Explore the diversity of the Jamaican capital, from the must-see Bob Marley Museum and reggae bars to blues clubs and the 19th-century pink mansion Devon House. You'll get a taste of Jamaican history at Port Royal, where pirates used to spend their treasure. Escape to the foothills of the Blue Mountains for cooler air and locally grown coffee.
You'll find that the bustling streets of Kingston, Jamaica's edgy capital, are a world away from the laid-back resorts of Jamaica's north coast. Overlooking a natural harbour, Kingston fans out towards the Blue Mountains and coffee plantations. Explore the waterfront along Ocean Boulevard, leading north to the historic corner of Kingston, with 17th-century buildings dating back to British colonial rule. Uptown you'll find shopping centres, bars and nightclubs.
Get under the skin of Kingston with a visit to the Bob Marley Museum, the red brick house where his Tuff Gong recording studios were based. Take a wander around Devon House, a classic old Jamaican mansion filled with antiques. Get a taste of Jamaican art by browsing the collection of the National Gallery. You can see Jamaica's tropical blooms at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Take a trip to nearby Port Royal to discover its wicked history. Once the focal point of Jamaica's maritime commerce, it was also popular with pirates who came to spend their cash. Stroll around British-built Fort Charles, then go snorkelling off the shore of Lime Cay, an uninhabited white-sand island. Take a short drive to Strawberry Hill, the mountain retreat overlooking Kingston, to dine at its acclaimed restaurant. Or cheer on the national team at a cricket match in Sabina Park. If you've got enough energy left then explore Kingston's nightlife scene - start off at a reggae bar, then head for a blues club or one of the hotter nightclubs in uptown Kingston.
