Montego Bay Layover Guide (MBJ)

What are you looking for in MBJ?
Tours/To do | Relax/Sleep | Internet/SIM | Transport | Storage | Money

Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)is an international airport in Jamaica. The airport is located 4.8 km (3 mi) east of Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is one of the most popular airports for travelers visiting Jamaica’s north coast. The airport is named after former Jamaican Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster. It was first opened in 1959. Montego Bay is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, meandering rivers for rafting, and caves to explore, among other things.

Can you leave Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) airport during a layover? Do you need a visa?
It's possible to leave Montego Bay airport during a layover. However, some travelers may require visa in advance. (more info).

Tours, Things to do, Sightseeing

Jamaica Organized Tours

Montego Bay City and Rose Hall Haunted House Tour

Travel through downtown to witness how the inhabitants live and to observe street merchants, schoolchildren, and the hustle and bustle of daily life. Before entering the Ironshore residential area, go to the “Hip Strip” to have a firsthand look at Jamaican homes, ranging from little dwellings to extravagant palaces. Take advantage of the opportunity to conduct some souvenir shopping at stops selling coffee, rum, and spices. » book this tour

Jet Ski Activity with Private Transportation

Jet ski through the seas of Montego Bay. Zoom around the watery terrain and take in the beauty of the coast. Your guide will show you how to operate the boat so that even novices may feel safe and secure. The jet ski trip lasts 30 minutes, and the rest of the time may be spent exploring tropical bliss beach, which is a terrific area to meet for cocktails, good cuisine, and swimming while soaking up the rays of the Jamaican sun. » book this tour

Dolphin Cove Negril Full-Day Admission with Dolphin Swim

Swim with a friendly bottlenose dolphin at Jamaica’s number one marine attraction in Negril for a full day of fun in the sun. Your ticket grants you entry to the Dolphin Cove Marine Park in Lucea, Hanover, which is home to the world’s largest natural dolphin lagoon. In the touch-tank during the day, you will have the opportunity to engage with stingrays and other marine species. You can even pet the camels that live there! Sit back and relax in the sun while watching an exciting shark show. » book this tour

Jamaica Things to do / Sightseeing

Rose Hall Great House

Rose Hall Great House is a restored plantation estate erected in 1770 that overlooks the ocean and is about 20 minutes from Montego Bay. Annie Palmer (the White Witch of Rose Hall), according to tradition, ruled with brutality and wielded dark magic powers that would finally seal her husband’s doom. Her home is now furnished with period furniture, and you may have a guided tour of the property to travel back in time. The spine-chilling lighted night tour is one of the most distinctive things to do in Montego Bay if you’re trying to raise the thrill factor.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 14 minutes via Private transport.

Jungle Ziplining Tours

Consider the Chukka Zipline, River Tubing, and ATV Safari Fun Combo from Montego Bay if you want to pack even more adventure into your day. On this half-day experience, you’ll ride ATVs through a historic estate on tough paths, zipline through the jungle canopy, and tub through rapids on the Great River. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included, as well as a traditional Jamaican lunch.

Time required: 3 hours to Half day.

Airport to here: 31 minutes via Private transport.

The Hip Strip

The “Hip Strip” is another name for it. Near Doctor’s Cave Beach, Gloucester Avenue is a well-known street. It’s densely packed with stores, cafés, and entertainment places, and it’s bustling with cruise ship passengers on most days. This is a famous tourist destination in Montego Bay for shopping — you’ll find all the usual goods here. Be prepared to cope with persistent vendors if you plan on browsing.

Time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Airport to here: 6 minutes via Private transport.

Rocklands Bird Sanctuary

View, photograph, and hand-feed exotic and unique birds at this wonderful family-run attraction. Guests are given a bottle of nectar, bird feed, and a pleasant place to relax when they arrive. Hummingbirds flock to drink from the bottles and sit on your finger almost instantaneously, while other birds flock to consume the seed. There are several species of birds to view here, including Jamaican orioles and banquets, and don’t forget to seek the royal long-tailed doctor bird, which is the country’s national bird.

