By air
Norman Manley International (KIN), ~20 km by road
North America · Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Jamaica's capital and the home of reggae
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — the driest months
Don't miss
The Bob Marley Museum
Devon House
Port Royal
The National Gallery of Jamaica
Things to do
Music history tours
A day trip to the Blue Mountains
Boat trips to the cays
Evening sound-system street dances
Where to eat
What to pack
Light clothes, sunscreen, a light layer for the Blue Mountains
A quieter corner
Lime Cay, a small sandy islet reached by boat from Port Royal
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kingston?
December to April — the driest months. What to pack: Light clothes, sunscreen, a light layer for the Blue Mountains.
How do I get to Kingston?
Fly into Norman Manley International (KIN), ~20 km by road.
What is there to do in Kingston?
Music history tours, a day trip to the Blue Mountains, boat trips to the cays, evening sound-system street dances. A quieter find: Lime Cay, a small sandy islet reached by boat from Port Royal.
What should I eat in Kingston?
Jerk chicken and pork, ackee and saltfish, fried fish with festival dumplings at Port Royal.
About Kingston
- Coastal
Where it is
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, on the south-east coast beside a large natural harbour and below the slopes of the Blue Mountains.
History
Kingston was laid out in 1692 for survivors of the earthquake that destroyed the nearby pirate port of Port Royal. It grew into the island's main trading town and replaced Spanish Town as the capital in 1872, and in the 20th century its studios and neighbourhoods gave the world ska, rocksteady and reggae.
People
Kingstonians speak English and Jamaican Patois, and the city is the centre of the island's music, art and politics, with lively street dances, churches and markets across its neighbourhoods.
Known for
- The birthplace of reggae and ska
- The Bob Marley Museum
- Port Royal and its pirate past
- Gateway to the Blue Mountains
Did you know?
Much of Port Royal, once one of the busiest ports in the English Caribbean, slid into the sea during the earthquake of 1692.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.