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Best things to do in Jamaica

Uncover the best things to do off Jamaica’s beaten track. 
Dunn’s River Falls and Seven Mile Beach are high on most Jamaican itineraries, but we reckon you need to step off the tourist trail to get a real flavour of the island. Recently, we took a bunch of content creators to Jamaica, where they explored their Caribbean heritage by visiting parts of the island that aren’t covered by most tourists. Ready to find out more? Here’s their pick of the best off-the-beaten-track things to do in Jamaica, and why the experiences were so important to our influencers…

Once you’ve had a read, check out all the best things to do in Jamaica.

Explore Kingston

Negril, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay are the base for most TUI holidays to Jamaica. And it’s easy to see why. Over the past decade, the resorts have teed up to cater towards tourists, with huge hotels lined up along their long, sandy beaches. The capital – Kingston – also sits on the island’s coastline, but the go-slow pace that Jamaica is known for slips into a higher gear here. The smell of jerk chicken, fried plantain and curry goat fills the air from food stalls, and the streets are filled with murals painted in Caribbean colour by local artists. While you’re here, you can visit the Bob Marley Museum, home to a huge collection of memorabilia, instruments and outfits as well as the recording studio where he recorded songs for his last three albums. If you need to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, stroll around Emancipation Park – the city’s biggest green space spans seven acres, with local art and fountains dotted around the gardens.

The drive to Kingston can take a while depending on where you’re staying, but don’t sweat it – along the way, the views of the mountainous scenery and the sounds of reggae music blasting out of pokey roadside bars will keep you going. Alana, a fashion and travel content creator (@AlannaNicoleX), said, “I normally fall asleep in the car, but I stayed up the entire time. Everything has just been so beautiful. I’m from Barbados, which is really flat, so driving through the hills here in Jamaica has been magical.”
Influencer Alanna Doherty standing by a colourful roadside shack selling fruits.

Switch the coast for the countryside 

We get it. Beach days in Jamaica are so good you never want to leave your lounger. But, we’ll let you into a little secret – the island’s countryside shares the same good looks as its coastline. Our fave place to explore? The Blue Mountains – just outside the capital, Kingston. They’re home to Jamaica’s highest peak and coffee plantations growing what’s often considered the ‘world’s best coffee’. Head here and you can visit a plantation to learn how it’s grown, and – of course – try it for yourself. Demi Colleen, an influencer and writer from London (@DemiColleen), said, “I recently found out that my great-grandfather was a coffee farmer, so it was interesting for me to understand the history of Jamaica and coffee. It’s given me a whole different level of respect for what they do, and I’ll definitely be buying some coffee to take home.”
Content creator Demi Colleen walking past palm trees and colourful wooden huts.

Learn about the maroons

It’s safe to say, Jamaica’s maroon communities have stood the test of time. The first maroons were slaves who, during Jamaica’s colonial period, escaped and fled up into the mountains. There, they fought off colonisers, defended their independence, and built self-sustaining communities. Several maroon communities still live on the island, including in Charles Town on the border of the Blue Mountains National Park. Visiting the Charles Town maroon was particularly special for comedic couple, The Thorpes (@MeetTheThorpes), AKA Tara and Adrian. Tara said, “My mum always used to tell me that my great, great-grandmother was a maroon, and I didn’t understand what maroons were until we got here.” Husband, Adrian, added, “Learning about our backgrounds in such a meaningful way and getting to share that journey together was priceless.”
Content creators Adrian and Tara Thorpe smiling at each other whilst walking through gardens.

Have a drink on a floating bar

Heading off Jamaica’s tourist trail is thirsty work. So, if you need of an ice-cold Red Stripe beer after a busy day, let’s introduce Pelican Bar – an over-the-water bar built on stilts off the coast of Treasure Bay. Don’t sweat the swim, though – boats take off from a few points along the coast, including Treasure Bay and Black River.
Pelican Bar at sunset.

Where to stay?

So, you’ve got your plan for what to do while you’re in Jamaica. Now you just need a place to stay. We got the intel from our TUI Caribbean & African Network, who joined the influencers, and they reckon they’ve found the perfect place – Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay. Lee Dasilva from the network, said, “For a start, each room has a hot tub in it, so relaxing after a day of sightseeing is easy. If you’re having a pool day, make sure you order a Bob Marley – a layered red, yellow and green cocktail. The best bit about the hotel, though, has to be the entertainment – reggae beach parties one night, festival-style live music the next.”
Main hotel bulding and beach.
Ready for a Jamaican adventure?

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Or, find out more about Black History Month at TUI, the best time to visit Jamaica and the best beaches in Jamaica.

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Author: Karl Taylor

Last updated: 06.02.2025

Holiday Type

Destination

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