Port Royal & Downtown Kingston Tour: 6-7 hours with guide

Port Royal was the "wickedest city in the west" until an earthquake in 1692 swallowed two-thirds of it underwater.

A guided tour of Port Royal and downtown Kingston lasting six to seven hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle. The itinerary covers Fort Charles (a 1650s fort with 104 guns by 1765), the fishing village, the National Gallery of Jamaica, Water Lane's street art murals, Kingston Craft Market, and Emancipation Park. Entrance fees to Fort Charles and the National Gallery are paid on arrival. Lunch and gratuities are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Fort Charles1h
2. Emancipation Park45m

Explore Port Royal and Kingston highlights

• Tour Fort Charles
• Sightsee Port Royal fishing village
• Visit Grand Excelsior Hotel
• Tour National Gallery of Jamaica
• Walk Kingston Waterfront and Water Lane murals
• Shop at Kingston Craft Market
• Visit Emancipation Park

The experience

The tour starts with Fort Charles, the first fort built in Port Royal in the late 1650s and originally named Fort Cromwell. The fort underwent major changes between 1656 and 1670, and by 1765 it held 104 guns and a garrison of 500 men. The Archaeological Landscape of 17th Century Port Royal is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and much of the old city lies underwater from the 1692 earthquake that destroyed two-thirds of the living space. The guide provides context on how the town survived subsequent earthquakes, hurricanes, fires and disease, and how the waters around Port Royal remain an archaeological site filled with pieces of everyday life from the earliest days of English occupation.

After Fort Charles, the tour moves through Port Royal's fishing village and stops at the Grand Excelsior Hotel (formerly Morgan's Harbour), then heads to the National Gallery of Jamaica in downtown Kingston. The route continues along the Kingston Waterfront, where you stroll Water Lane to see street art and mural paintings, and visit Kingston Craft Market, a venue with over one hundred shops known for Jamaican brands and crafts. The final stop is Emancipation Park in New Kingston, themed "Tribute to Freedom" and centered on an 11-foot bronze statue called "Redemption Song" depicting a man and woman looking toward the sky. West African spiritual symbols appear throughout the park's design, and tropical plants and flowers create a space the Jamaican people regard as a symbol of hope and freedom.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kingston are included, as is transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. The guide speaks English and offers insights throughout the day. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a pram or stroller, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kingston.
• guided tour with an English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transport.
• visits to Fort Charles, the Old Naval Hospital site, the fishing port, the Grand Excelsior Hotel, the National Gallery of Jamaica, Water Lane's street art murals, Kingston Craft Market, and Emancipation Park.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (20 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 19 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 31 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 17.50

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Onestop Cultural Tours Jamaica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide who knows Port Royal and Kingston's colonial and cultural landmarks in depth. We've explored these sites ourselves and lead you through Fort Charles, the National Gallery, and the craft market in one structured day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 19 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Fort Charles and why is it significant to Port Royal?

Fort Charles was the first fort built in Port Royal in the late 1650s, originally called Fort Cromwell before being renamed. By 1765 it held 104 guns and a garrison of 500 men. The fort is part of the Archaeological Landscape of 17th Century Port Royal, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

How much of Port Royal lies underwater, and why?

An earthquake in 1692 swallowed about two-thirds of Port Royal's living space, leaving much of the old city underwater. The waters around Port Royal are now an archaeological site filled with pieces of history from everyday life in the earliest days of English occupation.

What is Emancipation Park and what does it commemorate?

Emancipation Park is located in New Kingston and is themed "Tribute to Freedom." It features an 11-foot bronze statue called "Redemption Song" depicting a black man and woman looking toward the sky, symbolizing triumph over the tragedies of slavery. West African spiritual symbols appear throughout the park's design.

Do I need to pay entrance fees for any of the stops?

Entrance fees for Fort Charles and the National Gallery of Jamaica are paid separately when you arrive at each site. They are not included in the tour price.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kingston, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guided tour with an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch, snacks and gratuities are not included.