide.

The spectacular Negril Cliffs stand high above the coral-fringed coast on Jamaica's western shore. Rugged and beautiful, these cliffs a great place to visit for a sunset and a popular place for couples.

This stunning locale boasts unimpeded vistas of the crystal-clear water below. Be sure to pack a camera and a swimsuit, as jumping off Negril Cliffs is one of the top things to do in Negril .

The cliffs are also home to some of Negril's most luxurious resorts, like The Caves and The Cliff Hotel . Staying at one of these top resorts makes it easy to explore the cliffs.

If you aren't booked into a clifftop resort, stop in at Rick's Café , a local restaurant that's been serving up fresh local fare and an optimal spot for cliff jumping for over 45 years. This is an ideal spot to watch the sun set, but you may have to fight the crowds for a seat during high season.

For reggae lovers, visiting Jamaica without touring the Bob Marley Museum is akin to traveling to Paris and skipping the Eiffel Tower. You won't need much time to visit the famous musician's former home — an hour or two will do it. Here, you'll see his guitar and other treasured possessions donated by his wife, Rita, as well as his favorite rooms as they were set up during his life.

There's also an 80-seat theater on-site, as well as a record store and a gift shop selling all the Bob Marley paraphernalia you never knew you wanted. Book a "One Love" Tour to gain access to both the museum and the Tuff Gong Recording Studio .

If you're based in Montego Bay, the Bob Marley Museum full-day tour takes care of the transportation for you, and includes an authentic Jamaican lunch.

Insider's tip: Time your visit around lunch, so you can grab a tasty bite at the museum's One Love Café , after your tour.

Address: 56 Hope Road, Kingston

Nestled in the mountains , about an hour's drive from Negril through rainforest villages, Mayfield Falls & Mineral Springs is a haven for nature lovers.

Here, you'll find two beautiful waterfalls; 21 natural pools ; and a profusion of ferns, tropical flowers, and other rainforest flora. Butterflies and birds flit through the lush foliage, and thatched riverside gazebos beckon for pit stops.

You can choose between a guided hike along the river or you can wade through the cool waters, clambering over slick boulders, jumping off cliffs, and relaxing under the cascades.

Be sure to bring a camera, and wear water shoes and swimwear.

A hidden gem, Reach Falls are among Jamaica's prettiest waterfalls . They lie tucked in the Montane Forest of the John Crow Mountain Range, near Port Antonio. A gentle hike through tropical rainforest takes you to the top of the falls where a lifeguard patrols.

You can stand under the streaming cascades, explore underwater caves , and swim in the fern-fringed waters surrounded by rainforest — more than 20 different species of ferns grow in this emerald forest.

Keep an eye out, too, for some of the many species of birds here, including yellow-billed parrots. It's also a good idea to bring water shoes.

Set between mountains and a double harbor, Port Antonio exudes the relaxed charm of a sleepy fishing village. Once a center for banana export, the area is distinctly less commercial than the other resort towns.

Activities: Popular things to do in Port Antonio include hiking jungle trails, rafting the Rio Grande, taking a tour to Reach Falls, and snorkeling and diving the coral reefs. A favorite swimming spot is the beautiful 60-meter-deep Blue Lagoon, fed by freshwater springs.

Other highlights of the area include the 18th-century British stronghold of Fort George and beautiful Frenchman's Cove, where a fish-filled river flows into the sea.

Port Antonio beaches are a wonderful mix of white sand, shallow waters, and lush outcroppings of land. But if you prefer to take a dip in freshwater, the nearby Daniel's River plunges through a gorge of natural rock in a series of cascades and pools known as Somerset Falls .

Set between Port Antonio's two harbors and reached by ferry, Navy Island was once owned by movie swashbuckler Errol Flynn. Today, the island is a favorite for picnics and day trips.

Jamaica's spicy "jerk-style" of cooking originated in the region and some of the best can be found at Boston Beach east of Port Antonio.

Fringed with mangroves, the Black River is the longest river in Jamaica , and you can tour this tranquil river on a guided boat tour .

Nature lovers will be in heaven. Crocodiles and more than 100 species of birds, including herons and snowy egrets, are among the critters that make their home here, and you can learn all about the area's ecology and history during the tour.

YS Falls: A short drive away and often combined with the Black River for tours, the beautiful YS Falls are Jamaica's largest cascades. If you're looking for things to do in Jamaica with kids, this is a top choice. Some of the seven waterfalls flow into peaceful natural pools, which are lovely for a dip on a hot day. One of the pools is suitable for children as well.

You can also play Tarzan on the rope swing and plunge into a wading pool below fed by natural springs. Ziplining and river tubing are also available.

