By air
Sangster International (MBJ), ~5 km by road
North America · Jamaica
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Jamaica's resort city on the north-west coast
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — dry and breezy
Don't miss
Doctor's Cave Beach
Rose Hall Great House
Gloucester Avenue
The Martha Brae River
Things to do
Beach days
Glass-bottom boat trips in the marine park
Rafting on the Martha Brae
Great house tours
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, sunscreen, sandals
A quieter corner
Sam Sharpe Square in the old town centre
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Montego Bay?
December to April — dry and breezy. What to pack: Swimwear, sunscreen, sandals.
How do I get to Montego Bay?
Fly into Sangster International (MBJ), ~5 km by road.
What is there to do in Montego Bay?
Beach days, glass-bottom boat trips in the marine park, rafting on the Martha Brae, great house tours. A quieter find: Sam Sharpe Square in the old town centre.
What should I eat in Montego Bay?
Jerk chicken from roadside drums, curried goat, rice and peas, fresh coconut water.
About Montego Bay
- Coastal
Where it is
Montego Bay is a city on the north-west coast of Jamaica, the capital of St James parish, set around a wide bay with resort beaches and hills behind.
History
The bay was used by the Spanish and grew under British rule into a port shipping sugar from the surrounding plantations. Samuel Sharpe led the Christmas Rebellion of enslaved workers in the area in 1831, a rising that helped hasten the end of slavery. From the mid 20th century the city became the heart of Jamaica's tourism.
People
Montego Bay's people speak English and Jamaican Patois, and the city mixes a busy working downtown with resort hotels along the coast, where much of the parish works in tourism.
Known for
- White-sand beaches and the marine park
- Rose Hall Great House
- Gloucester Avenue, the Hip Strip
- Rafting on the Martha Brae River
Did you know?
Sangster International Airport, on the edge of Montego Bay, is the busiest airport in Jamaica and the main arrival point for visitors.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.