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Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Jamaica

Updated 1 October 2026 · 14 things to do

Pictured: Round Hill Hotel & Villas

Jamaica punches far above its size. This one island gave the world reggae, jerk chicken, Blue Mountain coffee and a swagger all of its own, and it still has the postcard stuff too: warm turquoise sea, white-sand beaches and waterfalls tumbling down through the jungle to the coast.

Don't spend the whole trip inside the resort gates. Get out to a roadside jerk centre, climb a waterfall, take a bamboo raft down a river and listen to music in the place where it all began. Jamaicans are warm and talkative, and a bit of banter goes a long way.

Don't miss

  1. 1Dunn's River Falls
  2. 2Seven Mile Beach
  3. 3Blue Lagoon
  4. 4Bob Marley Museum
  5. 5Jerk chicken

Waterfalls and rivers

Jamaica is a green, hilly island, and the water comes down in style.

  1. Dunn's River Falls

    Nature

    Dunn's River Falls cascading down its limestone terraces near Ocho Rios
    Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The island's most famous natural attraction, near Ocho Rios, is a wide staircase of limestone terraces where a river cascades straight down to the beach. You climb up the falls holding hands in a human chain behind a guide, getting soaked and having a lot of fun. It's touristy and very popular, and it's also great.

    Tip: Go early to beat the crowds. Wear water shoes and bring a waterproof bag.

  2. Blue Lagoon

    Nature

    The Blue Lagoon on Jamaica's north-east coast
    Photo: Morten Idriss Nygaar…, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A deep, sheltered lagoon on the north-east coast near Port Antonio, famous for its blue-green water that shifts colour through the day. It's calm and cool, with forested hills around, and you can swim or take a bamboo raft nearby. The Port Antonio coast is the quiet side of Jamaica.

  3. Martha Brae River rafting

    Activity

    A bamboo raft on the Martha Brae River
    Photo: Donna-Kay Delahaye, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A gentle drift down the Martha Brae River near Montego Bay on a long bamboo raft, poled by a captain who knows every bend and every story. The river is lined with tall bamboo and tropical trees, and the whole thing is slow, shady and very relaxing.

  4. YS Falls

    Nature

    On the south coast, in St Elizabeth, YS Falls is a series of waterfalls dropping through lush gardens into bright natural pools, with a rope swing and a tractor ride into the grounds. It's less crowded than the north coast waterfalls and has plenty of shade.

Beaches and cliffs

  1. Seven Mile Beach

    Beach

    The white sand of Seven Mile Beach in Negril
    Photo: VV Nincic from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0

    Negril's great sweep of soft white sand, backed by palm trees and a long line of laid-back resorts, bars and beach shacks. The water is shallow, warm and calm, and the sunsets are famous. It's the beach most people picture when they think of Jamaica.

    Tip: Walk the length of it at sunset, then head for a beach bar and a Red Stripe.

  2. Doctor's Cave Beach

    Beach

    Montego Bay's classic beach, a short, clean stretch of white sand with clear, calm water, beside the famous Hip Strip. It has been a swimming spot for over a century, and is easy to reach if you're staying in town.

  3. Rick's Café

    Nightlife

    Rick's Café on the cliffs of Negril
    Photo: Simson Petrol simson_petrol, CC0

    On the cliffs of Negril's West End, Rick's is the place for sunset. Locals dive from the rocks into the sea, visitors watch from the bar with a drink, and the music picks up as the sun goes down. Don't jump unless you know what you're doing.

    Tip: Arrive an hour or so before sunset for a good spot.

Music, history and culture

  1. Bob Marley Museum

    Museum

    Bob Marley's former home and recording studio at 56 Hope Road in Kingston is now a museum, with gold records, stage clothes and his personal rooms. The guided tour tells the story of the man who took reggae to the world, and it's a must for any music fan.

    Tip: Tours run on a guided schedule, so check the timings before you go.

  2. Devon House

    Landmark

    A handsome 19th-century mansion in Kingston with shady lawns, craft shops and restaurants, built by Jamaica's first Black millionaire. It's also famous for its ice cream, which makes a good stop after the museums.

  3. Blue Mountains

    Nature

    The Blue Mountains of Jamaica seen from Hollywell National Park
    Photo: Wolmadrian, Public domain

    The mountain range above Kingston is cool, misty and green, with trails, bird life and the coffee farms that produce Blue Mountain coffee, one of the world's best-known beans. A coffee tour or a hike makes a fine break from the coast.

  4. Rose Hall Great House

    Landmark

    Rose Hall, the restored plantation great house near Montego Bay
    Photo: Urban Walnut, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A restored Georgian plantation house east of Montego Bay, set on a hill above the sea. The story of its supposed ghost, the White Witch, is a local legend, told with relish on candlelit evening tours. It's also a reminder of the island's colonial and slavery history.

Eat and drink

  1. Jerk chicken

    Food

    Jerk chicken served with rice and peas
    Photo: simon thomas, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Jamaica's great gift to food: meat marinated in scotch bonnet, allspice, thyme and spring onion, then smoked slowly over pimento wood. The best is found at roadside jerk centres, where it comes off the grill in foil with hard dough bread and festival. Boston Bay, near Port Antonio, is the classic spot.

    Tip: It is spicy. Ask for the sauce on the side if you are not sure.

  2. Ackee and saltfish

    Food

    A plate of ackee and saltfish
    Photo: gailf548 from New York State, USA, CC BY 2.0

    The national dish: soft, creamy ackee fruit cooked with salt cod, onions and peppers. It looks like scrambled egg, tastes savoury and gentle, and comes with fried dumplings, plantain or boiled banana on a Jamaican breakfast plate.

  3. Appleton Estate

    Activity

    The Appleton Estate rum distillery in St Elizabeth
    Photo: Acampbell3000, CC BY 3.0

    One of Jamaica's oldest rum distilleries sits in the green Nassau Valley in St Elizabeth, and runs tours that walk you through the cane, the stills and the ageing barrels, ending with a tasting. It's a good half-day out if you like rum.

Where to stay in Jamaica

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Jamaica →

Getting around

Distances are bigger than they look, and mountain roads are slow. Most visitors use resort transfers and organised tours, and licensed taxis are widely available. Book through your hotel or a registered operator, and agree fares before you set off.

When to go

The driest, busiest time is from about December to April. Summer is hotter and wetter, and the late summer and autumn months fall in the Atlantic hurricane season. Reggae Sumfest, in Montego Bay in July, is the island's biggest music festival.

Questions about visiting Jamaica

What is Jamaica best known for?
Reggae and Bob Marley, jerk chicken, white-sand beaches and Dunn's River Falls, plus Blue Mountain coffee and Jamaican rum.
Is Jamaica worth visiting?
Yes. It combines good beaches with waterfalls, mountains, music and food that you will not find anywhere else in the Caribbean.
What is there to do in Jamaica with kids?
Climbing Dunn's River Falls, bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae, calm beach days and swimming in the Blue Lagoon are family favourites.
How many days do you need in Jamaica?
A week gives you time for a beach stay and a few excursions. Ten days lets you combine two areas, such as Negril and Ocho Rios or Port Antonio.
Do you need a car in Jamaica?
No. Transfers, taxis and organised tours cover most visits. Roads can be winding and driving is on the left, so many visitors prefer a driver.

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