Things to do in  Kingston

Housed in the former home and recording studio of reggae king Bob Marley, this museum is among the most popular attractions in all of Jamaica. Here you can see Marley’s gold and platinum records, articles of his clothing, and his favorite guitar still resting beside his bed, as well as reminders of a 1976 attempt on his life.

Visitors to Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport can wait for their flights at the gate, or upgrade their experience with a visit to the Club Kingston Airport Lounge—even if they don't have a high-end credit card or a business- or first-class ticket.

The 19th-century Devon House is a Georgian-style home once owned by George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire. Rooms furnished with Caribbean antiques still retain original features; highlights include an English chandelier in the ballroom. Located in Kingston, the 11-acre (4-hectare) estate now has shops, art boutiques, and cafés.

The highest peak, the longest range, the best coffee—Jamaica’s Blue Mountains rightfully claim a handful of superlatives. The mountain range spans 28 miles (45 kilometers) across the rugged eastern portion of Jamaica and offers views of the island’s north and south coasts, and on a clear day, even all the way across the Caribbean Sea to Cuba.

Emancipation Park is a 7-acre swath of green space in the New Kingston area of the Jamaican capital. It’s a popular spot for picnicking and has a jogging path around the perimeter, fountains, and gardens featuring a mix of native and imported plants, as well as several particularly worthwhile public art installations.

The National Gallery of Jamaica is the largest and oldest public art museum in the British Caribbean. Opened in 1974, it features an impressive collection of Jamaican art, with a large permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits that showcase contemporary artists.

Kingston’s largest green space, National Heroes Park is a 50-acre (20-hectare) former horse track that now houses the tombs of numerous important figures from Jamaican history and a war memorial to Jamaicans who died in World War I. The park was also the venue for Bob Marley's famous 1976 Smile Jamaica concert.

The Trench Town neighborhood of Kingston—and, more specifically, the Trench Town Culture Yard—is most famous as the home of reggae legend Bob Marley, who spent much of his youth living and creating music here. The neighborhood is also considered the birthplace of reggae itself, with many other artists originating here, too.

Nestled in the southern foothills of Jamaica’s mist-hung Blue Mountains, the Craighton Estate has been producing coffee since the late 18th century. Visitors come to admire the 19th-century house, stroll the 300-acre (121-hectare) coffee fields, and savor the end result: smooth and full-flavored Craighton Estate Blue Mountain Coffee.

Situated at the end of Kingston Harbour, Port Royal is a small town dating back to 1518. Among the largest cities in the Caribbean during its prime, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 1692, leading to its decline. Today, the area is best-known for its star attraction: the 17th-century Fort Charles.

Originally built as Fort Cromwell in the mid-1650s, Fort Charles was one of the few structures that survived the 1692 earthquake that sent much of Port Royal into the sea. The fort was rebuilt after the earthquake and continued to be used by the British. Today it houses the Fort Charles Maritime Museum.