Despite being listed as one of the Condé Nast best holiday destinations for 2022, Kingston is largely overlooked by the more than 4 million visitors who come to Jamaica each year. While the appeal of Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, with their fabulous all-inclusive resorts are obvious, any independent traveller who comes to Jamaica must spend a few days in our vibrant capital city: Kingston.
These are our 11 unmissable things to see and do in and around Kingston:
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1. The Bob Marley Museum
When US President Barrack Obama made an official visit to Jamaica in 2015, one thing he just had to do, outside of the official engagements, was make a personal trip to the Bob Marley Museum. The museum building is the reggae icon’s former home at 56 Hope Road and is filled with fabulous memorabilia in a building that has maintained much of the spirit of when Marley and his entourage lived there in the 1970s.
Without a doubt, the best thing about the museum are the guides who are extremely knowledgeable and will share many stories about life in the house in its heyday. These are not just employees reading from a script, as they are able to answer all sorts of questions and when they mention his name, it’s done with reverence: they pause, lower their voices and slowly say “The Honourable Robert Nesta Marley.”
If you are there for the last tour of the day, you might even see some of Marley’s sons, many famous in their own right, getting ready for a game of football in the yard, just as their Father used to do many years ago.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit the Bob Marley Museum website
2. Devon House
Located just a 2-minute drive or 15-minute walk along Hope Road from the Bob Marley Museum is the Devon House Mansion. The house was built in the late 19th century by George Stiebel, the first black millionaire in Jamacia.
You can take a guided tour of the house, but for many Kingstonians, the main attractions are the shops and restaurants in the courtyard, and, of course, the Devon House “Iscream” outlet where for approximately 500 Jamaican dollars (about $3.50) you can enjoy a huge serving of fantastic ice cream that is perched precariously on a cone that seems too small for the job. The Rum and Raisin, Butter Almond, and Devon Stout are our favourite flavours.
You can find out more about Devon house and its restaurants and shops at the Devon House Website.
3. Trench Town Culture Yard
For something altogether more rustic, head to the Trench Town Culture Yard, which is situated in the tough inner-city community where Bob Marley and his fellow Wailers Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston lived as children.
The Culture Yard is owned and operated by local residents and is designed to provide an authentic, interactive experience that showcases the roots of reggae music in a modern-day context. It all seems so unscripted and genuine when compared to typical tourist attractions. You will listen to music being made, hear astonishing stories of the past and meet some real characters.
As well as touring the Culture Yard, you can take a walking tour of Trench Town, a fabulous glimpse into life in a present-day Jamaican community, something we highly recommend.
You can get all the information you need from the Trench Town Culture Yard Website.
4. The Beaches
OK there may be nothing to quite match the legendary Seven Mile Beach of Negril, but if you fancy a day at the beach, Kingston has you covered. We recommend three, each of which is a short drive from Kingston: Lime Cay, Hellshire Beach and Fort Clarence Beach.
Lime Cay is a small island which takes about 15 minutes from Port Royal and is idyllic, even if the ride across can be a little bumpy. You can get a boat from “Y-Knot” at the Port Royal Dock. Look for the little sign that says “Lime Cay” and ask for someone to organize a trip for you. The price will depend on the number of passengers but shouldn’t cost more than $10 per person. There are no facilities on the island so take everything you will need and remember to book your return trip!
Go to Visit Jamaica Website to learn more.
Hellshire Beach is close to Portmore and can be very busy with locals at weekends. There are some fantastic fish shacks, serving the freshest seafood dishes and cold Red Stripe beer. There are also many vendors plying their wares on the beach and if they realize you are a visitor, they can be quite persistent to sell you something. In most cases, a smile and firm no will do the trick, although it may have to do it several times. The Things to do in Jamaica website has some useful information about Hellshire Beach.
