Jamaica · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Jamaica
These are the places worth your time in Jamaica, from the Bob Marley Museum and Devon House in Kingston to the cliffs of Negril, the falls around Ocho Rios and the jerk pits of Boston Bay. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Kingston
Arts and Culture
- Bob Marley Museum (Hope Road)
The house where Bob Marley lived and recorded, with guided tours through his rooms and studio. - National Gallery of Jamaica (Downtown Kingston)
The largest public collection of Jamaican art, from Edna Manley to intuitive painters. - Devon House (Hope Road)
A grand nineteenth century mansion built by Jamaica's first Black millionaire, with lawns, shops and famous ice cream. - Trench Town Culture Yard (Trench Town)
The tenement yard where Bob Marley lived as a young man, now a small community museum with local guides. - Hope Gardens (Hope Road)
Large botanical gardens beside a small zoo, loved by Kingston families on weekends. - Emancipation Park (New Kingston)
A green city park with the striking Redemption Song statue and a busy evening walking track. - Port Royal (Palisadoes)
The old pirate capital at the tip of the Palisadoes, with Fort Charles and fried fish by the water.
Restaurants
- Gloria's Seafood Restaurant (Port Royal)
A Port Royal institution for escoveitch fish, bammy and festival by the harbour. - Usain Bolt's Tracks and Records (Marketplace, Constant Spring Road)
A lively sports bar and Jamaican kitchen owned by the sprint legend.
Cafés
- Café Blue (Barbican)
A local coffee chain serving real Blue Mountain coffee and pastries. - Devon House I Scream (Devon House, Hope Road)
Generations of Kingstonians queue here for rum and raisin or grape nut ice cream.
Bars and Nightlife
- Kingston Dub Club (Skyline Drive, Jacks Hill)
A hillside sound system session on Sunday nights with the lights of the city below.
Shopping and Markets
- Coronation Market (Downtown Kingston)
The biggest and busiest market in the Caribbean, best visited with a local guide. - Things Jamaican at Devon House (Devon House, Hope Road)
Locally made crafts, sauces, coffee and gifts in one easy store.
Things to Do
- Liberty Hall (King Street)
The restored headquarters of Marcus Garvey, with a small museum on his movement.
Nature and Outdoors
- Holywell Recreational Area (Blue Mountains)
Cool forest trails and lookouts in the Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains National Park. - Lime Cay (Off Port Royal)
A tiny sand cay reached by boat from Port Royal, popular with locals on Sundays. - Craighton Coffee Estate (Irish Town, Blue Mountains)
A working coffee estate tour with views down the valleys of the Blue Mountains.
Stays
- Strawberry Hill (Irish Town, Blue Mountains)
A mountainside hotel above the city founded by Chris Blackwell, with views over Kingston. - The Courtleigh (Knutsford Boulevard)
A central business hotel in New Kingston close to restaurants and the park.
Events
- Jamaica Carnival (Kingston)
Soca, fetes and costumed road marches through the city in the weeks after Easter.
Places to Visit in Montego Bay
Things to Do
- Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue)
The main strip of bars, craft stalls and beaches, busy day and night. - Rafting on the Martha Brae (Trelawny)
Gentle bamboo raft rides poled by a captain along a jungle river. - Luminous Lagoon (Falmouth)
Night boat trips on a bay that glows when the water moves.
Nature and Outdoors
- Doctor's Cave Beach (Gloucester Avenue)
The famous Montego Bay beach with clear calm water and lifeguards. - Dead End Beach (Kent Avenue)
A small free beach by the airport where locals watch sunsets and planes come in. - Mayfield Falls (Westmoreland)
River pools and small falls you walk up with a guide in the hills.
Arts and Culture
- Rose Hall Great House (Rose Hall)
A restored plantation great house and the setting of the White Witch legend. - Greenwood Great House (Greenwood)
A quieter great house with antique instruments and long views over the coast. - Falmouth Historic District (Falmouth)
A Georgian port town with old stone buildings and a busy Wednesday market. - Sam Sharpe Square (Downtown Montego Bay)
The square named for the hero of the 1831 Christmas Rebellion, with a memorial statue.
Restaurants
- Scotchies (Coral Gardens, Ironshore)
Famous pit jerk chicken, pork and festival served under thatched huts. - The Houseboat Grill (Montego Bay Freeport)
A floating restaurant moored in the lagoon, reached by a little ferry. - Pork Pit (Gloucester Avenue)
A long running open air jerk spot on the Hip Strip.
