After spending time travelling across Jamaica and visiting Kingston, Negril and Montego Bay, we realised Jamaica works best when you slow down and don’t try to squeeze the entire island into one trip. We chose a route that we could fit in to 10 days without rushing, we wanted to slow it down and really enjoy the time. We flew into and started our trip in Kingston as this worked best for our flights however you could also do this in reverse. Negril was the centre piece of our Jamaica trip and where we wanted to slow right down and soak up the beach. Montego Bay was where we were flying out from, it had the best connection for our onward flight.
This itinerary suits first time travellers, couples, mid-range travellers, beach lovers or those who want a mix of culture and relaxation. You will be able to follow our Jamaica itinerary and have a fantastic trip, everything you need to know is included.
Table of Contents
How Many Days In Jamaica?
You can spend as many days as you have available but you would cover different locations.
- In 3–5 Days I would choose one destination and see it well.
- 7 Days is ideal for first-time visitors who want to get a taste of the country.
- 10 Days gives you the best overall balance.
- If you have 14 Days you can dd another region, I would suggest Ocho Rios.
Our recommendation for most first time visitors is 7–10 days. This is enough time to see a good cross section of the country without rushing.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Jamaica Route Overview
Our route is quite simple but allows you to really get to experience each destination with exactly enough time in each. Arrive Kingston → Negril → Montego Bay → Fly Out
Travel times are something you need to keep in mind, each destination is quite far from each other.
Kingston → Negril is about a 250km drive and takes 4 hours by car or 7 hours by bus.
Negril → Montego Bay is 80km apart and takes 1.5 hours by car or 2 hours by bus.
Our Exact Jamaica Itinerary
This route gave us the best mix of city, beach and easy departure logistics.
Why We Chose Kingston → Negril → Montego Bay
We decided on this route firstly because the flights into and out of Jamaica worked best for us to begin in Kingston and end in Montego Bay. To decide your entry and exit points I would definitely check flights from both to see what works for you best as you could definitely reverse this route.
Starting in Kingston was also our preference as we wanted to get an understanding of the culture, and a feel for the country from its capital. Negril was always going to be our main destination as we heard about the incredible beaches and wanted to spend time on them relaxing. We chose to only spend one day in Montego Bay, we were not staying in a resort and we felt that there was about a days worth of sightseeing here for us.
This itinerary is perfect for first time visitors and any one who wants a solid Jamaican experience that mixes culture and beach days.
Our Complete Jamaican Itinerary
Days 1 – 2: Kingston (Culture + City Experience)
We arrived at the airport in Kingston and were met with the friendliest customs agent! We had a chat and then headed into the city to check in to our apartment.
Day 1 – Arrive And Explore Kingston
We grabbed an Uber from Kingston Airport, they are cheap and easy to get around in, and went straight to our apartment and dropped our bags off as we were too early to check in yet. We stepped out to walk around the area and see what was close by. Our first stop was off to get some food, there was a local place called Island Jerk so we grabbed a couple of meals to share and have our first taste of Jamaican flavours. It was great! The neighbourhood we were staying in was a good one, there was a large grocery store nearby, the best souvenir store there too and we could walk to Devon House.
Our last stop of the afternoon was to Devon House, we hung out in the gardens and walked through the shops and food spots grabbing some jerk chicken and of course we had to get some of the famous ice-cream and we can confirm it lived up to the hype! It was incredibly flavourful, creamy and the scoops are huge, the photo below is a single scoop.
Day 2 – Our Full Day In Kingston
We had a lot to pack into our first full day in Kingston. We set off early and got an Uber to Emancipation Park, followed by Trenchtown, street art, Bob Marley Museum, National Gallery of Jamaica and ended our day at a night market and local music club called the Compound which was incredible.
Our full Kingston Guide has everything you need to know to visit for two days, including the best things to do, eat and get around.
Is Kingston Worth Visiting?
Yes, for us Kingston was the perfect introduction to Jamaica. We loved seeing and experiencing the culture and history. If you are only interested in beaches then Kingston would not suit you.
Days 3 – 8: Negril (The Highlight Of Our Trip)
Negril was the place we were most excited to visit. We had seen images of the beaches here and had to experience them for ourselves. We chose to spend 5 nights here so we could really relax and see the whole area as it is quite big.