Located right next to Hellshire is Fort Clarence Beach. There is a small entrance fee of about $2 for adults and 75 cents for children, but this is easily worth it as it is a calmer, cleaner beach than its neighbour, with better facilities, and you can still get great fish to eat. It is currently managed by the Guardsman Group on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, and they have recently completed a number of upgrades. It’s also our favourite beach in the Kingston area. You can get the latest information and prices from its Instagram Page.
5. The National Gallery of Jamaica
Jamaica’s National Gallery is the largest public art gallery in the English-speaking Caribbean and is a very special place. Even if you are not an art lover, you can enjoy a wonderful half day’s entertainment there.
The permanent exhibits include pieces from the early Jamaican history, right up to some fabulous modern works. What makes it a place that we go back to several times a year are the special exhibits, and there are at least two key ones annually, some of which are locally curated, while others are major touring exhibitions.
The National Gallery is located downtown, near the waterfront and, as such, can form part of a fantastic day in downtown Kingston.
Take a look at the National Gallery of Jamaica website.
6. Port Royal
Port Royal is a 45-minute drive around Kingston harbour and past the airport. Two thirds of what was described as the “wickedest city in the west”, lies underwater the result of an earthquake in 1692.
Nevertheless, there is still plenty to see above ground including:
- The 17th century Fort Charles, where a young Horatio Nelson once served;
- The Giddy House, a former Royal Artillery weapons store that was damaged in an earthquake in 1907 and gets its name from how people who walk across its severely uneven floor tend to feel;
- The Victoria and Albert Battery, a 19th century artillery emplacement that was also damaged in the 1907 earthquake; and
- The 1819 Old Naval Hospital, which is one of the oldest prefabricated buildings in the world.
When you are in Port Royal, be sure to get some fish from Gloria’s restaurant in the middle of town. Sit upstairs for amazing views across the harbour and relax: the food is delicious, but the service can be incredibly slow. Call ahead and order if you can. You are on vacation so what does it matter?
7. Emancipation Park
Situated in New Kingston, next to the 17 storey Pegasus Hotel, is Emancipation Park. It has a walking track around the perimeter and is a favourite exercise spot for Kingstonians, especially in early evening. It is a beautiful 7-acre garden in the middle of the busiest part of the city, so don’t be surprised to see locals just sitting on the benches simply absorbing the calm and serenity.
At the main entrance is the 3-metre-high sculpture, “Redemption Song” by Laura Facey, a well-known local artist. The statue comprises nude representations of a man and woman gazing skyward, cast in bronze, and when it was first unveiled it caused a fair degree of controversy.
In addition to the Pegasus Hotel, the park is close to Sweetwood, which serves mouth-watering jerk dishes and the Liguanea Club, where non-members can enjoy lunch. The Club became famous in 1962 by portraying the fictional Queen’s Club in the first James Bond movie, Dr No.
Here are links to the Emancipation Park and Liguanea club websites.
8. Rockfort Mineral Bath
Jamaica has a significant number of mineral baths for such a small island, and Rockfort is by far the closest to Kingston. It’s located within the grounds of the Caribbean Cement Factory on Sir Florizel Glaspole Boulevard. To get there you just head out of Kingston towards the airport and you will find it on your left.
The water is pleasantly warm and contains sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and copper. It is said to have healing properties, and while we can’t vouch for that, it is definitely an invigorating experience and after a few minutes your sinuses will be nice and clean!
There is a large main pool and, for an extra charge, a number of semi-private jacuzzi pools, although these have been closed for renovations for some time now. Visitors are limited to 45 minutes in the water to avoid overexposure to the minerals. In addition to the bath, you can purchase snacks and drinks, and visit the ruins of the 17th century fort from which the baths get their name.
The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation has some information on its website and we recommend calling ahead, as the opening hours can be a little “flexible.” The phone numbers are 876- 938-5055 and 876-938-6551.
