Jamaica Guide
Kingston
Fast, furious and fascinating, KINGSTON is unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. With a population fast approaching one million, the city seethes with life, noise and activity; it's a side of Jamaica that couldn't be more different from the resorts. In addition to being the seat of government and the island's administrative centre, Kingston is Jamaica's cultural heart, the city that spawned Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and countless other reggae stars.
The city's handful of interesting museums, galleries and the botanical gardens can easily fill a couple of days of sightseeing; the island's best clubs, theatres and some great restaurants will take care of the evenings.
Kingston's main sights are divided between Downtown, which stretches north from the waterfront to the busy traffic junction of Cross Roads, and Uptown, spreading up into the ritzy suburbs at the base of the mountains. Downtown is the industrial centre, its factories and all-important port providing most of Kingston's blue-collar employment. On the other end of the scale, Uptown is attractive and has an easy-going feel. Most of Kingston's hotels, restaurants, clubs and shopping centres are here, and it's where you'll spend most of your time. Some of the residential districts are simply beautiful, while the central high-rises suggest a modern city anywhere in North America.
Practically all of the Kingston's violent crime is confined to the ghettos, which are not places for casual sightseeing; by avoiding them, you're no more at risk in Kingston than in any other big city. Take the usual precautions – use cabs after dark, keep jewellery and valuables out of sight – and you're unlikely to run into any problems.
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