Day 3 – Travel To Negril
We booked the Knutsford Express bus from Kingston to Negril, the bus was great and pretty simple. After spending the morning in Kingston, we got on at the Kingston Terminal and after checking in at the terminal we tagged our bags and waited in the waiting room. The bus was called and we put our bags to be stowed before getting on the bus. It was clean and comfortable. The driver kept great control of any issues, making sure that people were quiet while on the bus. Tickets cost 5,100 JMD and we pre-booked them online as they do sell out. We got on the bus at about 2pm and arrived in Negril by 7pm. There were a few stops along the way which were just to let people off and one slightly longer one for a snack and bathroom break.
The bus arrived at the Negril Terminal from here you can get an Uber to take you to your accommodation. There are taxis hanging out at the terminal but we were quoted 3000 JMD for the ride which was about 3.5km, the Uber cost 577 JMD.
There are also locals taxis that run up and down this main road and charge only 400JMD per person, this is the standard price and you can just give them this and they will know you realise the price. The have two seperate areas, one is the beach main road and the other is the roundabout and down the coastline a little.
There are two routes you can take from Kingston to Negril – the north that goes through Montego Bay and you swap buses there or the south where you stay on the one bus and it takes a couple of hours less. This is the one we chose.
Day 4 – 7 Seven Mile Beach Negril
We spent our first 4 days solidly on the stunning Seven Mile Beach. It is hands down the best beach we have seen in our travels yet. The water temperature was perfect, the colour was a crystal clear blue with perfect white sand and the local vibes were great! There are a lot of accommodation options here ranging from budget to resort, I have listed the best below for you.
We spend these few days walking the beach, it really is 7 miles (~11.5km) long so there is a lot to walk! Checking out all the cool restaurants, cafes and bars on the beach, stopping into the art market, a fish market and watching sunset everyday. It was perfect.
Day 8 — Negril Town and Cliffs
We spent a day checking out the town and cliff areas of Negril. Walking along the main road to the town we stopped in to get Mike a breakfast patty from his favourite bakery. After popping into the grocery store and checking out a popular local chicken shop we caught a local share taxi for 400JMD each to the cliff area. We wanted to check this part of Negril out and of course go to Ricks Cafe. We spent some time there and then went to an excellent cliffside restaurant for an early dinner before heading back up to the beach for sunset. Read our Negril Guide which has absolutely everything we did while there, where to stay, best food spots.
Is 5 Days Too Long In Negril?
5 days was a perfect amount of time in Negril to really see the area as well as just relax and have full beach days. You could spend 3 days here if you are short on time but we left feeling really happy that we had spent the bulk of our time here.
I have written a full 5 Days In Negril Guide so you can see all the best places to stay, what to do, where to eat and drink while you are there.
Enjoying this guide? Support our blog by buying us a coffee
Days 9–10: Montego Bay (Easy Finish Before Flying Out)
Montego Bay was a good final stop and one day was exactly enough. We weren’t staying in a resort and spent the day exploring on foot before flying out early the next morning.
Day 9 — Arrive In Montego Bay
Montego Bay has a few sights in town to see, a beach and some good places to eat. We saw the old church, street art, waterfront, Sam Sharpe Square and the cultural centre. Check out everything we did in our full Montego Bay Guide.
Day 10 — Departure Day
Our flight was quite early so we stayed near to the airport, we walked down the hill and over to the airport with enough time for Mike to grab one last patty from the cafe before we flew out.
Would We Stay Longer In Montego Bay?
If you are staying in a resort then I think more time in Montego Bay would be great. If you are staying in town and doing it on foot then one day is more than enough.
Alternative 7 Day Jamaica Itinerary
If you have 7 days for Jamaica then you could follow this same itinerary but shorten your time in Negril a little and possibly fly straight out of Montego Bay without heading into town. I would priortize the time in Kingston and Negril first.
- Day 1–2 Kingston
- Day 3–6 Negril
- Day 7 Montego Bay
Alternative 14 Day Jamaica Itinerary
If you have 14 days you can add in another location, we would choose Ochios Rios. It looks awesome, I can’t wait to return to do the rafting and waterfalls. This is how I would split the time up, again if you want to take time from somewhere I would keep less for Montego Bay.
- Day 1–3 Kingston
- Day 4–10 Negril
- Day 11–13 Ochios Rios
- Day 14 Montego Bay
Costs For Our Jamaica Trip
We are mid-range travellers and spent 10 days in Jamaica, this is our approximate budget per day as a couple:
- Accommodation ~$100 USD
- Transport ~$25 USD
- Food ~$75 USD
- Activities ~$100 USD
Was Jamaica expensive?
Jamaica was a little more expensive that other Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic, in particular the accommodation was higher however there were cheap food options and Uber was really reasonable.
