Kingston (Jamaica)

Kingston is the commercial and cultural capital of Jamaica with nearly a million people calling the city home.
At one point, it was the only city in Jamaica. The city is assigned the equivalent of postal codes, (Kingston 5, Kingston 10, etc.) which is a good representation of how truly large this city is, especially for an island such as Jamaica. There are two major sections to this city: 'downtown' and 'uptown,' also referred to as 'New Kingston.'

By plane

• Norman Manley International Airport

  phone: +1-888-247-7678
  Served by Air Canada, Air Jamaica, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and a number of Caribbean airlines. Be prepared for queues at the airport, to clear both immigration and customs, which are fairly strict. It is important that you know where you will be staying and write it down on your immigration form.

There are taxi vans between the airport and town - one person USD28; a group USD33, potentially negotiable. Payment can be in US dollars. The cheapest way is to take bus 98 straight to the Parade in downtown Kingston for JMD80. The bus stop outside the arrivals terminal is for bus 98 going towards Port Royal. Just passed the bus stop is where bus 98 stops on its way to downtown.

• Kingston Tinson PenThere is a smaller airport closer to downtown, but there is no longer any regular passenger service to it.

By car

Island Rental Cars has offices at the NMIA airport, in downtown Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, and will allow you to do one-way rentals. Remember to drive on the left!

• Highway 2000 — one of Jamaica's highways, run through St. Ann Parish to Kingston.
• North South Highway — runs from North of the island to the south. Taxicabs can be taken from the south to Kingston.

By bus

Kingston has an extensive and modern bus system. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs the bus system for the government, while private contractors also run the same routes. There are also minibuses and route taxis which are very affordable. Whenever in doubt, ask a bus driver how to get somewhere or where to find a certain bus; they are generally very helpful.
Public transit generally goes through one or more of the three central transportation hubs.

• Downtown (Parade and the downtown Kingston Transport Centre). Keep a tight hold of your bags as petty theft is possible as in any large metropolis.
• The ultra-modern Half-Way Tree Transport Centre (HWT) in uptown Kingston is generally a safer area, but there are less buses.
• Cross Roads an older, congested hub not suggested for tourists.

By bus

The bus service in Jamaica has now been upgraded with express buses cost ranging from JMD80 to JMD100, and another bus also air conditioned can be found in yellow with the Jamaican flag at the front costs for regular fares JMD150 and for children under 12 JMD50 12+(prices are expected to raise for the new buses soon because of the increase of gas). The original non air con buses still function, but who knows when will they last?
Interactive bus map

By taxi

All official taxis have red license plates that start with PPV.
Route Taxis (a taxi that has a set route and picks up multiple people along it) are also common and often mirror bus routes and are not much more expensive than buses. These are a bit more complicated to get used to, so ask for help.
Charter Taxis (normal taxis) - negotiate a price before getting in the car. Fares range from JMD400 to JMD5,000 for long routes.

Rental cars

With some practice, bravery, and chutzpah you can rent a car (Island Rent a car allows for one-way car rental). Take a good map and be willing to ask (and keep asking to get a consensus) for directions along the way. It's not safe to drive in the countryside after dark. If you get in a wreck/hit someone, drive to the nearest police station.

• Bob Marley Museum

  phone: +1 876 927-9152
  address: 56 Hope Rd
  Filled with tons of memorabilia and Bob Marley's personal belongings, this museum was Bob Marley's recording studio and was his home until his death in 1981. The house is a preserved historical site; even the bullet holes from the attempted murder of Bob Marley remain. Every visitor will be added to a tour upon entry.

• National Gallery of Jamaica

  phone: +1 876 922-1561
  address: 12 Ocean Blvd
  The museum features artwork by Jamaicans from throughout its history, from the native Taino Indians through the colonial period to works by modern artists. The gallery hosts its annual National Visual Arts Exhibition, which began in 1963 as a way to promote post-colonial art and to showcase the works of rising artists from Jamaica. Entrance fees are waved during the exhibition period.

