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Kingston (Jamaica)
Kingston is the capital of Jamaica.
Culture and History
Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, is located on the southeastern coast of the island. There are two major sections to this city: 'downtown' and 'uptown.' Kingston was for some time Jamaica's only city and is still the commercial and cultural capital. You will notice that the city is assigned the equivalent of zip codes, (Kingston 5, Kingston 10, etc.) which is a good representation of how truly large this city is, especially for an island such as Jamaica.
Travel to Kingston (Jamaica), visa requirements
Flights to Kingston (Jamaica), airtickets
- Norman Manley International Airport (IATA: KIN), Phone: 1-888-247-7678, [1]. Located in the southeastern part of the island, overlooking Kingston Harbour on the Palisadoes peninsula. As of June 2006, Manley International Airport is served by Air Jamaica, British Airways, Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, BWIA, Spirit Airlines, US Airways, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines.
By car
Island Rental Cars has offices at the NMIA airport, in downtown Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, and will allow you to do one-way rentals. Remember to drive on the left!
Buses to Kingston (Jamaica)
Kingston has an extensive bus system that is not too well documented. Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs the bus system for the government, while private contractors also run the same routes. Buses generally go through one or more of the 3 central transportation hubs 1 downtown, 2. Half-Way Tree or 3. Cross Roads. Maps of the bus system can be found on whagwan.org.
By boat
Get around
Kingston (Jamaica) attractions and sightseeing
- Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road, Phone: +1 876-927-9152.
- Devon House, 26 Hope Road, Phone: +1 876-926-0815. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Nice classic Jamaican mansion. The courtyard has craft shops, a restaurant and an ice cream shop with Jamaican fruit flavors. US$6 includes tour.
- Hope Botanical Gardens The Largest Botanical Garden in the Caribbean.
- Hope Zoo Next door
- Institute of Jamaica, 12 East St., Phone: +1 876-922-0620. M-Th 9:30AM-5PM, F 9:30AM-4PM. Home to the museums of Jamaican national and West Indian history, art galleries and a West Indian Reference Library with the world's largest collection of its kind.
- National Gallery of Jamaica, 12 Ocean Blvd, Phone: +1 876-922-1561, [2]. Works by Jamaican artists on display.
- Port Royal Area, Notorious 17th century pirate haven
- Lime Kay, Beach off the coast of Port Royale must take a boat from Port Royal fisherman or the hotel to island. Island is famous as the location for final scene in The Harder they Come. Crowded party spot on the weekends with food and drink available for purchase, much more sedate and often deserted on weekdays. You can camp overnight if you pre-arrange a next-day pickup time, but be careful, as you can't exactly swim to shore!
City tours
Kingston is the host of many great clubs. Found in New Kingston, there are many clubs that party until the early morning hours. The Quad, and Asylum are only a couple of the very popular clubs.
Learn
Work
Shopping, Kingston (Jamaica) souvenirs
- Kingston Crafts Market
- Blue Mountain Coffee from the supermarket for cheap or get premium beans direct from the JABLUM manufacturers or craft/single estate roasters. Look into Rum Roast and Royals at Devon House for some better selections.
- Parade's Coronation Market on weekends, where you can buy fruit and vegetables from across the island.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Jerk, curried, fricassed or brown stew chicken, pork or fish
- Escoveitch fish
- Ackee and saltfish (codfish)
- Beef, chicken, callaloo patties (also available with shrimp or lobster)
- Curried mutton (goat)
- Mangoes, sugar cane, paw-paw (papaya), guava, june plum, jackfruit, star apples
- roasted corn
- bammy
- patties from a bakery
- ice cream for Devon House
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Kingston (Jamaica) nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Drink Red Stripe and Appleton Rum. If you've got the guts, try some Wray & Nephew overproof white rum (locals refer to it as "whites"): a drink that is usually around 180 proof.
There's also refreshing coconut water, cane juice, sorrel (only served around Christmas time), Irish Moss, and tamarind drink or genuine Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (according to experts it is perhaps the best tasting, most expensive and most sought after coffee in the world). You can get premium beans from Rum, Roast and Royals in the Devon House complex.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Budget
- Chelsea Hotel $40 USD.
- Indie's and Mrs. J's Guest House on Holborn road
Mid-range
- Altamont Court Hotel, 1-5 Altamont Terrace New Kingston Jamaica, W.I., ☎ +(876) 929-5931 (fax: +(876) 929-2118), [3]. Conde Nast Traveler-recommended Jamaican hotel promises strategic location, top-notch accommodations, fine facilities and world-class service. US$110.
- Christar Villas Hotel, 99a Hope Rd., Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I., ☎ +876-978-3933, [4]. Fascinating mid-range Jamaican hotel with a wide range of facilities and Jamaican mojo. US$115.
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
It should be noted, however, to exercise general safety precautions while in Kingston. Like any large city anywhere in the world, it is home to a higher number of crimes than the rest of the island. Common sense and precaution should ensure a pleasant experience. If you find yourself in need of police, the emergency number is 119.
Cope
Tourists, especially white tourists, tend to stick out and garner lots of attention, not all of it positive. Hissing and cat calls at women (even accompanied ones) is common.
Homosexuality is not at all condoned and can illicit violent reactions.
Get out
Buses leave from Half-Way Tree (HWT) and the massive Parade country bus park to all of Jamaica. For Portland, there are buses leaving from HWT. For Negril/Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, the Parade country bus park is the best bet. Only totally packed buses leave, so try to get on the fullest you can find, and keep a tight hold of your bags.
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