If you're staying in Negril, the seven-hour Black River Safari and YS Falls Tour takes you to both these popular Jamaica attractions. It includes a guided boat tour down the river and a visit to the falls with time to splash and swim, as well as entrance fees and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers can test their skills kayaking and ziplining as they explore the Great River.

Two-hour guided tours take guests kayaking through rolling rapids and calm waters, or ziplining above the river for a little adrenaline-infused adventure. A tour guide gives a safety and equipment briefing and offers insight into the wildlife and vegetation along the river.

The Jamaica Zipline and Kayak Adventure Tour, which departs from hotels in Negril and Montego Bay, includes hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, equipment, a guide, and basic instruction. Participants must be at least six years of age.

In 2015, the spectacular Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its rich natural and cultural heritage.

Once a refuge for former slaves and the Indigenous Taino, who fled here to escape slavery, this unspoiled preserve offers breathtaking scenery . Within its borders, you can explore jungle-clad mountains, waterfalls, lush rainforests, and coffee plantations.

The wildlife is also impressive. More than 800 species of endemic plants, 200 species of birds, and the world's second largest butterfly live within the park.

Getting around the park can be an adventure in itself. The roads and tracks are rough — especially after rain — so 4WD vehicles and/or experienced guides are highly recommended.

A highlight of a visit here is the hike (or mule ride) up Jamaica's highest peak, 2,256-meter-high Blue Mountain Peak. This two-day trip offers thrilling views, and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Cuba. Most sightseeing tours depart from Kingston.

If you're looking for a stress detox, sign up for a rafting trip down the beautiful Rio Grande River. Few activities could be more relaxing than floating gently down a lush jungle river, poled by an expert guide. This stretch of water also tends to be less crowded than the Martha Brae.

You can purchase ice-cold refreshments to take with you, then sit back and relax. Tropical rainforest drifts by as your friendly guide nudges you along the crystal-clear waters, sharing stories about the area while negotiating the gentle rapids with ease.

Rafting here dates back to around 1911, when banana farmers in the Rio Grande Valley used to transport their bananas along the river, and you'll learn about this history on your tour. Along the way, you'll stop for a hearty lunch at a local restaurant.

The tour takes about two and a half hours.

Surrounded by sugar estates and cattle land, Falmouth is one of the Caribbean's best-preserved Georgian towns . Once a leading port, the town offers excellent examples of 19th-century Georgian architecture, including a faithful restoration of the courthouse.

Greenwood Great House is a major tourist attraction in the area. Built in 1790 by Richard Barrett, a relative of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the Great House is now a museum with period furniture and a rare collection of musical instruments and Wedgwood china.

Other popular things to do in Falmouth include exploring Good Hope , an old-established coconut and sugar plantation built in 1755, and basking on Red Stripe and Burwood Beach .

East of Falmouth is the Luminous Lagoon , named for its marine phosphorescence.

At the foot of the Blue Mountains, Jamaica's busy capital city offers a cosmopolitan contrast to the island's relaxed pace. Gritty and rough around the edges, Kingston can be intimidating, but you can experience some of the top things to do in Kingston on organized tours.

One of the most popular places to visit is the Bob Marley Museum , at the reggae superstar's former home. Reggae fans can also visit the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum in the ghetto where reggae music was born.

Other favorite attractions in Kingston include historic mansions, like Devon House , as well as museums such as the excellent National Gallery and the Natural History Museum .

Music concerts are often staged at Emancipation Park, a palm-studded green space in the middle of the city, and National Heroes Park features statues of leading players of Jamaican history and independence.

At the tip of the peninsula surrounding Kingston Harbor lies the community of Port Royal , the focus of British fortification in the late 17th century.

The best time to visit Jamaica is from November through March, when rainfall is low and the days are warm and typically sunny. The risk of hurricanes is at its lowest during this time of year, but prices will be at their highest - especially during the holiday season. Jamaica is known for its many all-inclusive resorts, so you can compare prices and amenities throughout the island without worrying about additional, unexpected, costs. The weather is ideal in Jamaica from November through March, with little rainfall and picturesque days.

Since this is the best time to visit Jamaica, be prepared for large crowds of tourists at the beaches and restaurants, and limited availability at the resorts. If you travel during this time, you will want to book excursions in advance to make sure they are not full on the days that you prefer.

Jamaica offers an impressive range of resorts to suit every type of traveler. You can choose from luxury resorts and family resorts to plantation-style resorts in the lush mountains.