• Port RoyalOnce known as the "Richest and wickedest city in the world", Port Royal was a notorious pirate haven in the 17th century. The most famous privateer (basically a pirate, but licensed by the British crown) who operated from Port Royal was Sir Henry Morgan who plundered Spanish vessels travelling in the Caribbean and even sacked Panama City. The city prospered as the pirates gathered riches, but a strong earthquake struck the area in 1692 sinking many ships in the harbour, killing many people, and leaving much of the city under the sea. Some claimed the quake was God's punishment for the evildoers of Port Royal. This disaster helped to establish Kingston as the new capital, and many of the survivors moved to Kingston.
  
  Although most of the buildings at the port today are not the original buildings, the walls of Fort Charles have been preserved since the rebuilding two years after the earthquake, Saint Peter's Church built in the early 18th century, and the ruins of Fort Rocky remain. There is also a museum to learn more about the history and see artefacts from its heyday.

• Devon House

  phone: +1 876 926-0815
  address: 26 Hope Rd
  One of the best example of Jamaican architecture, the Devon House was built by George Stiebel, the nation's first black millionaire. Much of the interior furniture is not original, but it upholds the 19th Century mansion style. The courtyard has craft shops, a few restaurants, and the most famous ice cream shop on the island.

• Hope Botanical GardensThe Largest Botanical Garden in the Caribbean. The garden gets its name from the man Richard Hope who helped capture Jamaica for Great Britain and was given the property to reward him for his faithfulness to the Crown.

• Hope Zoo

• Arawak Museum

  address: White Marl, Central Village
  A small museum with artefacts and information about the original inhabitants of the island, the Arawak (or Taino) Indians.

• People's Museum of Craft and TechnologyA small museum with pottery, instruments, and farming tools used in Jamaica.

• Lime CayBeach off the coast of Port Royale must take a boat from Port Royal fisherman or the hotel to island. Island is famous as the location for final scene in The Harder they Come. Crowded party spot on the weekends with food and drink available for purchase, much more sedate and often deserted on weekdays. You can camp overnight if you pre-arrange a next-day pickup time, but be careful, as you can't exactly swim to shore!

• Emancipation ParkOffers free concerts occasionally in the summer and during the Christmas. The six-acre park includes fountains and public art. The park is known for the large sculpture Redemption Song at the park's main entrance.Redemption Song, which takes its name from Bob Marley's song of the same name, is an 11 ft. (approximately 3m) high bronze sculpture by Jamaican artist Laura Facey. The sculpture features a male and female figure gazing to the skies – symbolic of their triumphant rise from the horrors of slavery. The statue was unveiled in July 2003, in time for the park's first anniversary. The park is in New Kingston, opened on 31 July 2002, the day before Emancipation Day. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's address to open the park he acknowledged that the park is a commemoration of the end of slavery. Even though the park doesn't provide food and drink, except ice-cream, restaurants and cafés are nearby.

• Putt and PlayOffers miniature golf and pool tables for a nice round of pool.

• Kingston Crafts Market
• Blue Mountain Coffee from the supermarket for cheap or get premium beans direct from the JABLUM manufacturers or craft/single estate roasters. Look into Rum Roast and Royals at Devon House for some better selections.
• Parade's Coronation Market on weekends, where you can buy fruit and vegetables from across the island. This was gutted during the disturbances at the end of May and while there are plans to rebuild it, traders have temporarily moved to other areas.
• Hot sauces. Jamaica is famous for its hot sauces, with the major ingredient being the Scotch Bonnet Pepper, found throughout the island. Supermarkets have a bewildering selection of such sauces, from several producers.
• Jerk spice powder. Make your own jerk chicken when you get home.

