CityBuddy
Port Royal
Best time to visit
It is best to come in the morning before 10 AM, before the tourist groups arrive and while the weather is most pleasant for a walk. On weekdays, you will have the entire place almost all to yourself.
Budget tips
Entry to the Port Royal museum costs about 10 USD per person, and on Saturdays there is a discount for locals. If you plan to visit multiple landmarks, the combined package with Fort Charles is more cost-effective.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Adventurers and divers, Photographers
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: Once the richest city in the British colonies in the West, Port Royal was swallowed by an earthquake and tsunami in 1692 in just a few minutes. Today most of the city lies underwater, and centuries later divers still pull gold coins and artifacts from its sunken streets.
Highlights: Beneath the quiet waves of the bay lies the only fully preserved 17th century city in the world, with buildings that have remained untouched since the moment the sea swallowed them. A dive to just 12 meters depth reveals brick walls, rum bottles, and porcelain pieces that belonged to pirates and merchants three centuries ago.
Insider tips
- Bring lightweight closed-toe shoes; the paths around the ruins are uneven and full of stones.
- Take the best photos of the sunken city from the pier in the early morning light when the sea is calmest.
- Skip the souvenir shop at the entrance; you will find more authentic souvenirs at the market in downtown Kingston.
- If you suffer from seasickness, take a pill before the boat ride to the nearby reefs.
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