As for location, it depends on your sightseeing priorities as to where you want to base yourself. Montego Bay has everything you need for a fun vacation with the family, including many high-end all-inclusive resorts. Negril typically attracts a younger crowd seeking the silky white sands of its beautiful beaches, and Ocho Rios is cruise ship central, with plenty of package tourists and a solid tourism infrastructure. Seeking a little more serenity? Head to Port Antonio .

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The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB is a public company governed by a Board of Directors, appointed by the Minister of Tourism. The Director of Tourism, also appointed by the Minister, is the administrative head of the organization and is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the JTB.

The JTB is responsible for the worldwide tourism marketing and promotion for Jamaica. Its mandate has been to promote Jamaica as a preferred travel destination; identify new and emerging consumer groups; cultivate new relationships with travel partners and disseminate timely and useful marketing information to its offices and travel partners worldwide. The Jamaica Tourist Board is the most preferred point of contact for persons travelling to Jamaica. The organization markets the uniqueness and diversity of destination JAMAICA through creative programmes and advertisements worldwide. Throughout the years, the JTB has been recognized for its exceptional leadership and outstanding service with accolades from industry and trade partners both regionally and internationally.

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9 of the best things to do in Jamaica

J amaica may best known by tourists for its beach resorts and white sand beaches, but this beautiful Caribbean island offers so much more for the intrepid traveller.

The island’s wealth of natural sights is perhaps its most remarkable feature, with the soft sands and azure waters of its beaches complemented by unique array of inland waterfalls like Dunn’s River Falls, the towering summit of Blue Mountain Peak and the rainforest-fringed waters of the Martha Brae River.

The towns and cities are mesmerising too. The capital, Kingston, acts as the beating heart of the country and its cultural centre, while seaside towns like Ocho Rios or the famed Montego Bay provide a dose of the laid-back Caribbean vibe that Jamaica is renowned for.

In between is a glut of outdoor adventures, cultural activities and Jamaican jewels to discover, from the wonders of Reggae to Jamaica’s culinary exports. Below, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in Jamaica to help you make the most of your visit.

Take a tour of the capital

As the capital, Kingston is the ‘centre’ of Jamaica and the cultural heart of the country. It is a stark contrast to the relaxed resorts and tranquil coastline of much of the rest of Jamaica, but its lively energy has provided much of what has made modern Jamaica great, from arts and music to a diverse culinary scene.

Reggae fans will want to start by exploring the life of one of Jamaica’s sons at the Bob Marley Museum (where the artist lived from 1975), while anyone wanting to cover more of Jamaican art and culture should carry on to the National Gallery of Jamaica – showcasing everything from indigenous carvings to 18th-century British works – before finishing at the Devon House estate, home to gardens and a collection of antiques once belonging to George Stiebel, the country’s first Black millionaire.

Other historical sites include the 17th-century Fort Charles and Liberty Halls, the headquarters of one of the founders of Pan-Africanism, Marcus Garvey.

Kingston has earned itself a reputation for high levels of crime, so make sure you plan any trip to the city carefully and avoid areas that are known to be dangerous.

Read more on Caribbean travel :

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Visit Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios is one of several seaside resort towns on the island. While Montego Bay and Negril are worth visiting, Ocho Rios is a great place to spend a couple of nights due to the range of interesting sites nearby, as well as a more relaxed, less high-end resort vibe than that of ‘MoBay’.

Dunn’s River Falls, the Blue Hole and Konoko Falls (more on them below) are all within 30 minutes’ drive, while locals and tourists alike mix at some ofJamaica’s best beaches, including Mahogany Beach, Fisherman’s Beach and Ocho Rios Bay. There’s plenty of character to the town itself too though, from the stalls of the Craft Market or Island Village to the tropical gardens of Shaw Park. The Clock Tower marks the centre of the city, and the surrounding area, filled with Caribbean architecture, is lively both day and night.

See the best waterfalls

Jamaica has a wealth of waterfalls to explore, and Dunn’s River Falls is undeniably the most popular for tourists. They lie around two miles from Ocho Rios, and remain an exceptionally beautiful natural wonder despite the large number of visitors. The falls themselves are idyllic; they stand at 180 metres tall and consist of giant limestone rocks covered with several cascades and surrounded by tropical rainforest. Visitors can climb to the top, but it gets busy so aim to visit outside of peak times.

Konoko Falls is another, less grandiose option near Ocho Rios, with a similarly picturesque setting and far fewer crowds. On the east coast, Reach Falls is one of the more remote options, where swimming in emerald pools and hiking up to Mandingo Cave are both popular. Mayfield Falls are a great option for those looking to swim among achingly beautiful surroundings, as are the waters of the Ocho Rios Blue Hole, where a smaller waterfall complements the turquoise waters below.

