What to see. Best top attractions in Kingston, Jamaica.

Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road. 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.

National Gallery of Jamaica, 12 Ocean Blvd. 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

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, 26 Hope Road. 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 examples 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.

Hope Botanical Gardens. Open daily 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.

Hope Zoo, (Next to the Botanical Gardens). 10 AM to 5 PM. J$20.

Arawak Museum (Taino Museum). A small museum with artifacts and information about the original inhabitants of the island, the Arawak (or Taino) Indians.

People’s Museum of Craft and Technology. A small museum with pottery, instruments, and farming tools used in Jamaica.

Lime Cay. 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 drinks 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!

Emancipation Park. Offers free concert occasionally in the summer and during the Christmas.

Putt and Play. Offers miniature golf and pool tables.

Parade’s Coronation Market on weekends, where you can buy fruit and vegetables from across the island. This was gutted during the disturbances at the end of May and while there are plans to rebuild it, traders have temporarily moved to other areas.

Jamaica is famous for its hot sauces, with the major ingredient being the Scotch Bonnet Pepper, found throughout the island. Supermarkets have a bewildering selection of such sauces, from several producers.

Jerk spice powder. Make your own jerk chicken when you get home.

You must try

• Jerk, curried, fricasseed or brown stew chicken, pork or fish
• Escoveitch fish — Warning, spicy!
• Ackee and saltfish (codfish) — the national dish of Jamaica
• Curried mutton (goat)
• Fruit: Mangoes, sugar cane, paw-paw (papaya), guava, june plum, jackfruit, star apples, guinep, naseberries…
• Roasted corn
• Bammy Cakes. 5-inch diameter cakes made from cassava.
• Patties from a bakery. In Liguanea there’s a vegetarian/vegan patty restaurant, across the parking lot from the Wendy’s
• Ice cream
• 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.

Kingston is the host of many great clubs. Found in New Kingston, there are many clubs that party until the early morning hours.