• Jerk, curried, fricasséed or brown stew chicken, pork or fish
• Escoveitch fish—Warning, spicy!
• Ackee and saltfish (codfish) the national dish of Jamaica
• Curried mutton (goat)
• Fruit: Mangoes, sugar cane, paw-paw (papaya), guava, June plum, jackfruit, star apples, guinep, naseberries...
• Roasted corn
• Bammy Cakes. 5-inch diameter cakes made from cassava.
• Patties from a bakery (The Brick Oven at Devon House makes excellent curried chicken patties, and both Juici and Tastee are "fast food" patty restaurants. In Liguanea there's a vegetarian/vegan patty restaurant, across the parking lot from the Wendy's
• Devon House I Scream (ice cream)

Budget

• Tastee Patty, Juici Patties, Mother's - fast food, mostly "patties", though Mother's also does hamburgers and fried foods (Various places around town)
• Island Grill - upmarket Jamaican fast food and jerk in New Kingston.
• Jerk pans - see them on the street smelling good - get Jerked Chicken, rice and peas!

Mid-range

• Akbar

  phone: +1 876 926-3480
  address: 11 Holborn Rd New Kingston 10
  Indian food served in a wonderful calm atmosphere. Sister Thai restaurant next door with equally pleasing menu

• Hope Gardens Vegetarian RestaurantBasic vegetarian food with menu that varies daily. Nice garden setting. Excellent juices.

• Every twist and turns you make, you may see many Asian restaurants, eg. Chinese Restaurants, Japanese Restaurants (Little Tokyo) and Indian Restaurants

Splurge

• Redbones Blues Cafe

  phone: +1 876 978-6091
  address: 1 Argyle Road, Kingston 10
  Jazz & Blues themed Caribbean Fusion Cuisine restaurant & bar. Cultural Watering Hole with Live Music & Art Gallery

• Norma's on the Terrace

  address: Devon House
  Excellent upmarket restaurant with a fusion of Western and Jamaican cooking. Eat outside at large tables with very decorative flower arrangements.

• White Bones Seafood

  address: 1 Mannings Hill Rd
  Highly recommended, but expensive, fish and seafood joint. Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat shellfish nights.

Drink Red Stripe and Appleton Rum. If you've got the guts, try some Wray & Nephew overproof white rum (locals refer to it as "whites"): a drink that is usually around 180 proof.
There's also refreshing coconut water, cane juice, sorrel (only served around Christmas time), Irish Moss, and tamarind drink or genuine Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (according to experts it is perhaps the best tasting, most expensive and most sought after coffee in the world). You can get premium beans from Rum, Roast and Royals in the Devon House complex.
Good bars include Red Bones Blues Café (also a good restaurant).
Kingston is the host of many great clubs. Found in New Kingston, there are many clubs that party until the early morning hours. The Quad, and Asylum are only a couple of the very popular clubs.

• QUAD Nightclub

  phone: +1 876 754-QUAD
  address: 20-22 Trinidad Tce
  the only multi level nightclub in Jamaica. jazz, reggae, dancehall, r & b, soca.

• The Deck

  address: 14 Trafalgar Rd, New Kingston
  Popular watering hole mainly patronised by those over 30. Disco and live music and excellent bar snacks.

Budget

• The Liguanea Club

  phone: +1 876 968-3483
  address: Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, Kingston 5, Jamaica
  38 rooms, air conditioned unit, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, fitness room/gym, 8 tennis courts, 6 squash courts and a swimming pool.

• Chelsea Hotel

  phone: +1 876 926-5803,+1 876 929-4746
  address: 5 Chelsea Ave, Kingston 10

• Indies Hotel

  phone: +1 876 926-2952
  address: 5 Holborn Rd, Kingston 10
  Guest house.

• Hope Pastures Great House Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1 876 632-2030 or +1 876 809-7510
  address: 40 Charlemont Ave, Kingston 6
  Wi-Fi, cable.

