CITY GUIDE: KINGSTON, JAMAICA (PART 1)

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,' also referred to as 'New Kingston.' Kingston was for some time Jamaica's only city and is still the commercial and cultural capital. HERE IS THE GUIDE!



GETTING IN

By Air

Norman Manley Int'l Airport, Kingsti

Norman Manley International Airport Phone: 1-888-247-7678 . Located in the southeastern part of the island, overlooking Kingston Harbour on the Palisadoes peninsula. Served by Air Canada, Air Jamaica, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and a number of Caribbean airlines. Be prepared for queues at the airport, to clear both immigration and customs, which are fairly strict. It is important that you know where you will be staying and write it down on your immigration form. You can book a flight online or at a tourist office anywhere, but I will recommend this site to book your flight to jamaica on budget, visit CHEAP FLIGHT

There are taxi vans between the airport and town - one person US$28; a group $33, potentially negotiable. Payment can be in US$. The cheapest way is to take bus 98 straight to the Parade in downtown Kingston for J$80. The bus stop outside the arrivals terminal is for bus 98 going towards.

Port Royal. Just passed the bus stop is where bus 98 stops on its way to downtown.
Kingston Tinson Pen There is a smaller airport closer to downtown but it does not have any regularly scheduled passenger service any more.


By car

Taxis in Kingston

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!


By bus

Kingston has an extensive and modern bus system. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs the bus system for the government, while private contractors also run the same routes. There are also minibuses and route taxis which are very affordable. Whenever in doubt, ask a bus driver how to get somewhere or where to find a certain bus; they are generally very helpful.

Public transit generally goes through one or more of the three central transportation hubs.

Downtown (Parade and The Downtown Transport Center). Keep a tight hold of your bags as petty theft is possible as in any large metropolis.

The ultra-modern Half-Way Tree Transport Center (HWT) in uptown Kingston is generally a safer area, but there are less buses.

Cross Roads an older, congested hub not suggested for tourists. Maps of the bus system can be found on www.whagwan.org


GETTING AROUND KINGSTON

By bus

Buses in kingston

The bus service in Jamaica has now been upgraded with express buses cost ranging from $50 to $100, and another bus also air conditioned can be found in yellow with the Jamaican flag at the front costs for regular fares $15 and for children under 12 $50 12+(prices are expected to raise for the new buses soon because of the increase of gas). The original unconditioned buses still function, but who know when will they last?


By taxi

All official taxis have red license plates that start with 'PPV'.
Route Taxis (a taxi that has a set route and picks up multiple people along it) are also common and often mirror bus routes and are not much more expensive than buses. Fares range from J$400 to J$5000 for long routes.

Chattered vehicles
With some practice and bravery you can rent a car (Island Rent a car allows for one-way car rental). Take a good map and be willing to ask (and keep asking to get a consensus) for directions along the way. It's not safe to drive in the countryside after dark.


ACCOMMODATION

The area you want to stay in is uptown Kingston. It’s safe and has nightlife. For apartments check out AirBnb . Aside from that options are quite limited. Anywhere north or east of Half Way Tree station isn’t a bad option. If you’re traveling solo or on a budget, I highly recommend you stay in Reggae Hostel . You can’t bring girls back, but the owner and staff are great, as is the location. It has a bar, cool people, and they even arrange nights out.

READ: HOTELS IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA


PLACES TO VISIT


Emancipation Park

Emancipation park

The Liguanea Club, a recreational and social club for the upper class in society, located on Knutsford Boulevard, owned over 35 acres (14 ha) of land including the former Liguanea Park now the site of Emancipation Park. The Club gave the land measuring seven acres as a gift to the Jamaican Government.

The park is well known for the 11 ft. (approximately 3m) high bronze sculpture done by Jamaican artist Laura Facey-Cooper, situated at the Park's main entrance.


