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Kingston

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Jamaica’s capital, set between a great natural harbour and the Blue Mountains: the house where Bob Marley lived and recorded, a gallery of Caribbean art, and the old pirate port of Port Royal across the water.

Fly to Kingston All of Jamaica
Arrival
Norman Manley International · KIN
To the city
About 19 km to New Kingston
Private jets
General Aviation Centre at KIN
Best time
December to April

The city

Music, mansions and the harbour.

Kingston shows the city side of Jamaica. The house where Bob Marley lived and cut many of his best-known songs is now a museum; Devon House, a historic mansion, draws the town for its ice cream and pastries; and the National Gallery holds a large collection of Jamaican and Caribbean art.

Across the harbour, Port Royal keeps its old fort and its memories of pirates, with boats out to the sands of Lime Cay. Behind the city the Blue Mountains rise to cool air, coffee estates and trails. December to April is the dry season; the rains peak in October.

  • Bob Marley Museum The singer’s home, where he lived and recorded much of his work.
  • Devon House One of Kingston’s best-loved historic mansions, famous for its ice cream.
  • Port Royal The former pirates’ town, with its old fort and the beaches of Lime Cay nearby.

Arriving

Landing across the harbour.

Norman Manley International lies on the Palisadoes, the strip of land that closes Kingston Harbour, about 19 km from New Kingston. It is the hub of Caribbean Airlines and has a runway of some 8,900 feet.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights British Airways flies from London Gatwick. From North America come American from Miami, Delta from Atlanta, JetBlue from New York and Fort Lauderdale, and Air Canada Rouge, WestJet and Flair from Toronto; Copa connects through Panama City and Cayman Airways from Grand Cayman. Business & First fares Private Jet Private aviation Private aircraft use the airport’s General Aviation Centre, with customs on site and Pike Aviation among the handlers. The tower is staffed around the clock, but airport hours are set for weekday daytime, with other times on request, so late arrivals should be arranged in advance. Charter a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet
  • Miami 1 h 35
  • Palm Beach 1 h 40
  • Aspen 5 h 10
  • Marrakech 9 h 20 long-range jet
  • Munich 11 h 10 long-range jet

When to go

December to April.

Afternoons reach 30 to 32 °C in every month, with the sea at 27 to 29 °C. December to April is the dry season, with March the driest month at 39 mm. May brings the first rains and October the heaviest, at 280 mm; July is a short lull.

  1. 30° J 56 27°
  2. 30° F 52 27°
  3. 30° M 39 27°
  4. 31° A 68 27°
  5. 31° M 158 28°
  6. 31° J 145 28°
  7. 32° J 92 28°
  8. 32° A 157 29°
  9. 32° S 188 29°
  10. 31° O 280 29°
  11. 30° N 167 29°
  12. 30° D 91 28°
Best months weather2travel.com, long-term averages

Where to dine

The best tables in Kingston.

No MICHELIN Guide covers Jamaica. These are Fodor’s Choice restaurants in Fodor’s Kingston guide; prices are Fodor’s bands.

  • Strawberry Hill Fodor’s Choice Jamaican $$$$ New Castle Road, Blue Mountains
  • Broken Plate Fodor’s Choice International $$$ Kingston
  • Cellar 8 Fodor’s Choice International $$$ Kingston

Elsewhere in Jamaica

More reasons to come.

All of Jamaica

Flying to Kingston?

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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet