Jamaica is always open and all roads lead to fun.

You may be on the island for a quick trip to visit family, close friends, or even for business and your departure flight isn't until Monday.

You have the unique advantage of an entire weekend to explore the island and find out why so many visitors from across the globe keep coming back to this hot vacation destination.

Jamaica is home to world-famous land and water attractions, gorgeous beaches, a diverse population of people with mixed heritage, and historical sites that hold jolting memories of the island's colonial past. 

What's the weekend itinerary? Let's start here! 

Friday 

Your Friday festivities kick into gear around 5 pm with a bottle of Red Stripe beer at Pier One, if you're in Montego Bay, Rick's Cafe or Margaritaville if you're in Negril, Margaritaville if you're in Ocho Rios, or at Usain Bolts' Tracks and Record if you're in Kingston. 

It's the typical way most Jamaicans signal the end of the work week.

While you enjoy a few bottles of Red Stripe beer, you'll notice that the volume of the music blasting from the speakers increases as it gets later. 

Pier One usually has an after-work party on Fridays, Pier Pressure, that will set your party vibe into high gear for the weekend. 

On the food menu, you'll possibly see jerk chicken, jerk pork, or escovitch-styled fish available for your sampling. 

And at the bar, you can choose from a wide assortment of Jamaican beverages. 

Saturday morning 

Head to the nearest beach Saturday morning to soak in the warm Caribbean waters and sunbathe as you naturally detox from the previous night's activities. 

Doctor's Cave Beach in Montego Bay, Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Puerto Seco Beach in Discovery Bay, Fort Clarence Beach in Portmore, and Frenchman's Cove Beach in Port Antonio are popular spots for Saturday swimming.

If you want more adventure, visit one of the many waterfalls on the island. 

Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, YS Falls located close to Black River, Reggae Falls in St. Thomas, and Mayfield Falls in Westmoreland are a few worth visiting.



Saturday afternoon

After your waterfall excursion, have a cup or two of Jamaican Saturday soup for lunch at Miss T's Kitchen in Ocho Rios, Pier One in Montego Bay, or Rick's Cafe in Negril. 

The most popular Saturday soups are red peas soup and chicken soup. 

To resist the urge to take a nap after lunch, book a museum or great house tour.

The popular museums in Kingston are the Bob Marley Museum, Liberty Hall, Trench Town Culture Yaad, and the National Gallery of Jamaica.

In Montego Bay, visit Rose Hall Great House or the Greenwood Great House. If you're in Ocho Rios, two recommended art galleries that will fascinate you are Harmony Hall and Wassi Art. 

At Wassi Art, you can actually book a quick pottery-making lesson and walk away with your own, hand-made cup, pot, or bowl. 

Then spend the rest of your Saturday at a restaurant or lounge where you can enjoy the diverse Jamaican music playlist of the resident deejay or a live music show.

In Negril, you can visit Mary's Bay Boat Bar and Grill for a live music show on Saturday nights, if you've adequately released the urge to sleep. 


Sunday 

Sundays are typically laid-back with towns and cities less crowded. A nature walk or hike up the Blue Mountain in St. Andrew, or Cockpit County in Trelawny is a great way to reflect on your fun-filled weekend.

Or you can spend a couple more hours on the beach.

If you are staying in Negril, snap a picture of the spectacular view of the sunset from the cliffs on the western end of the coastal town.

It's a sobering way to wrap up an exciting weekend in Jamaica.

Holiday weekends in Jamaica

If you're fortunate enough to visit the island during the holidays, there are countless family and adult events to attend.

The Easter holidays include a good mix of family-friendly festivals including Fun Fest in Kingston, Hague Agricultural Show in the community of Hague, Trelawny, and Kite Festival in Priory, Saint Ann.

Soca cooler fetes that lead into Jamaica Carnival Grand Street Parade are always a great time for adults.

Then, there are music and culture festivals that happen in the summer months such as Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay and Calabash International Literary Festival in Treasure Beach. 

To wrap up the calendar year in Jamaica, Christmas festivals are held. These include the annual Christmas tree lighting concerts that are organized and chaired by the parish council in all parish capitals on the island. 


Make a plan to attend a weekend event in Jamaica the next time you visit.