Montego Bay walking tour & city guide

Downtown and the Hip Strip

Sam Sharpe Square is the heart of downtown. It is named after Samuel Sharpe, the Baptist deacon who led the great slave rebellion of 1831, and has a monument to him and a small stone lock-up from the eighteenth century known as the Cage. The streets around the square are full of shops, roadside vendors and the bustle of the city's markets, where stalls sell fruit, vegetables, spices and crafts.

North of downtown, Gloucester Avenue, better known as the Hip Strip, follows the shoreline past hotels, souvenir shops and Doctor's Cave Beach, with its clear, calm water. Offshore, the Montego Bay Marine Park protects coral reefs, and east of the city lies Rose Hall, a restored eighteenth-century great house.

A classic walk: Sam Sharpe Square to the Hip Strip

Start in the morning at Sam Sharpe Square, when the markets are at their busiest. Wander the surrounding streets past fruit stalls and street vendors, then head toward the waterfront and the craft market.

Continue north to Gloucester Avenue and walk the Hip Strip, stopping for a swim at Doctor's Cave Beach. Stay until sunset, when the sky over the bay turns orange and the strip's bars and jerk stands come to life.

Good to know

December to April is the driest and busiest season; summers are hotter and the hurricane season runs from June to November. Sangster International Airport is just a few minutes from the Hip Strip. Traffic drives on the left, and route taxis and licensed taxis are the usual way to get around. Popular day trips lead to Negril's beaches, Dunn's River Falls and rafting on the Martha Brae river. Check current travel advice before you go.