Bars and Nightlife
- Margaritaville Montego Bay (Gloucester Avenue)
A big fun bar with a waterslide into the sea and night parties. - Pier 1 (Howard Cooke Boulevard)
A waterfront restaurant and bar known for its weekend parties.
Shopping and Markets
- Harbour Street Craft Market (Downtown Montego Bay)
The largest craft market in town for carvings, prints and souvenirs.
Stays
- Half Moon (Rose Hall)
A large historic resort with a long beach and many villas. - S Hotel Jamaica (Gloucester Avenue)
A design hotel on the Hip Strip with a rooftop pool beside Doctor's Cave Beach.
Events
- Reggae Sumfest (Catherine Hall)
Jamaica's biggest reggae and dancehall festival every July.
Places to Visit in Negril
Nature and Outdoors
- Seven Mile Beach (Norman Manley Boulevard)
A long sweep of soft sand and calm water lined with small hotels and bars. - Booby Cay (Off Long Bay)
A small uninhabited island reached by boat, good for snorkelling. - Blue Hole Mineral Spring (Brighton)
A deep natural limestone pool with a ladder and a jump platform. - Long Bay Beach Park (Norman Manley Boulevard)
A public beach park with space for picnics.
Bars and Nightlife
- Rick's Cafe (West End)
The famous cliff top bar for sunset and cliff jumping. - Pushcart Restaurant and Rum Bar (West End)
A cliffside bar with street food and live music at sunset. - Alfred's Ocean Palace (Norman Manley Boulevard)
A beach bar with long running reggae nights on the sand. - Bourbon Beach (Norman Manley Boulevard)
A classic beach venue for live reggae shows.
Restaurants
- The Caves (West End)
A boutique hotel with dinners in candlelit sea caves. - 3 Dives Jerk Centre (West End)
A simple cliff side jerk spot loved for its sunsets. - Ivan's Restaurant (Catcha Falling Star, West End)
A cliffside restaurant known for its sunset views and seafood.
Things to Do
- Negril Lighthouse (West End)
The old lighthouse at the western tip of the island. - YS Falls (St. Elizabeth)
A family owned estate with tiered falls and a rope swing.
Stays
- Rockhouse Hotel (West End)
Thatched villas on the cliffs with ladders into the sea. - Tensing Pen (West End)
Quiet cottages on the cliffs with plenty of space and privacy.
Shopping and Markets
- Negril Craft Market (Negril town)
Local carvings, art and souvenirs near the roundabout.
Places to Visit in Ocho Rios
Nature and Outdoors
- Dunn's River Falls (Ocho Rios)
Climb the terraced falls hand in hand with a guide. - Blue Hole (Island Gully Falls, near Ocho Rios)
Swimmable turquoise pools and jumps in the hills. - Konoko Falls and Park (Ocho Rios)
Gardens, falls and a small museum of Jamaican history. - Turtle River Park (Ocho Rios)
A small free park with ponds and paths in the town centre. - Mahogany Beach (Ocho Rios)
A small beach east of town used by locals.
Things to Do
- Mystic Mountain (Ocho Rios)
A chairlift, bobsled ride and zip lines through rainforest. - Green Grotto Caves (Discovery Bay)
Limestone caves with a lake and a long history of hiding people. - Fern Gully (A3, Ocho Rios)
A winding road through a deep gorge of ferns. - Dolphin Cove (Ocho Rios)
A marine park next to Dunn's River with water activities.
Arts and Culture
Restaurants
- Scotchies Drax Hall (Drax Hall)
The Ocho Rios branch of the famous pit jerk centre. - Miss T's Kitchen (Ocho Rios)
Colourful home style Jamaican cooking with a garden setting. - Toscanini (Harmony Hall, Tower Isle)
Italian dishes with Jamaican produce in a historic house.
Shopping and Markets
- Ocho Rios Craft Park (Ocho Rios)
Stalls of carvings, baskets and souvenirs.
Stays
- Jamaica Inn (Ocho Rios)
A classic small hotel on a private cove. - Goldeneye Hotel (Oracabessa)
A stylish hideaway on Ian Fleming's former estate. - Sandals Ochi (Ocho Rios)
A large adults resort on the beach.
Events
- Rebel Salute (St. Ann)
A roots reggae festival held each January.
