Jamaican musical artist Bob Marley has been revered for decades, and the recent release of the movie “Bob Marley: One Love” has once again cast the spotlight on his life and talent. And travelers considering a trip to Jamaica can learn about Marley by visiting sites related to his life.
Here’s what we’ve discovered in our search for Bob Marley’s Jamaica.
Jamaica Hotel Packages Inspired by Bob Marley
Several hotels in Jamaica have developed packages and experiences inspired by Marley. For example, S Hotels Jamaica (which owns the Spanish Court Hotel and S Hotel Jamaica), offers a Combo "One Love" Tour in partnership with the Bob Marley Museum for guests staying at the Spanish Court Hotel. Located in Kingston, the property is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and sometimes features Marley’s music in its public areas. It also offers dining options that showcase some of the artist’s favorite dishes.
In Montego Bay, the S Hotel Jamaica — also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World — is graced with a statue and painting of Marley, and guests who are interested in taking a deeper dive can join one of the hotel’s daily Heart & Soul tours, which highlight the artist’s lasting legacy on the island and around the world. The property also offers tours to sites including the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, which features an exhibition about Rastafari (the religion that Marley followed); the Rastafari Indigenous Village, a cultural site that teaches about the religion’s history and traditions; and Nine Mile, where Marley was born and where his mausoleum is located.
Another Montego Bay hotel that makes it easy to celebrate Marley’s life is the Tryall Club, where staff can arrange for a screening of “Bob Marley: One Love” in guest villas, complete with craft cocktails and local cuisine. The hotel can also arrange visits to places where Marley used to spend time — including Bob Marley Beach, a stretch of sand in Bull Bay, St. Andrew; the nearby Cane River Falls; and the Trench Town & Culture Yard Museum, a Jamaican National Heritage site in Kingston that’s considered the birthplace of the reggae and rocksteady music genres. Trench Town & Culture Yard offers guided tours of the museum and the Trench Town neighborhood.
A Bob Marley statue at S Hotel Jamaica
Credit: 2024 S Hotel JamaicaTravelers can even spend a few days where Marley once stayed when they check into Strawberry Hill, a boutique Island Outpost property set in the Blue Mountains in St. Andrew. The hotel, which can be reached most quickly by car or helicopter transfer from the Kingston airport, features rooms, cottages and villas, as well as a restaurant and spa.
The Bob Marley Museum
An important must-see for any fan, of course, is the Bob Marley Museum, set in the artist’s former home and open every day except Sunday. Marley purchased the home in 1975 and lived there until his death in 1981. In 1987, it was converted into a unique museum that displays Marley’s personal treasures and provides insight into his daily life.
Inside the home, visitors can see his gold and platinum records, Rastafarian religious cloaks, his favorite denim stage shirt and the Order of Merit presented by the Jamaican government (an award given for distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or another endeavor). There’s also a recording studio and a replica of Marley’s original record shop where visitors can purchase CDs and records.
The museum offers a variety of guided experiences, including a home tour that shows the original rooms, which have been maintained as they were when Marley lived there, as well as a theater that screens videos of Marley’s performances. Visitors who’ve worked up an appetite after touring can refuel at One Love Cafe, a casual eatery at the Bob Marley Museum that serves light meals and beverages.
