Hip Strip
Beaches, barsGloucester Avenue.
City guide
Things to do in Montego Bay
Jamaica's main airport city and second city: Doctor's Cave Beach and the Hip Strip, Reggae Sumfest every July, Rose Hall's great house, rafting on the Martha Brae, and a base for the west, still rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa.
3
Hostels in the city
9.4
Average, from 1,295 reviews
July
Reggae Sumfest
1–2
Days
More than the airport
Montego Bay, known to everyone as MoBay, is Jamaica's second city and home to Sangster International, the island's busiest airport. Most visitors land here and head straight to a resort or to Negril, but MoBay has its own beaches, history and music.
The Hip Strip, Gloucester Avenue, runs along the sea with bars, restaurants and Doctor's Cave Beach, whose water was once believed to have healing powers. East of town is Rose Hall, an 18th-century great house famous for its ghost story, and inland, bamboo rafts float down the Martha Brae river. Every July, Reggae Sumfest, one of the biggest reggae festivals in the world, takes over the city.
Montego Bay was the worst-hit tourism area when Hurricane Melissa struck in October 2025, and some hotels and attractions were still reopening in 2026. Give it one or two days.
Where to base yourself
The Hip Strip for beaches and bars, or near the airport for early flights.
Near the airport
Early flightsBy Sangster International.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Montego Bay
Swim at Doctor's Cave Beach or the public Harmony Beach Park, and walk the Hip Strip. Snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat in the Montego Bay Marine Park.
Tour Rose Hall Great House, and raft down the Martha Brae river on a bamboo raft, checking first which operators have reopened.
In July, go to Reggae Sumfest. Take day trips to Negril, Ocho Rios and the Luminous Lagoon near Falmouth, where the water glows at night.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Harmony Beach Park is a free public beach, and walking the Hip Strip costs nothing.
Sam Sharpe Square, in the centre of MoBay, is free to see.
Doctor's Cave Beach, Rose Hall and rafting charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Jerk centres and roadside grills serve jerk chicken and pork for €5 to €9, and patties cost about €1. The Hip Strip has restaurants at tourist prices.
Try curry goat, escovitch fish and festival, a sweet fried dumpling.
A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill, as service is sometimes already added.
Nightlife
Going out
The Hip Strip has bars and clubs, busy with visitors, and there are dancehall parties at weekends.
Reggae Sumfest in July is the biggest week of the year.
Red Stripe costs €2 to €4. Use licensed taxis at night.
Getting around
Getting around
Sangster International Airport is a few minutes from the Hip Strip. Knutsford Express coaches run to Negril, Ocho Rios and Kingston.
Use licensed taxis, which have red licence plates, or route taxis for short hops.
Shuttles go to Negril and the south coast.
Costs
What Montego Bay costs
Guesthouse and hostel beds start at around €25 to €40 a night. Jerk plates cost €5 to €9.
Doctor's Cave Beach costs about €8, Rose Hall about €25, and Martha Brae rafting about €60 to €80 per raft.
Attractions are priced for cruise passengers; pay in Jamaican dollars where you can.
Safety
Safety and scams
Montego Bay has areas with high crime, away from the tourist zone. Stay around the Hip Strip, use licensed taxis, and do not walk at night.
Vendors and touts can be persistent; a firm, polite no works. Recovery from Hurricane Melissa is still under way, so some areas have damaged infrastructure.
Tap water is generally safe in towns, but drink bottled water in rural areas and anywhere supply has been disrupted. In an emergency, call 119 for the police, or 110 for an ambulance or the fire service.
Worth leaving town for
Beaches, rivers and lagoons.
Negril
Beach and cliffs.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Sumfest and holidays.
July
Reggae Sumfest
Montego Bay
One of the biggest reggae festivals in the world.
6 August
Independence Day
Nationwide
Celebrations across the island.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Montego Bay, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the busiest time. Reggae Sumfest fills the city in July. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Hurricane Melissa hit western Jamaica hard in October 2025. Most of the tourist economy has reopened, but some attractions and roads are still being repaired, so check before you go.
Jan
Dry, busy
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rain
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Reggae Sumfest
Aug
Hot
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Rain
Nov
Drying
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Montego Bay prices.
Treat these as a guide. Tours cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Montego Bay questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Montego Bay open after Hurricane Melissa?
Mostly. It was the worst-hit tourist area, and some hotels and attractions were still reopening in 2026.
Is Montego Bay worth staying in?
For a day or two, for the beaches, Sumfest and day trips.
When is Reggae Sumfest?
Every July.
Is Montego Bay safe?
Stay in the tourist area, use licensed taxis and do not walk at night.
How do I get from MoBay to Negril?
By Knutsford Express or shuttle in about an hour and a half.
What is the Hip Strip?
Gloucester Avenue, with beaches, bars and restaurants.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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