Kingston, Jamaica — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Kingston
Sightseeing in Kingston has a split personality due to the city's colonial past. Visitors will find attractions like Devon House and Spanish Town with grand British and Spanish architecture next to bustling markets with distinctly Afro-Caribbean flavor.
Despite Kingston's checkred past, visitors shouldn't miss touring the stately mansions and art galleries alongside the beaches and Bob Marley sights. Further from the city, the Blue Mountains offer a wild experience with waterfalls, hiking, and tours of thoroughly-modernized coffee plantations. Kingston has come a long way, and is sure to have something to do and see for everyone.
Shopping in Kingston
With everything from colorful beachwear and tropical shirts to locally made crafts and jewelry, Kingston has it all and shopaholics won't be disappointed. The New Kingston Shopping Center off Dominica Drive is the place to go for high quality and a wide range of products, while the Island Life Mall on St. Lucia Avenue offers a variety of shops, boutiques and even the Chelsea Art Gallery. Sovereign Center is Jamaica's largest shopping center and boasts a variety of western stores and boutiques as well as a food court and two cinemas. Tuff Gong in Marcus Garvey Drive is the place to go for anything reggae, they even have a recording studio used by Ziggy Marley. Jubilee Market on Orange Street is great for souvenir shopping as just about everything is sold here, from Bob Marley mementos and local arts and crafts to fresh fruit and the usual tourist tat. But keep a firm grip on your purse as it's a haven for pickpockets. Kingston Crafts Market, which on Harbour Street, is also a good place for souvenir shopping - look out for wooden crockery, pepper pots made from mahoe wood, masks, straw hats and baskets. There is a Farmer's Market at Market Square every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday throughout the year where you can find local arts and crafts along with fresh produce. Or those happy to take it slow can head down Constant Spring Road and browse through the shopping plazas along the sides of the road.
Kingston Nightlife
After a long day enjoying the Caribbean sunshine, what could be better than working up a sweat in one of Kingston's hottest nightclubs? Jamaicans love to dance and it doesn't take long for the rum to get flowing and the party really starts. Most of the nightlife is centered round the tourist areas, but the most popular strip is without a doubt Knutsford Blvd in Kingston 5 where the highly popular Asylum nightclub, synonymous with Kingston's hip and happening party scene, attracts revelers of all kinds. Quad is also hot on the club scene, with a jazz café, nightclub and Voodoo Lounge, perfect for shaking a tail feather. A variety of music bars and clubs offering all kinds of music abound, with everything from reggae, rock, jazz, latin and house to keep those hips shaking until the early hours. Kingston can be dangerous after dark so it might be worth finding out where to go from your hotel before heading out for a big night. Walking at night is not recommended, better to take a taxi.
