Downtown Kingston is the old commercial and civic heart of the city — historically significant, architecturally fascinating in places, and requiring more awareness than the uptown areas. The major cultural institutions are here: the National Gallery, the Institute of Jamaica, the Ward Theatre, and the waterfront from which ferries leave for Port Royal.
The most rewarding approach is to start at the National Gallery on Orange Street, walk north through the waterfront area, and work through the streets toward the Parade. The streets between the waterfront and King Street retain some of the finest colonial and early 20th-century commercial architecture in Jamaica — much of it neglected, some of it restored, all of it interesting. Morning visits on weekdays are the most comfortable; Saturday morning brings the Coronation Market to full intensity. The neighbourhood requires normal urban alertness — keep aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying expensive items, and do not wander after dark.