Where We Stayed
Kingston
We stayed in an apartment called 20 South in New Kingston area and loved it, it was close to Devon House and a great shopping centre which was convenient. The apartment building was really well run and really safe, there was a security person on the gate who you buzzed to get in and another 2 staff members on the front desk. We really liked our stay here.
Other places we would recommend are: S Hotel Kingston, AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston, Courtyard by Marriott Kingston.
Negril
There are two main areas to stay in Negril, you can choose between the beach and the cliffs. Both are stunning and you can travel between then pretty easily, in a perfect world I would stay half of the time at each location.
While we were at the beach we stayed at Sunrise Club Hotel, it was just across the road from the beach and really lovely to stay in. The rooms are neat and clean, has a great coffee shop at the front and feels very safe.
To stay on the cliff area then the best choice is Tensing Pen, it is a gorgeous property and so calm and relaxing. We loved it here and would absolutely come back to stay on our next visit, it felt like the perfect retreat.
If you want to stay on the beach at an all inclusive resort the best choices are Couples Negril and Riu Palace Tropical Bay.
Montego Bay
We stayed at Ridgeway Guest House which was right across the road (and up a bit of a hill) from the airport. It was fine and served the purpose, clean and comfortable. For a much nicer stay and somewhere you could hang out very comfortably not too far from the airport, I would choose S Hotel Montego Bay which has an all inclusive option, is gorgeous and my ideal accommodation in Montego Bay.
What We’d Change Next Time
Next time we come to Jamaica I would absolutely spend 3 days in Kingston to see more of the city and do a Blue Mountain Tour. For us, Kingston is so underrated, we loved it. We would also spend more time in Negril, we really loved it so much it has a very chill vibe. I would add in a visit to Ochios Rios and just arrive in Montego Bay to fly out unless I could stay at the S Hotel which looks incredible!
Jamaica Itinerary FAQ
How many days do you need in Jamaica?
Our ideal number of days would be 10 for Jamaica however with 3 days you can see one destination and in 14 you could add in an extra stop.
Should I stay in Kingston or Negril?
We actually really loved our time in both, but for very different reasons. We loved Kingston for the culture and Negril for the beaches. It really depends on which you prefer.
Is Montego Bay worth visiting?
In all honestly after spending a day in Montego Bay and walking the town I do not feel the need to go back and see more. I would happily stay in a all inclusive resort like the S Hotel or Rui Montego Bay which would be an incredibly relaxing way to end your time in Jamaica and I think this would be worth it.
Do you need a car?
Having a hire car to explore Jamaica would be great. I would only get one when you are planning to move on from Kingston as you don’t need it in the city. Driving from Kingston to Negril will save some transit time and then being able to head up to Ochios Rios, and out to some of the rum factories would be good. It really isn’t necessary though unless you plan to move around a lot or you want the convenience of being able to go where ever you want at any time.
How expensive is Jamaica?
Jamaica is a little more expensive than some other Caribbean countries but it is absolutely worth it! We loved our time here. It really is jut the accommodation that is a bit more expensive as we found cheap local food options everywhere. The cost of activities are similar to other Caribbean countries.
Is 7 days enough?
You can absolutely visit Jamaica in 7 days, you could spend 2 in Kingston, 4 in Negril and go to Montego Bay for a day to fly out.
Should first timers stay in one place?
Our first visit we moved between Kingston, Negril and Montego Bay. If you only have 3 days I would stay in one place but if you have longer I would try to see a couple of places. Staying in one hotel in each town is always better to save moving time, the only exception is Negril where a stay on the cliffs and the beach is so worth it. Check out our Negril guide to show you the best way to do this.
When is the best time to visit Jamaica?
The sweet spot to visit Jamaica is between November to mid-December. You get dry, sunny days and significantly cheaper rates on resorts before the busy period starts. The actual best time to visit Jamaica for the weather is mid-December to April but this is also peak tourist season. We visited in March and it wasn’t too busy and the weather was fantastic, we had a couple of rainy afternoons but otherwise it was perfect.
Final Verdict
We loved our time in Jamaica and would definitely recommend this route for any first time visitor. It gives you the best blend of the best Jamaica has to offer. Kingston gave us culture, Negril gave us our favourite beach days and Montego Bay made departure easy.
Plan your trip:
👉 Read next: Things to do in Negril Jamaica
👉 Plan your trip: Caribbean Travel Guide & Caribbean Cruise Guide
👉 Don’t miss: Things to do in Kingston Jamaica
Want to see it all in action? Watch our full Caribbean series on YouTube (subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with our travel guides) and follow along on Instagram @passport_nomads and @kelly___buckley for real-time travel tips, guides, and behind-the-scenes moments.