National Gallery of Jamaica

Located at 12 Ocean Blvd, ☎ +1 876-922-1561. Tues. to Thurs. 10 AM to 4:30 PM, Fri. 10 AM to 4 PM, Sat. 10 AM to 3 PM. The museum features artwork by Jamaicans from throughout its history, from the native Taino Indians through the colonial period to works by modern artists. The gallery hosts its annual National Visual Arts Exhibition, which began in 1963 as a way to promote post-colonial art and to showcase the works of rising artists from Jamaica.

Entrance fees are waved during the exhibition period. J$100, students and senior citizens over 65 may enter for J$50.


Bob Marley Museum

It is Locatrf at 56 Hope Road, ☎
876-927-9152. Open Mon-Sat, Tours last 1hr, including a 20min film. The first tour begins at 9:30am and the last tour at 4pm. Filled with tons of memorabilia and Bob Marley's personal belongings, the museum is a must for any fan. The museum itself is an attraction as it was once Bob Marley's home and recording studio.

The house is a preserved historical site, so even the bullet holes from the attempted murder of Bob Marley remain. He lived here until his death in 1981. Every visitor will be added to a tour upon entry. residents J$500, non-residents US$20 (credit cards are accepted).

Port Royal

Port Royal

Once known as the "Richest and wickedest city in the world", Port Royal is a notorious 17th century pirate haven. The most famous pirate who operated from Port Royal was Sir Henry Morgan who plundered Spanish vessels travelling in the Caribbean.

The city prospered as the pirates gathered riches, but a strong earthquake struck the area on June 7, 1692 sinking the ships in the harbor and killing many people as the earthquake moved much of the city into the sea. It has been said that the earthquake was caused by God himself to punish the evildoers of Port Royal. This disaster helped to establish Kingston as the new capital, and many of the survivors of the earthquake moved to Kingston. Although most of the buildings at the port today are not the original buildings, the walls of Fort Charles have been preserved since the rebuilding two years after the earthquake, Saint Peter's Church built in the early 18th century, and the ruins of Fort Rocky remain.

There is also a museum to learn more about the history and see artifacts from its hayday.


Devon House 

Devon House

Located at 6 Hope Road, ☎ +1 876-926-0815. The Mansion is open Mon. to Sat. from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, the courtyard from 10 AM to 6 PM, and the gardens are open daily from 9:30 AM to 10 PM,. One of the best example of Jamaican architecture, the Devon House was built by George Stiebel, the nation's first black millionaire. Much of the interior furniture is not original, but it upholds the 19th Century mansion style. The courtyard has craft shops, a few restaurants, and the most famous ice cream shop on the island. J$700 for a tour of the mansion. Entry to garden and shops is free.

Hope Botanical Gardens

Hope Gerdens, kingston

Opens daily from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The Largest Botanical Garden in the Caribbean. The garden gets its name from the man Richard Hope who helped capture Jamaica for Great Britain and was given the property to reward him for his faithfulness to the Crown. Free. edit
Hope Zoo , (Next to the Botanical Gardens ).
10 AM to 5 PM. J$20.

Arawak Museum

Also known as The Taino Museum . A small museum with artifacts and information about the original inhabitants of the island, the Arawak (or Taino) Indians. edit
People's Museum of Craft and Technology. A small museum with pottery, instruments, and farming tools used in Jamaica. J$100. edit


Lime Cay

Lime clay in kingston

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!


FOODS AND DRINKS

Redbones Blues Cafe at Argyle Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I., ☎ +(876) 978-6091. Jazz & Blues themed Caribbean Fusion Cuisine restaurant & bar. Cultural Watering Hole with Live Music & Art Gallery

Devon House (At the back of the Devon House mansion in the shopping area. ). Closed Sundays. Excellent upmarket restaurant with a fusion of Western and Jamaican cooking. Eat outside at large tables with very decorative flower arrangements.

White Bones Seafood at Mannings Hill Road. Mon-Sat 11:30am-11:00pm, Sun 2:00pm-10:00pm. Highly recommended, but expensive, fish and seafood joint. Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat shellfish nights. J$3000.

Drink
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").

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).


CLICK TO READ PART TWO:
KINGSTON CITY GUIDE 2