Places to Visit in Port Antonio
Nature and Outdoors
- Frenchman's Cove (Port Antonio)
A small beach where a cold river meets the sea. - Blue Lagoon (Port Antonio)
A deep lagoon of blue and green water fed by springs. - Winnifred Beach (Fairy Hill)
A free public beach loved by locals with food stalls. - Reach Falls (Manchioneal)
Cool falls and pools in the forest. - Somerset Falls (Hope Bay)
Falls in a gorge reached by a short boat ride. - Long Bay (Portland)
A wide windswept beach with surf and simple bars. - Moore Town (Rio Grande Valley)
The Windward Maroon town with a UNESCO listed heritage.
Restaurants
- Boston Jerk Centre (Boston Bay)
Jerk stalls in the place where the style is said to be born. - Trident Hotel (Port Antonio)
Fine dining in a stylish coastal hotel.
Things to Do
- Rio Grande Rafting (Berridale)
Gentle bamboo raft trips down the Rio Grande. - Boston Bay surf (Boston Bay)
Small waves where locals teach beginners to surf.
Arts and Culture
- Folly Mansion (Folly Point)
The ruins of a grand concrete mansion by the sea. - Errol Flynn Marina (Port Antonio)
The marina where boats come and go and families stroll.
Shopping and Markets
- Musgrave Market (Port Antonio)
The local market for fruit and crafts.
Stays
- Geejam (San San)
A boutique hotel with a recording studio by the sea. - Hotel Mockingbird Hill (Drapers)
A small eco hotel in the hills with sea views. - Great Huts (Boston Bay)
Treehouse style huts on the cliffs.
Places to Visit in Treasure Beach
Nature and Outdoors
- Treasure Beach (St. Elizabeth)
A quiet stretch of fishing villages and small bays. - Lovers Leap (Southfield)
A cliff lookout high above the south coast. - Frenchman's Bay (Treasure Beach)
A small sandy bay with calm water.
Restaurants
- Jack Sprat (Treasure Beach)
A beach restaurant for crab, fish and pizza.
Things to Do
- Appleton Estate (Nassau Valley)
Rum tours at a historic estate.
Shopping and Markets
- Middle Quarters pepper shrimp (Middle Quarters)
Roadside vendors sell spicy river shrimp.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Scotchies Kingston (Port Henderson Road area, Kingston)
Pit jerk chicken and pork cooked over pimento wood in the open air. - Red Bones Blues Cafe (Braemar Avenue, Kingston)
A garden restaurant with live jazz, blues and poetry evenings. - Kingston Creative Art Walk (Downtown Kingston, Kingston)
A monthly street art and music walk through the murals of downtown. - Rocklands Bird Sanctuary (Anchovy, Montego Bay)
Hummingbirds feed from your hand at this small long running sanctuary. - Croydon Plantation (Catadupa, Montego Bay)
A hillside farm tour tasting tropical fruit, coffee and pineapple. - Rainforest Seafoods (Montego Bay, Montego Bay)
A relaxed seafood and coffee spot for breakfast and lunch. - Royal Palm Reserve (Great Morass, Negril)
A wetland reserve with boardwalks among native palms and birds. - Banana Shout Resort (West End, Negril)
Simple, colourful cliff cottages with steps down to the water. - Rockhouse Bakery (West End, Negril)
Fresh bread and pastries in a small cliff side bakery. - Negril Hills Golf Club (Negril, Negril)
A relaxed nine and eighteen hole course in the hills above town. - Ricky's Bar and Restaurant (West End, Negril)
A friendly local spot on the cliffs for fresh seafood. - Margaritaville Ocho Rios (Island Village, Ocho Rios)
A beachside bar and party spot near the cruise pier. - Woody's Low Bridge Place (Drapers, Port Antonio)
A small long running spot for burgers and local food. - Cliff Hotel Bar (Port Antonio, Port Antonio)
A quiet cliff bar for sea views. - Pantrepant (Portland, Port Antonio)
A farm restaurant visited by appointment. - Pelican Bar (Off Parottee, Treasure Beach)
A wooden bar on stilts in the sea, reached by boat. - Black River Safari (Black River, Treasure Beach)
Boat trips on the river to see crocodiles and birds. - Jakes (Treasure Beach, Treasure Beach)
A colourful small hotel by the sea. - Calabash Literary Festival (Treasure Beach, Treasure Beach)
A free literary festival by the sea in some years. - Little Ochie (Alligator Pond, Treasure Beach)
A seafood spot on the beach with boat shaped tables.