Mid-range

• Altamont Court Hotel

  phone: +1 876 929-5931
  address: 1-5 Altamont Terrace, New Kingston

• Christar Villas Hotel

  phone: +1 876 978-3933
  address: 99a Hope Rd, Kingston 6
  Fascinating mid-range Jamaican hotel with a wide range of facilities and Jamaican mojo.

Splurge

• Courtleigh Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 876 929-9000
  address: 85 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5
  Mahogany furnishings in a traditional Caribbean style. Usual amenities for business travellers. Mingles Pub is a popular meeting place and Alexander's restaurant has a good reputation. Offers handicapped access.

• Wyndham Kingston

  phone: +1 876 926-5430
  address: 77 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston
  Reports suggest that it has seen many better days and lost it's former Hilton franchise. Breakfasts not included in price and are expensive. Internet extremely unreliable.

• The Knutsford Court Hotel

  phone: +1 876 929-1000
  address: 16 Chelsea Ave, Kingston 5
  170 room, newly refurbished.

• Spanish Court Hotel

  address: 1 Saint Lucia Ave, Kingston 5
  New hotel, with gym, swimming pool, etc. The architect seems to have almost forgotten windows in some of the rooms at the back, however, and others are a bit noisy if you want an early night. A business rather than a tourist hotel. Excellent internet, both Wi-Fi and cable, and a good restaurant.

• Pegasus

  phone: +1 876 926-3691
  address: 81 Knutsford Bvd
  Arguably Kingston's major hotel. In the New Kingston area close to most offices.

• Terra Nova Hotel

  phone: +1 876 926-9334
  address: 17 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10
  Definitely a splurge hotel the Terra Nova advertises itself as an "All Suite" hotel. Convenient location, good service and a highly regarded kitchen.

Kingston has more crime than the rest of the island and it is one of the most dangerous cities in the world when measured by the murder rate. While the Trench Town section of Kingston does have an interesting history, nevertheless no visitor should dare go there unless they're part of a goodwill tour or something similar with a high level of pre-arranged security. The average tourist going there would be signing his or her death warrant. Common-sense and precaution should ensure a pleasant experience in the safer areas of the city, though. If you find yourself in need of the police, the emergency number is 119.

Tourists, especially white tourists, tend to stick out and garner lots of attention, not all of it positive. Hissing and cat calls at women (even accompanied ones) is common. Replying to overzealous touts with "No badda (bother) me" can help.
Homosexuality is not at all condoned and can elicit violent reactions.

Embassies and High Commissions

• Canada High Commission

  phone: +1 876 926-1500
  address: 3 West Kings House Rd

• China

  phone: +1 876 927-3871
  address: 8 Seaview Ave, Kingston 10

• Japan

  phone: +1 876 929-3338
  address: NCB Towers, North Tower, 6F, 2 Oxford Rd

• United Kingdom

  phone: +1 876 936 0700
  address: 28 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10

• United States

  phone: +1 876 702-6000
  address: 142 Old Hope Rd, Liguanea area

• Blue Mountains (Jamaica)

• Organize an overnight climb of Blue Mountain. Many outfits will come and pick you up from in town for an additional fee.
• Visit the Gap Café and Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains

Hellshire Beach - A taste of the authentic Jamaican beach going experience

Lime Cay - an uninhabited island beach with snorkelling opportunities, reachable from Port Royal for cheap via a fisherman's boat or by a more expensive fancier boat from Morgan's Harbour Hotel

JABLUM - the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee factory

Port Royal - the former pirate city that has been destroyed twice by earthquakes is a good place to relax and have a beer or visit the museum and learn about the piracy history

Portland (Jamaica) - passed the Blue Mountains.

Ocho Rios ("Ochi") - only 4 hours away by minibus/route taxi for ~J$500. Direct morning departures from the Downtown Transport Center and indirect (via Port Maria) from HWT

Montego Bay - roughly 4 hours from Kingston for less than US$10 from the Downtown Transport Center.

Port Antonio - take a direct minibus/route taxi from HWT for J$200–300.