Explore the lagoons

The Blue Lagoon and Luminous Lagoon are two of Jamaica’s most striking natural sites, both situated on the northern coast and sitting along different points of the Martha Brae River.

The former lies in the east, where the waters of the Martha Brae funnel through to those of the Caribbean Sea. The lagoon is 55 metres deep and changes colour regularly – between shades of blue, emerald and turquoise – thanks to the mixing of freshwater and seawater. It lies in a protected cove among cliffs and dense greenery, and offers both wild swimming and boat tour opportunities.

The Luminous Lagoon sits further west, not far from Falmouth, and was once an important location for ships arriving to Jamaica. Though surrounded more by buildings than rainforest, this lagoon has become famous due to the microorganisms called dinoflagellates that populate it. When disturbed, they produce a glowing light that makes the lagoon a striking sight (access is only via boat tours, but you can swim as part of the tour).

Hit the beach

Like any Caribbean island, Jamaica is home to a slew of pristine beaches, where white sands are fringed by palm trees and lapped by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. These beaches range from beautiful secluded spots to much-loved resort areas like Montego Bay.

For something a little more private, opt for Frenchman’s Cove, Boston Bay, Lime Cay or Parrottee Beach. Areas like Half Moon Beach, Seven Mile and James Bond Beach are are little busier – with more restaurants and activities – while some of the most popular beaches on the island include Doctor’s Cave, Winnifred Beach and Reggae Beach. Ocho Rios Bay and Puerto Seco are the most popular resort beaches.

Explore Montego Bay

Montego Bay has formed a reputation as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Jamaica, offering luxurious accommodation options, stretches of fine white sands, lively nightlife and activities that range from water sports to hiking, golfing and enjoying the array of bars and restaurants. In reality, the city is split into two parts – the charming, if sometimes chaotic, local life of the city proper and the pristine beaches and fancy hotels of the touristy suburbs (and Ironshore in particular).

In the city, you can discover Jamaican history and culture, from the National Museum West to the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, as well as landmarks like the impressive St James Parish Church and bustling Sam Sharpe Square (slightly outside the city also lies the Indigenous Rastafarian Village). On the coast, visitors can spend days relaxing on beaches like Doctor’s Cave, enjoying a game of golf at Cinnamon Hill, hiking and rafting at Montpelier Jungle Outpost, or whiling away the afternoons and evenings with cocktails on the Hip Strip.

Like Kingston, some aresa of Montego Bay are known to be dangerous, so plan a city trip carefully and avoid any known crime spots.

Take a trip on a bamboo raft

Jamaica’s answer to the gondola trips of Venice is an even more relaxing affair. These trips take place on long bamboo rafts, with two or three people at a time taken along the waters of the Rio Grande or Martha Brae River by a local guide, floating through thick rainforest and green tunnels before stopping off for optional wild swims.

Tours set off from ‘Rafter’s Village’, a horseshoe-shaped island near the town of Falmouth on the northern coast, and start from around $99 USD (£77) for a two-person trip.

Try some local delicacies

Like many other Caribbean islands, Jamaica has taken influences from several countries and regions to produce the cuisine that is seen on the island today. African, Asian and European touches have mixed with native ingredients (and those introduced from elsewhere) to produce a culinary scene as varied and unique as anywhere in the region.

Popular dishes on the island include curry goat, ackee and saltfish (a local fruit prepared with salted codfish) and variations of jerk pork (slow-cooked pork marinated in chilies, thyme, allspice and garlic), with street food dishes such as beef patties (almost like a Jamaican version of Cornish pasties) and fried dumplings also found throughout the country, from street food vendors to restaurants. Rum is the alcoholic drink of choice here, and some of the best can be sampled with a tour of the Hampden Great House Estate.

Ascend Blue Mountain Peak

Blue Mountain Peak is Jamaica’s tallest mountain, standing at an impressive 2,256 metres tall. The ‘classic’ trail to the summit covers almost six miles over the course of around four hours – though some routes cover up to 10 miles – with many choosing to set off in the night to catch the sunrise at around 6am (a stay at Whitfield Hall allows you a later start time). Along the way you’ll pass through dense jungle vegetation that turns to pine trees and evergreens as the altitude increases, eventually giving way to a clear view the misty hills as the sun comes up.

Read our reviews of the best winter sun hotels

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Kingston, Jamaica

The Capital of Jamaica has been elected World Best Creative Destination by the jury of the 9th Creative Tourism Awards in March 2023.

