Comparison · Cartagena vs Panama City · Colombia / Panama
Cartagena vs Panama City
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sgonzalezb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Cartagena for Walled colonial city and Castillo San Felipe; choose Panama City for Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and day trips. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 470 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 470 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Cartagena
- February–April
- Best time for Panama City
- January–April
Side by side
| Cartagena | Panama City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Colombia | Panama |
| Known for | Walled colonial city, Castillo San Felipe and Colourful balconies | Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and Skyline on the bay |
| Best time to visit | February–April | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $120–$220 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | March, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 31°C (88°F) | September, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 8 |
| Beaches | Playa Blanca, Barú | Isla Taboga beaches |
| Airports | CTG | PTY, PAC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cartagena for…
Walled colonial city and Castillo San Felipe. Cartagena de Indias was one of Spain's main ports in the Americas, and its old town is still enclosed by about 11 km of stone walls. Inside, the El Centro and San Diego quarters are a grid of bougainvillea-draped balconies, churches and plazas, while…
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Choose Panama City for…
Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and day trips. Panama City spreads along the Pacific shore at the southern entrance to the Panama Canal, its glass towers facing the restored colonial quarter of Casco Viejo across the bay. Visitors watch container ships rise and fall in the Miraflores Locks, walk the…
Top sights compared
| # | Cartagena | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The walled city | Miraflores Locks |
| 2 | City walls and bastions | Casco Viejo |
| 3 | Castillo San Felipe de Barajas | Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas |
| 4 | Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad | Iglesia de San José |
| 5 | Plaza Santo Domingo | Catedral Metropolitana |
Food compared
| Cartagena | Panama City |
|---|---|
| Arepa de huevo | Sancocho |
| Carimañola | Ceviche |
| Fried fish with coconut rice | Patacones |
| Cazuela de mariscos | Carimañolas |
Which is cheaper?
Cartagena and Panama City cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $110–$200 in Cartagena and $120–$220 in Panama City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cartagena on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Cartagena and Panama City are about 470 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Cartagena and 4 in Panama City.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cartagena or Panama City cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 in Cartagena and $120–$220 in Panama City (estimates).
+Is Cartagena or Panama City better for a first trip?
Pick Cartagena for Walled colonial city and Castillo San Felipe, or Panama City for Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and day trips.
+How far is Cartagena from Panama City?
About 470 km in a straight line.