In Kingston, you can catch a beautiful view of the setting sun bathing the city’s rooftops gold while the Blue Mountains fill the horizon. It’s a surprisingly picturesque scene for this city of about 660,000 that has, historically, been cited more often for its crime statistics than its scenery.But that’s all changing. Jamaica’s capital is no longer just a stop on the way to the beach. Crime rates are down and visitor numbers are up, as is investment in Kingston’s infrastructure. A new revitalization plan for Downtown Kingston is intended to rehabilitate blighted areas and attract residents, businesses and tourists.

Kingston is a city of two halves. Downtown is home to historic buildings, the courts, banks, street markets and one of the Caribbean’s greatest art museums. By contrast, Uptown holds the city’s best hotels and restaurants, largely confined to New Kingston, with its cluster of tall buildings around Emancipation Park.

Uptown and Downtown haven't always mixed well, but taken together they form a compelling and sometimes chaotic whole. Kingston is certainly never boring – we encourage you to jump right in.