The tourist heart of Montego Bay including the Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue), Doctor's Cave Beach, and craft markets.

About Montego Bay Hip Strip / Downtown

Montego Bay's Hip Strip (officially Gloucester Avenue) is the pulsating center of Jamaica's tourism capital, a beachfront boulevard lined with restaurants, bars, duty-free shops, and craft vendors. The stretch runs from Doctor's Cave Beach — a famous stretch of white sand with crystal-clear water that helped launch Jamaican tourism in the 1920s — to the Margaritaville complex with its waterslide and party atmosphere.

Downtown Montego Bay, centered on Sam Sharpe Square (named after the national hero who led the 1831-32 slave rebellion), offers a more authentic Jamaican experience. The square features the Cage (a former lockup from 1806), the Civic Centre, and is surrounded by busy markets, street food vendors selling jerk chicken and patties, and the Georgian-era architecture of Church Street.

Beyond the tourist areas, Montego Bay serves as the commercial capital of western Jamaica and a gateway to attractions including Rose Hall Great House (a Georgian plantation mansion with legends of the 'White Witch'), the Martha Brae River for bamboo rafting, and the luminous Glistening Waters lagoon in Falmouth, where bioluminescent organisms create an otherworldly blue glow in the water at night.

Nearby Landmarks

Doctor's Cave Beach Margaritaville Sam Sharpe Square Rose Hall Great House

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost $15-20
Time 10-15 min

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost $10-15
Time 10-15 min

Step-by-Step Directions

1. At Sangster Airport arrivals, proceed to the JUTA taxi desk or ground transport area
2. Licensed JUTA taxis have fixed fares to the Hip Strip (US$15-20)
3. The drive takes 10-15 minutes along the Queens Highway
4. For all-inclusive resorts along the coast, hotel transfers may be included (check with hotel)
5. Route taxis (shared) run along the main road for less (JMD 200-300) but are crowded
6. Car rental counters are at the airport if you prefer to self-drive

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi $15-20 10-15 min Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare $10-15 10-15 min Budget-conscious, app users

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

Licensed JUTA (Jamaica Union of Travellers Association) taxis operate 24 hours from the airport with fixed rates. The Hip Strip area is active until late, with Margaritaville and other bars open past midnight. Route taxis and minibuses stop running by early evening. Uber does not operate in Jamaica; use licensed taxis or hotel-arranged transport at night. Walking on the Hip Strip is generally safe but avoid poorly lit back streets.

Luggage Tips

The short airport-to-hotel distance means luggage is rarely an issue. JUTA taxis and hotel shuttles easily accommodate bags. If exploring downtown or the Hip Strip before hotel check-in, Doctor's Cave Beach has locker rentals. Most all-inclusive resorts along the coast send shuttle buses or arrange private transfers. Duty-free shops on the Hip Strip can hold purchases if needed.

Accessibility

Sangster International Airport is modern and wheelchair accessible. Montego Bay's Hip Strip has a paved sidewalk along most of its length but is uneven in places. Doctor's Cave Beach has limited beach wheelchair availability. All-inclusive resorts generally have better accessibility facilities than independent hotels. Downtown Montego Bay has no accessibility infrastructure to speak of. JUTA taxis can accommodate folding wheelchairs.