The Jamaica capital is its largest city and is something of a hodgepodge of swanky boulevards, old colonial districts and shanty towns. Kingston is the main gateway to the island and has a decent collection of attractions and landmarks. There are also beautiful beaches here, negating the need to hit Montego Bay, while the nightlife scene is well developed and the Bob Marley museums and memorials are a big hit. Although many choose wrongly to avoid Kingston due to its street culture and renowned social issues, tourism is still big business here, year- round, with wintertime being busiest. The main Kingston tourist information office (the Jamaica Tourist Board ) is located on Knutsford Boulevard, within the Uptown area of the town.

As the capital of Jamaica, Kingston contains a selection of important landmarks, mainly dating back to the period of British colonial rule. However, many were either damaged or totally destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1908. The late 17th- century Kingston Parish Church and the early 20th- hundred years Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity are two of the most obvious. Others include Devon House, Giddy Home, Alexander Bustamante’s House and the George William Gordon Home. Near to Devon House and not open to the public is Jamaica House, a palace-like building where the Jamaican prime minister once resided. Also in this area is King’s House, the Canadian Embassy and the Mayfair Hotel. Fort Charles in nearby Port Royal deserves a mention, with its glorious harbour views and surprising Nelson heritage.

If you are looking to familiarise yourself with the top tourist attractions during your holiday in Kingston, do consider exploring the city by following a popular self-guided route, starting on the Ocean Boulevard and leading all the way to the National Heroes Park. Along this path you will encounter the Coke Memorial Hall, on the eastern side of William Grant Recreation area, which appears more like a fortress than a venue for local events. Downtown Kingston is centred around ‘The Parade’, where road vendors will be easy to come by and reggae music is usually never far away. Trench Town is an interesting part of this area, boasting the origins of reggae and ska music. If you are right here as a Bob Marley fan, then consider a trip to the Tuff Gong Recording Studios.

In general, Kingston is not the first place that people think of when it comes to Jamaican beaches, although it should be noted that there are some very appealing stretches of soft white sand in this part of the island. Particularly popular are the beaches of Fort Clarence and Hellshire, while Fisherman’s Beach is equally appealing, using its fried fish specialities and weekend party atmosphere. Just a short distance to the east of Kingston and close to Bull Bay, Cable Hut Beach is the place to come for those wishing to surf on the Caribbean Sea.

Several quality museums happen to be based in Kingston, offering information about all manner of subject matters, ranging from Jamaican music to politics. It is generally the Bob Marley Museum where most people head first and this was once both the home and recording studio of the great reggae icon. At the African Caribbean Heritage Centre, the rich African history of Jamaica is explored, and at the Institute of Jamaica, the Natural History Museum and the National Library of Discovery bay, jamaica warrant a look. Offering something exceptional in the world of art, the Nationwide Gallery of Jamaica functions as the island’s premier gallery and contains organised themed exhibitions, whilst also hosting the annual National Visual Arts Exhibition.

From Kingston it is just a short journey to a number of nearby attractions, such as the exotic Castleton Gardens, the attractive first capital of Jamaica – Spanish Town (once named St . Jago de la Vega), as well as the former pirate stronghold of Slot Royal. Located at the mouth of Kingston Harbour and near to Interface Royal is Lime Kay, with its pleasant beach often becoming rather busy at the weekend. A little further from Kingston may be the beach resort of Port Antonio, the bustling market town of May Pen, and the lively resort city of Ocho Rios, where cruise ships dock on a regular basis. The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are also within reach and are nothing short of a hiker’s paradise, with the Strawberry Hill vacation resort next to Irish Town being especially popular.