KingstonCapital
Jamaica · Country profile
Kingston is the sprawling capital of Jamaica, the largest English-speaking city of the Caribbean and the cradle of the reggae that conquered the world. It gathers around the deep basin of the seventh of the seventh harbour beneath the crest of the Blue Mountains, a hot, vibrant metropolis of the colonial grid, the modern towers, the markets and the celebrated musical heart of the island. The downtown historic district, the museums of the city and the birthplace of the Bob Marley anchor the cultural circuit, while the beaches of the Palisadoes, the restaurants of the New Kingston and the mountain trails above the city give the softer worlds of the capital. Loud, proud, musical and full of the daily hustle, Kingston is the true soul of Jamaica.
About Kingston
Kingston is the capital of Jamaica. The city's documented population is around 700,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Jamaican Dollar (JMD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1876. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Norman Manley International Airport.
The Capital of the Reggae and the Hills of the Blue Mountains
Kingston moves on the contrast of the downtown and the uptown, with the colonial-era buildings of the old centre, the national gallery and the craft market of the downtown making the historic route, and the hotels and the gardens of the New Kingston holding the modern face. The Bob Marley Museum on the Hope Road, the birthplace on the Trench Town, and the studios of the island draw the pilgrims of the reggae. The Blue Mountains rise behind the city, with their coffee plantations and their fern trails, and the beaches of the Palisadoes line the harbour. It is an intense, rich, deeply musical capital with a powerful sense of its own history.
The Caribbean Heat, the Rains of the Autumn and the Streets of the Downtown
The climate is warm through the year, with the drier months of the winter and spring, the rains of the late summer and the occasional storm of the hurricane season of the autumn. The dollar of the island is the currency, the English the language, and the local patois fills the everyday speech of the city. The markets, the museums and the mountain trails make the core circuit, and the usual sense of the city, with its safe areas and its no-go zones, guides the sensible visitor. Light dress, cash for the craft markets and the respect of the local culture complete the practical list for Kingston.
The Marley Museum, the Gardens of the Hope and the Beaches of the Palisadoes
The Bob Marley Museum, the yellow-trimmed house of the king of the reggae that preserves his studio, his awards and his bedroom, is the essential pilgrimage of the capital. The national gallery of the island, with its extraordinary collection of the art from the days of the Tainos to the modern masters, holds the cultural wealth of the country. The historic district of the downtown, with its Victorian merchants and its grand theatre, speaks of the great days of the colonial trade, and the Blue Mountain trails above the city, with the highest coffee farms of the island, complete the natural edge of the great capital.
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- Country
- Jamaica
- Population
- 700,000
- Coordinates
- 17.9357, -76.7875
- Capital
- Kingston
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1876
- Country code
- JM
Entry requirements for Jamaica
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Jamaica for tourism.
Getting to Kingston
Airports we list for Kingston:
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingston the capital of Jamaica?
Yes — Kingston is the capital of Jamaica.
What currency do I need in Kingston?
The local currency is the Jamaican Dollar (JMD). Languages spoken in Jamaica include English.
What is the dialling code for Jamaica?
The international dialling code for Jamaica is +1876.
Which airport should I fly into for Kingston?
Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) is the airport we list for Kingston.
Do I need a visa to visit Jamaica?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Kingston? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.