The application was presented by Kingston Creative , a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to transform Downtown Kingston into a city tourism destination using art, culture and technology.

The Kingston Creative project shows an inclusive approach in terms of tourism featuring not just the art and culture, but also facilitating meaningful interactions and engagement between tourists and the artists, the local entrepreneurs, and the community residents in order to develop a healthy, creative ecosystem that will drive sustainable, social and economic growth in Downtown Kingston.

In partnership with other cultural and creative entities, the organization has developed Kingston Creative Tours that take visitors to various cultural spaces in Downtown Kingston. Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2015, and the birthplace of six different musical genres, the music tour includes stops at the famous Beat Street, home to several legendary reggae artists, as well as Trench Town, where the iconic Bob Marley launched his musical career.

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Year began with a bang for tourism, says Bartlett

Industry earned us$1.27 billion in first quarter of 2024.

THE country earned US$1.27 billion from the tourism industry in the first three months of 2024, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announced Tuesday.

He said that the year began with a bang with tourism experiencing an unprecedented surge, surpassing all projections outlined in the previous fiscal year.

Bartlett, who was opening the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, noted that the revenue came from 1.34 million visitors to the island between January and March.

“That represents 788,000 stopovers or a 7.4 per cent increase. Cruise has come back — 554,560 cruisers — representing a 16.1 per cent increase over the corresponding three months last year,” he said.

According to Bartlett, for fiscal year 2023/24 US$345.8 million or J$53.6 billion in tourism earnings was expected to flow directly into the Government’s coffers.

He said that these direct government revenues comprised Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) fees which goes straight to the Consolidated Fund – US$59.2 million or J$9.2 billion; departure tax – US$103.5 million or J$16 billion; airport improvement fee – US$29.6 million or J$4.6 billion; airline passenger levy – US$59.2 million or J$9.2 billion; passenger fees and charges – US$71 million or J$11 billion; and guest accommodation room tax – US$23.3 million or J$3.6 billion.

Bartlett said this does not include the “many billions more in general consumption tax (GCT)” because tourism is the most consumption-driven activity on planet Earth”.

“That’s all people do. They travel to consume and at every point of consumption they pay a tax…When we bring 4.2 million tourists we have just added to the market size of Jamaica and the consumption pattern of the tourists is three to five times that of the locals. So, the propensity to consume drives up the consumption and, therefore, the increase in revenue flows,” he said.

In the meantime, Bartlett noted that preliminary gross earnings for this year is US$4.38 billion.

“Even at 9.6 [per cent] ahead of last year, US$4.38 billion is the largest revenue flow from tourism in the history of the tourism industry in Jamaica,” he said.

Bartlett also highlighted earnings from Jamaica’s international airports in Kingston and Montego Bay which saw impressive growth last year, collectively generating revenue of US$200.28 million or J$30 billion.

He said most of these earnings stemmed from MBJ Airports Limited, operator of Sangster International Airport (SIA), which employs approximately 7,000 people.

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Kingston Bookshop to award $2m scholarship to teacher

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Kingston Bookshop (KB) Limited has announced that it will provide a $2 million scholarship to an outstanding teacher.

Director of strategy and innovation at KB, Shauna Fuller Clarke, said at the company-hosted annual teachers’ luncheon on Tuesday at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew that the scholarship will fund an advanced programme at one of the island’s top teachers’ colleges.

She continued by saying that this action demonstrated KB’s dedication to lifelong learning and the critical role that education plays in shaping one’s future.

The theme for the anniversary celebration is ‘Celebrating our story, Inspiring yours’.

Fuller Clarke continued that KB’s connection to education runs “deep”, especially so as the company’s chief executive officer, Steadman Fuller, began his career as a teacher, which resulted in a “wonderful partnership with the teaching community over the years”.

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She told The Gleaner that as some of the company’s employees were both current and former teachers, they were particularly aware of how challenging it is to seek further education.

She stressed the company’s delight to assist its educators, adding, “We know the struggle is real when it comes on to education, even if you’re not a teacher, so, we’re saying, ‘you do a lot, so let’s do this for you’.”

In his remarks, Leighton Johnson, president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), praised the educators for their unwavering commitment and fortitude in a field that requires flexibility and patience to perform duties efficiently.

He added that the teaching profession also demanded for educators to continuously update their teaching methods to meet their pupils’ ever-evolving needs and pushed them to face and overcome all challenges and obstacles that may arise – both within and outside the classroom.

In spite of this, Johnson stated that educators, who continue to display their extraordinary abilities to “go above and beyond the call of duty”, have helped to foster an environment where learning flourishes, and where knowledge, skills and values are obtained.

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