9. National Heroes Park
Another interesting historical attraction in the downtown area is National Heroes Park. Situated at the southern end of the former Kingston Racecourse. The Park is guarded by soldiers of the Jamaica Defence Force in full ceremonial red tunics, and if you can, ensure that you are by the cenotaph on the hour to watch the changing of the guard.
The Park is small and contains a memorial to each of Jamaica’s seven National Heroes, some of whom are also buried there. There is a plaque by each monument giving some basic information about each, and some of the monuments are fascinating from a purely artistic perspective.
In addition to the National Heroes, at the northern end of the park a couple of Jamaica’s early Prime Ministers are buried. A visit will take about an hour and is a nice addition to any downtown tour.
The Jamaica National Heritage Trust website has some more information about National Heroes Park.
10. Coronation Market
The closest thing to a gigantic West African market in the Americas is Coronation Market in downtown Kingston. It’s located to the west of Parade and St William Grant Park, and to get the full experience go on a Friday or Saturday. Other days are a little quieter and it is closed on Sundays.
At the centre is a massive iron framed hall, but the market seems to sprawl out indefinitely in every direction. You can even get your hair or nails done, or a quick massage, provided that you don’t need privacy. You can buy almost anything at the market, but it’s local produce that is the main draw; the prices are lower and it’s generally cheaper than in supermarkets.
Music blares out from all corners and every person in the market seems to want to talk loudly and at the same time. It’s a true Jamaican atmosphere: simultaneously dynamic and chaotic.
Going early in the morning at about 9am can be interesting too as you get to watch vendors setting up and the vibe is calmer and the sun a little more forgiving.
While we have never had any problems, we always follow the advice to keep valuables safe as there is some opportunist bag snatching and pickpockets.
You can find Coronation Market here on Google Maps.
11. Hope Botanical Gardens
Hope Botanical Gardens or, as it officially became after the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, Kingston Royal Botanical Gardens, is the largest public space in Kingston. Much of the gardens have a slightly run-down charm, and there is no doubt that the collection of tropical plants and trees is delightful and provide cooling shade at any time of the day.
The plants are divided into a series of mini gardens of which the cacti garden, the bougainvillea walk, the annual garden and lily pond are the most notable.
You can also stroll around the lawns of the wider park area and we love to find a shady tree under which to enjoy a lazy picnic. Further into the park you will find Hope Zoo, a small zoo that has undergone significant renovations in recent years and is now a nice place to visit, especially for children.
The entrance to Hope Gardens is on Old Hope Road between Jamaica College and the University of Technology. To find a little more visit the Visit Jamaica and Hope Zoo websites.
Four million visitors a year to our island tells you how highly regarded Jamaica is a tourist destination. We hope that we have given you some reasons to add Kingston to your Jamaican itinerary.
Let us know your thoughts on this article by leaving us a comment below.
Author
Nick Abbott
Hi, I’m Nick. Visiting foreign countries has been an important part of my life since my parents moved to Kano in Nigeria in 1977. Since then, as both a military officer and in later jobs I have enjoyed the huge privilege of being exposed to many different countries and cultures.
I am delighted to be able to support my wife Monique and Yes2Yolo primarily by contributing travel articles, providing editing and proof-reading services and being a general sounding board.
Wow amazing!! Really interesting
This really good info Nick and Monique. Love the photos and practical advice.
Thank you Judith!
Epic!
Felt like I just read a bestseller about Kingston, Jamaica.
Thank you guys.
Thank you so much Sofia. Our pleasure!
Having lived in Kingston all my life, I was sure when I started reading this post that I would be able to say that I have been to all the locations recommended but it turns out I have not. I am happy there is still so much more to explore in the city of Kingston. Thanks for the suggestions, I have added a few to my list of adventures!
Wonderful! So happy for your feedback Peter-Gaye. It has really made my day! Tell me you have been to Coronation Market, right???
Enjoyed viewing your pictures. You certainly present it well making it look so inviting. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Olga. Thanks for the positive feedback. Much appreciated.