Time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Airport to here: 25 minutes via Private transport.

Doctor’s Cave Beach

White beaches edge lovely, quiet seas that some think are fed by mineral springs at Doctor’s Cave Beach and Bathing Club. After swimming here in the early 1920s, a famous British osteopath declared that the water had healing properties, a claim that helped determine Montego Bay’s future by bringing people from all over the world. Hotels sprang up along the shore, and the area grew in popularity as a tourist destination.

Time required: 4 to 5 hours.

Airport to here: 4 minutes via Private transport.

Greenwood Great House

A guided tour of the Greenwood Great House is recommended for anyone interested in learning more about Jamaican history. It was formerly held by the family of famed English author Elizabeth Barrett Browning and is nestled in the hills a few kilometers off the highway. The antique-filled home, which is almost 200 years old, is one of Jamaica’s best-preserved grand houses. The well-kept antique furnishings, a library of rare books, and a remarkable collection of musical instruments, including a rosewood piano, barrel organ, and music box, are all highlights of a visit.

Time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Airport to here: 25 minutes via Private transport.

Ahhh…Ras Natango Gallery and Garden

Ahhh… Ras Natango Gallery and Garden is an eco-tourism jewel, clinging to a mountainside high in the mountains with amazing views of Montego Bay. The Williams family’s labor of passion is this outdoor gallery and botanic garden, which strives to recycle and repurpose everything on the property and enjoys sharing their garden and environmental ideals with tourists on informative tours. The terraced rock gardens are home to orchids, bromeliads, bougainvillea, ginger, fruit trees, and other tropical flora, and the garden is also a paradise for birds, with over 18 species sighted on the grounds, including many hummingbirds.

Time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Airport to here: 25 minutes via Private transport.

Sam Sharpe Square

Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay’s main attraction, presents a gritty slice of Jamaican history. Sharpe, a slave and local Baptist minister who preached passive resistance to force planters to comply with freedom, is honored here. Sharpe was hung in Charles Square at the time. Sam Sharpe was recognized as a National Hero after the country gained independence, and the square was named for him. The square is now clogged with street sellers and traffic, but it is still a must-see stop on most sightseeing excursions.

Time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Airport to here: 7 minutes via Private transport.

Things to Do in Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)

Relaxing and Sleeping

Airport Lounges and Relaxing
"Club Mobay Lounge" is located at the International Departures Terminal and Airside, Mezzanine Level, opposite Gate 12. , » view all lounges or buy a lounge pass or membership online

Hotel and Sleeping
"Big Apple Hotel", "Toby’s Resort" are some of the best hotels near the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ). » view all or book an airport hotel online

Rest Area and Sleeping in Airport
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones at the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).

WIFI/Internet and SIM Card

WIFI/Internet: Free WiFi is available at Montego Bay Airport. Connect to the ”Digicel” network.

SIM/eSIM Card: You can buy SIM card KIN – Digicel by reaching the various shops at the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) at very cheap rates. » Find out where and how to buy SIM card/eSIM in our Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) sim/eSim page.

Transportation to/from airport

Taxi: Taxis are readily available in the ground transportation area of the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).

Train: There are no train services.

Bus: There are different public bus services available. (more info).

Shuttle: Many companies provide shuttle services at the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).

Car rentals: "Alamo", "Avis", "Budget", "Enterprise", "Hertz", "Island Car Rental", "National" and "Thrifty" are the companies providing car rental services. » view available cars or rent a car now online

Parking: A parking area is available near the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).

Luggage Storage & Lockers

There is no luggage storage service is available at the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ). » book a luggage storage or locker at online (subject to availability).

Money Exchange and Withdrawal

- Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) ATMs, currency exchanges and banks